Ohio’s Market Berlin’s Black Friday ExtravaganzaBy: Adam Cook

In Berlin, where buggies share the road with tour buses, the heartbeat of holiday shopping isn’t in a mall — it’s in a market.

Some people drive an hour or more to reach a mall. Others know better.

At Ohio’s Market Berlin, 32 shops live under one roof, stocked with handpicked apparel, antique crocks and home décor that looks discovered, not mass-produced. It’s where shopping small feels like shopping smart and where locals and out-of-towners alike agree it’s worth the drive.

For Marvin Yoder, who helps manage the 24,000-square-foot market with co-owner Abe Miller, keeping things fresh is part of the job.

“Every day we’re bringing out new products,” he said. “Show up once a week, once a month, once a year — you’ll always find something different, something you haven’t seen before.”

That sense of discovery has made Ohio’s Market Berlin a destination since its start, and it’s what will draw crowds again this season for the annual Black Friday Bash on Nov. 28.

Doors open at 6 a.m. for the market’s biggest shopping day of the year. The first 100 customers through the door are automatically entered to win a $500 shopping spree.

“We’re drawing for gift cards every 15 minutes, anywhere from $25-$500, plus door prizes all day long,” Yoder said. “It’s a big event and our way of giving back to the community.”

Early risers also can enjoy a free breakfast from 6-9 a.m. while browsing the basement sale, a clearance of thousands of overstocked and discontinued items marked down as much as 90%.

“We save those pieces all year just for this sale,” Yoder said. “It’s a lot of people and a lot of fun.”

While the bash brings the crowds, what keeps them coming back all year is the mix inside: 32 vendors offering everything from fashion and furniture to kitchenware and antiques.

“We look for quality across the board,” Yoder said. “Affordable essentials and one-of-a-kind pieces — that combination is what sets us apart from the chains.”

Among the vendors delivering on that promise is Grace and Joy Co., a boutique owned by Valerie Kuhns.

“She handpicks every piece herself,” Yoder said. “She goes to shows in Atlanta, Texas and Las Vegas to find what fits our clientele. She’s our No. 1 apparel vendor right now.”

Another standout is Ma’aleh, specializing in collars, leashes and belts made from Biothane, a durable, waterproof material that resists odor, mold and mildew.

And then there’s the Ivy Versa Tote Bag, designed exclusively for Ohio’s Market Berlin.

“It’s brand-new this year,” Yoder said. “You won’t find it anywhere else.”

The result is a shopping experience that feels curated rather than crowded, where every aisle offers something unexpected.

The past still has pride of place. Yoder and Miller have been collecting and selling antiques for more than 30 years, sourcing unique finds from auctions across the country.

“We buy all across the United States,” Yoder said. “We just sent one of our drivers to New Jersey and New York, and he came back with a van full of antiques from the East Coast.”

Inside the market, those pieces mingle with modern finds to create an atmosphere that’s equal parts nostalgia and novelty.

“We look for the unique, hard-to-find pieces — good kitchen primitives, old advertising signs, railroad items,” Yoder said. “Some of the crocks date back to the 1800s.”

That mix of old and new, unique finds, and affordable essentials gives the market its pull, drawing locals and day-trippers alike.

“Everybody wants to go Black Friday shopping,” Yoder said. “But if you live around here, you can skip the traffic to Cleveland or Columbus and shop at your own pace.”

Whether you’re five minutes down the road or a state away, Ohio’s Market Berlin rewards the trip: 32 shops, thousands of surprises and one roof where holiday shopping feels like time well spent.

The Black Friday Bash at Ohio’s Market Berlin is Nov. 28, with doors opening at 6 a.m. The market is located at 5916 County Road 168 in Millersburg. For more information call 740-502-9825, email hcpickers@gmail.com or visit OhiosMarket.com for a complete list of vendors. This content is sponsored by Ohio’s Market Berlin.