Vendor Space

Become a Vendor at The MelaDen Mini Market
The MelaDen is looking for a diverse variety of Black-owned businesses, creatives, makers, and entrepreneurs to participate in our inaugural Mini Market!

We are intentionally curating a small vendor lineup to create a marketplace where businesses can shine without competing directly with multiple vendors offering the same type of product or service. To give our vendors the best opportunity to connect with customers, we will not duplicate vendor types.

Vendor Details

The Mini Market is being intentionally designed as a curated marketplace, with the final number of vendors depending on the event location:

Indoor Market
~12 vendor spaces will be available.
~The first 7 approved vendors will receive an 8-foot table with their 8' x 8' vendor space.
~All vendors receive 2 chairs.
~Electricity is available.
~Wi-Fi may be available but is not guaranteed.

Vendor applications are subject to approval based on availability, event fit, and maintaining a diverse vendor mix.

We welcome businesses offering retail, art, wellness, beauty, handmade goods, services, specialty products, and more.

We are not currently accepting beverage vendors

We are not currently accepting any food trucks HOWEVER food tents may apply

Because we are intentionally curating the market, we may limit or decline additional vendors offering a product or service category that has already been filled.

Application Timeline & Event Confirmation
Because The MelaDen is intentionally curating a vendor-based market, the event is dependent on receiving enough approved vendor commitments to make the market viable.

Vendor Application Deadline: May 15, 2027
Vendor Approvals Sent: May 30, 2027

On May 30, 2027, The MelaDen will announce whether the Mini Market will proceed and confirm the final event location.

If the minimum number of vendors needed to hold the market is not reached by the application deadline, The MelaDen reserves the right to postpone or cancel the event.

If the event is postponed, vendors will be notified of the change and will have the opportunity to confirm their participation for the new date.

By submitting an application to participate as a vendor at The MelaDen Mini Market, you acknowledge and agree to the following Terms & Conditions:

1. Application & Acceptance
Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance. All vendors are selected at the sole discretion of The MelaDen to ensure a balanced, high-quality market experience.

Applications are not approved on a first-come, first-served basis. Vendor selection may be based on event fit, product or service category, availability, and maintaining a diverse vendor mix.

The MelaDen reserves the right to decline applications or limit the number of vendors offering similar products or services.

2. Fees & Payment
There is no fee to apply.

Upon acceptance, vendors agree to pay the applicable vendor participation fee. Payment will be automatically charged to the payment method on file.

If the payment attempt is unsuccessful, vendors will have 48 hours to submit payment. Failure to complete payment within this timeframe will result in forfeiture of the vendor's spot for that market date.

All vendor fees paid are non-refundable and non-transferable. No exceptions.

3. Vendor Space, Tables, Chairs & Event Location

Indoor Market — Up to 12 Vendors

~Each accepted vendor will receive one 8' x 8' vendor space.
~The first 7 approved vendors will receive one 8-foot table with their vendor space.
~All vendors will receive 2 chairs.
~Electricity will be available.
~Wi-Fi may be available but is not guaranteed.

The MelaDen reserves the right to require a vendor to remove or modify any equipment, display, or setup that presents a safety concern.

4. Setup & Breakdown
~ Vendor setup begins at 4:30 PM.

~ Vendors may temporarily park in the spaces directly in front of the Civic Center entrance on Caroline Street for unloading and setup.

~ All vendor vehicles must be moved from the Civic Center parking spaces by 5:30 PM. After unloading, vendors must relocate their vehicles to the parking spaces in front of the library entrance on New Hampshire Ave. These spaces will serve as designated vendor parking during the market.

~ The spaces in front of the Civic Center on Caroline Street are reserved for attendees once the market begins, providing the most convenient route to the market entrance.

~ All vendor setups must be fully completed by 5:45 PM, including unloading, booth preparation, and relocating vehicles.

~ A mandatory vendor meeting will take place at 5:45 PM. Vendors should have their booths completely ready and be available for the meeting at that time.

~ Doors will remain locked until 6:00 PM. Vendors do not need to worry about early browsers or attendees entering before the scheduled market start.

~ Early breakdown is not permitted unless prior approval is granted by market management.

~ Vendors are responsible for maintaining a clean, safe, and organized space throughout the market and must fully clean their area before departure.

~ Vendors may retrieve their vehicles after 9:30 PM, once all attendees have exited and market management has cleared the parking area for vendor vehicle access.

~ Vendors are strongly advised to fully pack and secure their booth before retrieving their vehicle. Once the parking area has been cleared, vendors may retrieve their vehicles and return to load their belongings.

~ All vendors must be completely off site by 10:30 PM.

