What better way to start Christmas shopping or shopping for a special occasion than the newly launched Great Indoors Market at Bower Place.

With the official public launch Nov. 10th, the Market has taken over the former Sears space, an impressive 12,000 square feet of area with 12 to 15 retailers.

Open all mall hours, it’s a win-win situation for both the shopper and the local business, as these are merchants like Hickory Farms, Happy Hippo, Calyx Floral Design and more. These are local entrepreneurs rather than big box stores, which is huge.

As stated by Sonya Hunt, general manager at Bower Place,”This market has the potential to incubate more boutique-like entrepreneurs and produce sustainable longevity in our retail landscape.”

This can already been seen in the mall, like for example with the store Pink Society. Last year, they were a pop-up store at Christmas, and have since grown into a longer tenant.

The Market also fosters community and offers a positive retail experience, allowing for shoppers to get to know local businesses in the community, encouraging shopping local.

The Market opens just in time for Christmas shopping and the mall’s famous Red and White Night. Red and White Night is an after-hours charity shopping night featuring exclusive deals and the chance to win up to $20,000 in door prizes at Bower Place. This event also gets local community groups together, with non-profit groups selling tickets to the action-packed evening, benefiting 100 per cent from their ticket sales.

Having these local community businesses taking part in one’s shopping experience is quite gratifying, as the shopper will really know where their money is going, which is going to support local business.