Three Places To Check Out At Akron's Northside Marketplace

Northside Marketplace might just be our new favorite shopping destination. Since opening in November the 10,000-square-foot open air market is home to more than 45 Akron artists, makers and entrepreneurs. Meet three diverse companies that call the Furnace Street bazaar home. 

Akron Creamery 
This sleek space serves Thai rolled ice cream with a minimalist vanilla-based menu and a slew of toppings, such as fresh fruit, cookies and candy. “We started making it at home, then we realized that there wasn’t any place around here that served it,” says owner Siobhan Kirn. Try this: Make your bowl ($6.50) less vanilla by piling on strawberries, whipped cream and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. 330-322-4713, facebook.com/akroncreamery  

Akron Honey Co. 
Get a taste of Akron honey at urban beekeeper and owner Brent Wesley’s retail and production space for his beeswax-based personal care line.“It was initially geared toward men,” he says. “But their wives started using the moisturizer, so we’re trying to make our products more gender neutral.” Try this: Keeper’s Salve ($15 for a 1.5-ounce tin) is a sweet moisturizer for your hands, body and face. 330-552-8858, akronhoney.com  

The Social Department
Stand out among the other regional garb with this massive selection of wearable Midwestern pride that combines bold Swiss typography with a distressed style of printmaking. “Instead of all this promotional stuff for big cities, we thought a series promoting smaller towns would be unique,” says owner Andy Taray. Try this: Plant your flag with the blimp-emblazoned “Akron Born & Raised” T-shirt ($25), available in both men’s and women’s sizes. 234-206-0186, thesocialdept.com