5. Food & Safety Compliance
Prepared food is permitted provided all food is fully prepared offsite in a properly licensed kitchen and maintained at appropriate health and safety temperatures while onsite.

Vendors are responsible for complying with all applicable local, state, and health department regulations governing their products, services, equipment, and business operations.

The MelaDen reserves the right to request documentation of applicable licenses, permits, certifications, or insurance when appropriate.

6. Utilities & Power
~Indoor electricity will be available.

~Vendors are responsible for bringing any necessary extension cords, power strips, adapters, or other equipment required to safely connect their equipment.

~Wi-Fi may be available but is not guaranteed.

7. Weather Policy
~The Mini Market is a rain-or-shine event.

~No refunds or credits will be issued due to weather, except in cases where the market is canceled due to extreme or unsafe conditions as determined by market management or the venue.

8. Conduct & Professionalism
Vendors are expected to conduct themselves in a friendly, respectful, and welcoming manner toward guests, fellow vendors, staff, organizers, and venue personnel at all times.

Rude, aggressive, belligerent, discriminatory, threatening, or otherwise unprofessional behavior may result in immediate removal from the market without refund and may result in permanent disqualification from participation in future The MelaDen events.

9. Sales, Promotion & Vendor Marketing Requirement
The MelaDen will actively advertise and promote the Mini Market. However, vendor participation includes an obligation to help promote the event.

Each approved vendor is required to promote the Mini Market at least once per week from the date of approval through the event date.

Required promotional posts must:

~Be published on Facebook or Instagram as a post or Reel.
~Clearly promote the Mini Market and/or the vendor's participation in the event.
~Tag The MelaDen and/or use the platform's collaboration feature with The MelaDen, when available.
~Approved vendors will be provided with marketing materials they may use to satisfy this requirement. Vendors are also welcome to create and use their own promotional materials.

~The MelaDen may monitor vendor promotional activity to verify compliance with this requirement.

~Failure to meet the vendor marketing requirement may result in forfeiture of the vendor's space. Any vendor fee already paid will remain non-refundable and non-transferable.

~The MelaDen cannot guarantee individual vendor sales, revenue, or customer traffic. While market management actively promotes the event, vendor success depends on many factors beyond our control.

10. Liability & Insurance
Vendors participate at their own risk and agree to release and hold harmless The MelaDen, its organizers, partners, venue, and affiliates from claims, damages, injuries, losses, or liabilities arising from participation in the market, except where prohibited by law.

Vendors are encouraged to carry general liability insurance.

The MelaDen reserves the right to request proof of insurance for certain vendors, products, services, or activities.

11. Cancellations, No-Shows & Transfers
~Vendor fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

~Vendors who fail to attend or cancel after acceptance forfeit their vendor fee and may impact their eligibility for future participation.

~Vendor spaces may not be shared, subleased, or transferred to another business without prior written approval from market management.

12. Media & Promotion
Vendors grant The MelaDen permission to use photographs, videos, and other content captured during the market that may include the vendor, their representatives, products, displays, or business for marketing, promotional, social media, and organizational purposes.

13. Market Modifications
The MelaDen reserves the right to modify market rules, layout, vendor placement, event location, vendor spaces, or operations as needed to ensure safety, compliance, accessibility, and the overall quality of the event.

If the market location changes from indoors to outdoors, or vice versa, the applicable vendor space and equipment provisions outlined in these Terms & Conditions will apply.

14. Event Viability, Confirmation & Postponement
The Mini Market is dependent upon receiving a sufficient number of approved vendor commitments to make the event financially and operationally viable.

The vendor application deadline is May 15, 2027.

Vendor approval decisions will be issued no later than May 30, 2027.

On May 30, 2027, The MelaDen will officially announce whether the Mini Market will proceed and will confirm the final event location.

If the minimum number of vendors required to hold the market is not reached by the application deadline, The MelaDen reserves the right to cancel the event or postpone the event to Saturday, June 26, 2027.

If the event is postponed, vendors will be notified and given the opportunity to confirm their participation for the new date. Any vendor fee already paid will remain subject to the non-refundable and non-transferable terms outlined in this agreement unless otherwise determined by The MelaDen.

The MelaDen reserves the right to make reasonable changes to the event date, location, layout, or vendor capacity when necessary to ensure the viability, safety, and quality of the market.

15. Agreement
By submitting this application, the vendor confirms that they have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms & Conditions in full.

Submission of an application constitutes acknowledgment that the vendor understands that acceptance is not guaranteed and that, once accepted, all applicable vendor requirements—including payment, attendance, setup, safety, and promotional obligations—are conditions of participation.