If you’re tuned in to happenings in downtown Bellingham, you’ve probably already heard of Wonderz Market. If you’re into curated vintage and thrift, unique handmade clothes and accessories, funky crafts, and indie artists, you’ve probably already been! Fashion-forward crowds have been flocking to these once-a-month markets since they began in February 2023. Wonderz Market grew out of the traveling thrift business of partners and Co-Founders Elijah Ryan and Milton Rosario. As Thrifted Wonderz, they journeyed throughout the PNW, vending at craft fairs and creating relationships with other vendors and artists in major cities. After the better part of a year, they asked themselves if they could bring that big city market energy back home to Bellingham.
Photograph by Briana Tuvey
Photograph by Briana Tuvey
“We just saw this need for community events and safe spaces for queer individuals,” says Ryan, who grew up in Bellingham. “My partner and I are both mixed-race and brown, and it felt like a good opportunity to be kind of a face of diversity in Bellingham, as well.”
Wonderz Market was born on Cornwall Avenue, first in event space The Happy Place before expanding to a neighboring business and Colombian cafe, Cof&. Ryan says the market “just kind of grew every month,” and soon they outgrew their indoor spaces. In October 2023, they held their first market on Commercial Street, taking up the block between Holly Street and Magnolia Street.
Photograph by Briana Tuvey
“It feels like it’s kind of found its home, at least for now… we have about 65 booths, which is actually about 85 vendors, because some of them are sharing spaces… which is awesome. It’s just like the perfect mix of everything,” says Ryan.
This location means larger vendor spaces (like the two shop-on-wheels trucks at the March market) and easy access to the Commercial Street Garage. It also allows Wonderz to utilize Wink Wink Boutique’s indoor event space. Wonderz has a history of hosting tattoo artists at their markets, and Wink Wink’s space allows for safe body modification. At their March market, Wonderz and Wink Wink hosted two tattoo artists, Franka Tattoo and knotted needles, as well as Glimpse Piercing Boutique, and a tooth gem artist, Jade’s Jems.
Having walk-up body mods available at their market is part of the unique energy curated by Ryan, who now owns the business solo (though he still gets help from his partner on market day).
Photograph by Briana Tuvey
“At this point, we have so many applicants whenever we open applications that it’s really fun to curate the market,” says Ryan. “I like to have cool, funky things, things that are eclectic, things that are maybe more niche … People will come up to us on market day and just be like, ‘This is crazy,’ like, ‘I like every single thing at this market,’ and it’s just really validating to hear.”
The aesthetic of the market is hard to sum-up, but it’s aimed at a younger crowd that yearns for unique treasures and personal expression through style. The big-capacity vintage vendors have scores of puffy sweaters, thick cotton blend t-shirts with faded logos, high waisted pants, and other vibrant finds from the ‘80s up through the 2010s. Other booths may have hand-crafted jewelry (expect beads, chainwork, and Legos), upcycled fashions, original designs screen-printed on every article of clothing you can imagine, fiber arts galore, stickers, prints, plants, self-care goods, candles, crystals—the list can go on and on. Luckily, you’ll have plenty of chances to check out the treasure trove that is Wonderz Market, as they have dates lined up on Commercial Street through the rest of the year. Follow them @wonderzmarket on Instagram and Facebook to check out their vendor highlights, music festival style lineup posters, and see their upcoming market dates. Commercial Street, Bellingham, @wonderzmarket.
