JCC offers businesses an outdoor marketplace

KINGSTON — As they have every Sunday since the beginning of the month, local businesses and vendors gathered in the parking lot of the Friedman Jewish Community Center to drum up some business as part of the JCC’s ongoing outdoor marketplace.

The marketplace began back on Aug. 2 as a way to give some local store owners a place to set up shop and sell some of their merchandise.

About a dozen vendors, spaced out in the vast expanse of the JCC’s lot, made the trip to Kingston on Sunday morning. Most had been attending the Outdoor Marketplace since its beginning.

“I’ve only missed one so far,” said Anita Lindbuchler of Shavertown. Lindbuchler was there on Sunday to sell a variety of bracelets, earring and other pieces of jewelry.

“I buy up the jewelry and then re-sell it,” Lindbuchler said. “I’ve been at it for about a year.”

Lindbuchler, like all the vendors and shoppers, was wearing a mask and making sure to keep her distance when possible.

“Everyone’s been really good about the masks and the distancing,” she said.

In addition to jewelry, the other vendors sold a wide variety of products ranging from books to fresh produce from the farmer’s market.

James Talerico, owner of Talerico’s Tropical Winery, came all the way from Taylor to take part in the marketplace.

“It’s been tough with the pandemic because I can’t have that many people in the winery, and I can’t serve food,” Talerico said. “Having something like this marketplace has been a huge boost for me.”

A self-professed Jimmy Buffett fan, Talerico opened his winery about a year ago.

“We play live music from the Caribbean, and there’s a big mural of the ocean on the wall,” Talerico said. “There’s not too many places like us around here.”

For anyone that hasn’t made it out to the Outdoor Marketplace, there are still plenty more chances to take a look. The Marketplace will be back next Sunday, and every Sunday after that until Nov. 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the JCC parking lot.