Hannah Witwer and Brian Omino celebrated their wedding reception at the Broad Street Market. Photo by Sarah Beth Creative LLC.
Harrisburg residents Hannah Witwer and Brian Omino were already big fans of the Broad Street Market, but after this month, the market holds even more meaning.
The couple celebrated their wedding at the market in May, bringing their relationship, which began at the market, full circle.
“It was everything we wanted it to be,” Witwer said. “It felt like we were walking into a place we call home. It made me love the market even more.”
Witwer said the couple was first introduced through friends and soon after ran into each other at the market, a favorite lunch spot for both of them. That interaction sparked the beginning of what would eventually become a relationship, Witwer said.
With their history in mind, it only made sense to celebrate their marriage at the place it all began.
The Broad Street Market has recently ramped up hosting events, as a way to bring a new revenue source to the market, which has struggled financially, and to inspire community connection, according to market director Cherri Parks-Taylor.
Over the past few months, Parks-Taylor brought in community groups, nonprofits and residents for Christmas parties, annual meetings and other occasions, asking them to help her trial the market as an event space. So far, the response has been great. In just one week, the market hosted a comedy show, menu tasting and Witwer and Omino’s wedding.
While all the events had gone smoothly up until this point, throwing a wedding reception was a whole different experience.
Witwer and Parks-Taylor worked together, bouncing ideas off each other and practicing staging the market for the big day. Even market vendors volunteered—vendors who would not be open on the day of the wedding and were not getting paid to help. Tep’s Fresh Seafood owner Tito Tep and his wife Pam donated décor from their daughter’s recent wedding and helped on the day of, along with Tatiana Roberts of Marie’s Kitchen.
Brian and Hannah with guests during their wedding reception. Photo by Sarah Beth Creative LLC.
“I was so impressed with how it all came together in such a little amount of time,” Parks-Taylor said.
For the reception, the market was transformed, with elegantly dressed tables, floral arrangements, white draped linens, a photobooth and DJ booth.
“I walked in and my jaw just dropped,” Witwer said. “It was so magical.”
Market vendor Yum, Yum! served burritos, rice and beans, chips and other food to guests, while Zeroday poured drinks. Vendor Diaspora provided flower planters.
Parks-Taylor said that the market community pitching in to help is simply their nature. To Witwer, it made her special day even better.
“I felt loved by the community,” she said. “I can’t say enough about how wonderful it was.”
Parks-Taylor hopes that as people begin to see photos and hear stories from events, like Witwer and Omino’s wedding reception, the community will see the market as a venue.
Inside Broad Street Market decorated for wedding reception. Photo by Sarah Beth Creative LLC.
“My hope is that it will open people’s eyes to the market as an event space,” she said. “I think there’s a market for us to make additional revenue.”
Since the 2023 fire that closed the market’s brick building, the market has struggled financially due to decreased vendors and foot traffic. In recent months, they’ve relied on grant funding and this year have a budget deficit.
However, the Broad Street Market Alliance, the nonprofit board that runs the market, has been working to create new revenue streams. Creating financial sustainability has been especially important to Parks-Taylor, as well as several new board members. The alliance recently installed a TV screen in the market that displays paid advertising, and at monthly meetings, the board has discussed ideas for sponsorships, grants and soliciting city funds.
Most recently, the board expressed its intention to lobby Harrisburg to include a regular line item in its annual budget to support the market. The city is the owner of the market buildings, but the nonprofit board controls all operations. While the city is footing the cost of the brick building rehab after the fire, Harrisburg has not historically included an allotment for building maintenance in its yearly budget.
Events, however, have been the big push for now, something that is within the market’s control and that has shown early positive results.
At a May board meeting, Tep spoke passionately about the new events initiative.
“I just feel that it’s always been in front of us,” he said. “The biggest asset is the market itself.”
Witwer would agree.
“The building is beautiful, and you can do so much with the space,” she said.
Outside of the Broad Street Market on the day of the wedding.
The market has an event inquiry form on its website. People interested in hosting an event at the market, can visit their website.
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