PARIS — From the day it opened for business at 9 Market Square last year, Oxford Hills Mercantile in South Paris became a destination for antiques and repurposed home goods. Owner David Robichaud came with plans to invite local producers to share the space and clientele, and he has been true to his word.

In June, Robichaud launched the South Paris Farmers Market, which will run for a few more Thursday afternoons before closing out the season Oct. 2.

On Saturday, a new market venture takes over the parking lot for the day – The Artisan’s Marketplace. The market will run from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., with a Sunday rain date if necessary (so far, the weather looks good all weekend).

Last September, Robichaud had expressed to the Advertiser Democrat his plans to eventually allocate an area on the first floor of the 8,800-foot building for artists and crafters to lease vending space. With other building renovations taking precedence for now, he has partnered with Paris residents Becky Roy and Doreen Simmons to host an artisan’s market, as a pop-up fair, in the store’s parking lot where the farmers market has been setting up all summer.

Roy previously produced the Olde Paris Marketplace at Paris Hill Academy but found the responsibilities of balancing site management with her own handmade product sales cumbersome.

Twenty-one vendors will be at The Artisans Marketplace this Saturday in South Paris. The market will be held in Oxford Hills’ Mercantiles parking lot from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Supplied image

“The Artisan’s Marketplace is a joint venture between Doreen Simmons and myself,” Roy said. “It is, in a way, a continuation of two marketplaces I had previously organized and participated in.

“My vision was to offer a special place where local artisans could sell their creations to the public, and only pay a small registration fee to participate. Any monies they made would be theirs.”

With farmer and fiber artist Simmons ready to help her relaunch, the two pitched a proposal to Robichaud of holding a one-day market at Oxford Hills Mercantile.

“David was excited when we approached him with the idea of an artisan market being held in his parking lot,” Roy explained. “He loved our enthusiasm and helped us get started with the process. He sees the Artisans Marketplace as a nice conclusion to the summer season and the South Paris Farmers Market.”

Robichaud had a side list of Maine artists interested in future mercantile projects, including gallery space upstairs. Roy tapped the vendors she had worked with at the Olde Paris Marketplace and Simmons had contacts from her artisans community. Between the three’s efforts, 21 vendors have signed on to participate in The Artisans Marketplace.

“This is a curated market, meaning we seek out and invite the artisans we would like to participate,” Roy said. “We enjoy going to other markets/shows together and get ideas, and even invite, makers of specific art forms.

“The Artisans Marketplace is currently full, at 21 vendors. If someone is interested in a future market, we would love to hear from them. Because Doreen and I love the art world, we also love talking with like-minded creators. We may do another event next year but want to get through this first one before we make any decision” about what future marketplaces may look like.

Roy and Simmons got to know each other serving on McLaughlin Garden & Homestead’s board of directors. Simmons and her husband John operate Stoneheart Farm in South Paris, where she hand-spins and knits wool from their flock of sheep and makes soaps, lotions and candles with ingredients grown in her farm gardens.

Roy and her husband Peter grow and sell Christmas trees from Eastern Slope Farm. She is also a lifelong knitter and since entering retirement has expanded her creative pursuits to woodburning and watercolor combinations and painting.

David Robichaud, owner of Oxford Hills Mercantile, with his partner Ollie. Robichaud is hosting The Artisan’s Marketplace Saturday in his store’s parking lot. Nicole Carter / Advertiser Democrat

“The main thing that separates The Artisans Marketplace from other markets, is that artisans’ work is more than crafts,” Roy said. “Often, artisans only have one or two pieces to sell, as they take so much time in creating them. We have searched for local makers with unique wares, and we have accomplished that.”

Goods on sale Saturday will include a variety of wood products, quilts, jewelry, fiber items, pottery, art, personal care and flowers.

Details about The Artisans Marketplace are available on the event’s Facebook page.

Refreshments will be on sale at David & Ollie’s, Robichaud’s café inside Oxford Hills Mercantile.