Creative Market seeks approval from Sussex officials

The Creative Market in West Rehoboth has been so successful, the organizers have filed a conditional-use application with Sussex County to allow for a weekly open-air market.

The market has reached its limit of three events in a year using special-event permits provided by Sussex County. It held its grand opening July 5 at the West Rehoboth site.

At its Aug. 26 meeting, Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of the application. In addition, Commissioner Bruce Mears added a condition to allow the market more flexibility in scheduling by providing additional days for the market to be open from Thursday through Monday.

Sussex County Council has scheduled a hearing at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 14, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown.

At the Aug. 12 Sussex P&Z meeting, Leah Beach, executive director of the Developing Artist Collaboration, said the market features as many as 20 local artists and small businesses offering handmade items, aka handmade businesses. Proposed plans for the market, held on a vacant 10,500-square-foot parcel along Canal Crossing Road and Central Street, include opening from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Mondays, with holiday markets from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. the first three weekends in December.

The DAC needs county approval to operate its market because the property is located in an unincorporated area just outside Rehoboth Beach city limits.

Besides artists' booths, the market offers two food trucks and alcohol sales. Beach said the market has received a gathering license from the state to allow alcohol sales of donated beverages. The market features a creative cocktail bar and beer from Revelation Craft Brewing, which operates its brewpub near the site along Central Avenue.

Entertainment is limited to one- or two-person acoustic music as well as poets, comedians and theater groups.

Beach said most parking is off-site, provided through an agreement with Quillen's Hardware. The market provides shuttle service from that parking lot on nearby Hebron Road. Signs will be posted to prohibit parking along Canal Crossing Road. She encourages market-goers to ride bicycles since the Junction & Breakwater Trail passes in front of the property.

The Creative Market was open June through September in 2020 on private property in downtown Rehoboth Beach during the COVID-19 state of emergency to allow artists and handmade businesses to offer their works to the community in an open-air setting.

For more information, go to developingarts.org/creativemarket.