How to do it at The Gallery

The Gallery on Montana is a house full of art on San Antonio's East Side with a big yard behind it. The Gallery runs its own Saturday market in the yard, so the layout already works for booths, shoppers and a food vendor.

The yard. A pop-up tent and clothes rack on the open lawn where the Gallery's own Saturday market runs.

Inside the gallery. Indoor space among the collection for makers who want shade or a quieter table.

The front of the house. The sign out front marks the spot for your welcome table.

Food vendors are fine; alcohol sales and tastings are not allowed on the property.

Through November 1: shoots and meetings from $55 an hour, events from $60 an hour. Golden hour runs a little more. Peerspace shows the final price.

Where it is

The house is at 701 Montana St, about a half mile from the Alamodome, with street parking on Montana. Put the address and a map pin in every graphic, and tell vendors in the final week where to unload and where to park after, so the street stays clear for shoppers. If a big event is on at the Alamodome, expect heavier traffic and say so in your shopper posts.

How the space works for a market

• The lawn: a row of tents and racks, with the red pavilion and mural fences as a photo backdrop.
• The salon and studio room: shade and a quieter table among the collection for jewelry, prints and small goods.
• The front porch: your welcome table by the black door, so shoppers know they found the right place.

Sizing your market here

The house holds up to 40 people inside, and the yard has held 100+. Plan most booths and the shopping crowd in the yard, and keep indoor tables to a few makers so shoppers can move comfortably among the collection. The collection stays open during market hours, which gives shoppers a reason to step inside and linger.

Inside among the collection

Indoor tables suit makers who need shade in warm months: jewelry, prints, small ceramics and paper goods. Mixing both, with a clear path from the porch to the yard, gives shoppers a reason to walk the whole property instead of one loop. See the space for a closer look at each room.

Tip: Ask before moving pieces. The collection is part of the room. Plan indoor tables around it, and ask before moving anything.

Food yes, alcohol no

Food vendors are welcome, and the Gallery does not cater, so line up your own food truck or coffee vendor. Alcohol sales and tastings are not allowed anywhere on the property, so put that in your vendor sheet in plain words. Coffee, aguas frescas and baked goods all fit well, and a food truck in the yard keeps shoppers around longer.

A sample layout

1. Street: a sign on Montana with the market name and an arrow.
2. Porch: the welcome table by the black front door, with the vendor list and sign-up sheet.
3. Inside: a few maker tables among the collection.
4. Yard: a row of tents with clear lanes, the strongest booth first.
5. Far end: the food truck or coffee, so shoppers walk past every booth.

Good to know

• Bring your own tables, tents, weights and signage, and ask vendors to bring theirs.
• A private entrance and a bathroom are available for your market.
• Load in and pack out happen within your booked hours.
• Leave the house and yard the way you found them.

Plan the heat. The yard is open lawn, so in warm months vendors need their own tents for shade and shoppers need a reason to slow down. Put the food or coffee vendor near a shady spot, keep water for vendors at the welcome table, and remind shoppers in posts to bring a hat. In summer, start the market early so most of the day lands before the hottest hours.

How to book

Pop-ups book on the Peerspace events listing. The Gallery's own Saturday market in the yard returns in January, so pick a date that does not clash with it. Want to see the rooms first? Read the pop-up markets page.

When you send your booking request, include your date, total hours with setup and pack out, the number of vendors, whether you want indoor tables and which food vendor you plan to bring. A clear request makes the tour and the booking faster, and it gives you a head start on the vendor sheet. Book your hours generously: a four hour market usually needs a seven hour booking once load in and pack out are counted.

Tip: Walk the map first. Book a tour and walk your booth map with Nathan before you send it to vendors. Pop-ups book on the Peerspace events listing.

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