Step back in time to an era of peace, love and groovy vibes as Good Vibes Collective makes its debut in the heart of midtown Toronto’s Mount Pleasant Village. Founded by the Amanda Wells, this indoor collaborative space and pop-up market is a kaleidoscopic journey that’s as far out as it is down-to-earth.
The term “collective” in the Good Vibes Collective reflects the market’s dual identity: a pop-up market on weekends and a community space during the week. Wells says that while vendors can sign up to sell out of the space on Saturdays and Sundays, from Monday to Friday, others can request to use it to host workshops — such as wreath making or making custom welcome mats — have photoshoots or use for other creative outlets.
“I wanted to do something that supported small businesses,” Wells says. “I wanted to create a little hub for people —and this was birthed naturally.”
The journey to creating this vibrant pop-up space has been a labour of love. Armed with a background in retail and a deep passion for supporting small businesses, Wells wanted to create a space that would emulate an era she’s so passionate about.
A vendor herself, Wells runs Pretty Well Packed, a local business of eclectic vintage finds she’s been selling out of her vintage trailer. And with a passion for the groovy era of the ’60s and ’70s, it’s no surprise she wanted to channel that into Good Vibes Collective.
“I see the passion and hard work everyone puts into these events and their beautiful set ups,” she says. “But sometimes, they’ve been impacted by the elements — like raining during outdoor markets that ruin what they’re selling — so I wanted to create an indoor space to fight against that.”
Every weekend the market will host a mix of six to eight vendors, creating an intimate retail atmosphere. The products on display range from handmade and curated items, including pre-loved vintage pieces, handmade macrame or even eclectic graphic tees. The focus is on exclusivity and diversity.
And for Wells, the midtown location was perfect for the pop-up. While downtown Toronto hosts many weekend markets, north of the downtown core was in need of a similar space and event.
“Overall, Good Vibes Collective is a commitment to the community in midtown Toronto. It’s something to do on the weekends for those in the general community and something closer to home for certain vendors,” she says.
Looking ahead to 2023, Wells plans to utilize the space during the spring, launching again for an Easter market, complete with a lovely patio space for even more vendors.
While she mentions the Collective will be on pause in January and February, she’ll be starting it up again in March, also offering the patio space as an area for people to sell from.
Good Vibes Collective opens on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 700 Mount Pleasant Rd. The market runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.