Taproot Lounge & Cafe transforms dining area into market for local businesses, artists

Local businesses are finding creative ways to support each other during the pandemic.

With COVID-19 restrictions in place, Taproot Lounge & Cafe in downtown Salem is unable to serve hungry locals in their indoor space. So, they transformed it into a market featuring local businesses and artists.

Since mid-December, the booths and tables that fill the main dining area have been packed with items by featured vendors, including Gatsby's, CreativiTEE and rofe designs, Flowers in the Alley, The Freckled Bee, Kraftee, Big City Boutique, BruSven Art, Rock and Root, Dust Crate, and art by Taproot employees.

The market — which has continued to attract new vendors since its inception — will operate until restaurants are allowed to host indoor dining at full capacity again.

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During the first shutdown last March, Taproot held a similar market to get rid of produce, not knowing how long the closure would last, said owner Christopher "Toph" Holland. They sold fruits, vegetables, toilet paper and other supplies to ensure they didn't go to waste.

This time around, they knew the shutdowns wouldn't necessarily last just two weeks.

"Once (the state) didn't allow for indoor seating, that whole space was useless," Holland said. "We decided for our own survival, and as a win-win, we would just invite artists and other small businesses to display their stuff."

This also provided Taproot patrons a warm waiting area and reason to come inside while their outside seating was prepared.

"Over the last few years, we found the high, intrinsic value in helping other people and helping other businesses, and it comes back to us," Holland said.

Helping during a difficult time

Taproot opened its second location, TAO (Taproot Annex One), at the Willamette Heritage Center just before the pandemic.

Even when both restaurants were shut down, Holland and other employees volunteered, making COVID masks during the shortage. They also maintain a menu item called the "community bowl," allowing customers to buy a meal for someone in need.

"We can feel good about what we were doing amongst all this mess," Holland said.

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Holland invited the vendors of the market at no cost to them. Taproots employees are onsite to manage customers. Vendors and artists select and set up their booths, then Taproot rings purchases up in their system and cuts the seller a check. The only charge Taproot keeps is the credit card processing fee.