Alex Kushkin loves being a North Market merchant, interacting with customers and making great deli food and it shows!

Dave Bihn possesses a wealth of knowledge about wine and beer which he freely dispenses at Grapes of Mirth. His shop is well stocked with wines (and beer!) from around the world that offer great value to the customer. Be sure to stop by on Saturdays for tasting!

Abdul Aburmaieleh has owned Firdous since 2005. His healthy Mediterranean menu garners a steady following.

Raj Brar with his wife Billan serves up authentic Indian cuisine of lamb, chicken and vegetarian dishes, to their loyal following of customers daily.

Gay James and LuAnn Riley are two birds of a feather - who bake, cook and harmoniously run Expressly Market Bakery & Bistro - together!

Mike Kast is humorously referred to as “the Donald of the Market” by fellow merchants for his involvement with various businesses over the years (including North Market Wines, now known as Grapes of Mirth and Best of the Wurst). He’s remained the owner of the venture that brought him to the North Market, Curds and Whey, and has been proprietor there for 18 years since acquiring it from the original owner, Ed Malzone.

If you yearn for good old-fashioned candies, or perhaps you like to mix and match among your favorites, then you’ll feel like the proverbial “kid in a candy store” when you set foot in the Candy Shack!
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It all started innocently enough over at the CaJohn’s Flavor and Fire stand. John Hard would whip up a batch of his award-winning yet ever-so-simple Texas chili recipe in a crockpot on the weekends to help boost salsa sales. Customers went wild for it and wanted more than just a taste and thus, the CaBoom! Chili Company was ultimately born. To fix a batch at home simply brown a pound of ground beef, stir in 3 tablespoons of CaBoom! Chili Fixins’ and 1 cup of water and simmer for 5 minutes. Add 1 jar of your favorite CaBoom! Picante Sauce, simmer at least 10 minutes, toss on your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Possessing more than 300 awards (and counting) from shows all over the country, John and Sue Hard own America’s most-awarded fiery foods company. Their CaJohn’s Flavor & Fire stand in the North Market caters to everyone from those merely chile-inquisitive to die-hard chile pepper enthusiasts. With an already impressive array of products, John and Sue are constantly testing out new items to add to their line of salsas, hot sauces and spice blends.

Eric Ling has a background in bartending which could explain some of the delicious concoctions he and his staff create at Bubbles, the Tea and Juice Company. In addition to the expected fresh squeezed orange juice look for an ever-changing array of alternatives - like watermelon juice during the summer. Then there’s the smoothie menu which earns rave reviews, not to mention the assortment of freshly brewed tea options.