NORTH CANTON ‒ Lynn and Dave Shimko had an idea on their way to Cincinnati to visit their son a decade ago.
During the drive, they started thinking about starting a pop-up shop to sell items in their spare time.
"With the maker movement just beginning to hold events in some of the big cities we visited when traveling, we thought we could develop similar markets in our area," Lynn Shimko said. "After talking, we realized there wasn't a place and space in our area the size of what we envisioned we needed. But we still believed there was a need for a public market-style event in our hometown of North Canton."
Lynn was a full-time graphic designer, and Dave was a cabinet builder at the time.
Today, Lynn is a full-time community connector and Dave is a full-time manager at 720 Community Markets and Events, which is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2026.
The pair thought about the parking lots and the spaces in North Canton that went unused on weekends. They decided to pitch the idea for pop-up markets to local stakeholders, including the Hoover District, YMCA, city of North Canton, and North Canton Chamber of Commerce.
Food trucks were also gaining in popularity at the time, making it good timing to add them to the concept.
"Local cities at that time were not allowing food trucks to park and vend, but we took a chance and added them. Craft beer was also an important component for us to add, especially with the popularity of local breweries," Lynn Shimko said.
"It was a novel idea to bring shopping, food trucks and craft beer to an event in North Canton. Part of the impact of that was that years later, the Entertainment and DORA District were developed in the downtown space."
The turnout of that first event held in the Hoover District's parking lot surprised everyone.
"We were amazed. We were hoping to get 50 vendors to apply, and we had almost that many. Plus, we thought our friends and family would stop in and support us. What we experienced was so much more. Families. Friend groups. All ages," Lynn Shimko said.
"They came to shop and support local small businesses. We did a lot of promotion and advertising, and it was like a grassroots movement with vendors getting excited along with the guests. At each market that first year, we realized that this was more than a market. 720 Markets were growing small businesses and creating community."
They held three markets that first summer, two at the Hoover District and one at Waterside Centre, a DeHoff development near Ro's Custard stand; now an orthodontist office is there.
Another component is using different locations.
"From the start, we knew it would be a new concept to move to different locations — to keep it fresh and interesting for guests. It was also part of the 720 mission to promote local places to locals. The idea was to be a tourist in your own backyard and see things with new eyes," Lynn Shimko said.
These days, there are 100 to 120 vendors at the larger venues.
The main locations include downtown North Canton and St. Paul Catholic Church parking lot, downtown Massillon, and Walsh University's Hoover Park. New for 2026 are Glamorgan Castle in Alliance and the village of Hartville.
Other event locations under the 720 umbrellas include the SidestreetMKTS, Second Saturdays at Oakwood Square in Plain Township, and Holiday Market at Oakwood Square.
Yet another added component is to collaborate with communities to hold joint events. The 720 FESTIVAL partner events are the BAR B Q MKT at the North Canton Main Street Festival, 720MKTPLATZ at New Berlin Festival, 720 Boutique Market at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Fashion Show, and 720 at BIA Home & Garden Show.
Additional regular 720 events that pop up along the way include 720 Shop Small, smaller events with 30 vendors held at Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, Massillon Museum, Great Trail and others. The indoor markets have been at the Akron-Canton Airport, Canton Cultural Center for the Arts, Hall of Fame Village and John S. Knight Center in Akron. New this year is the MAPS Air Museum in Green.
"Our larger venues hold more vendors and more guests; and they have a festival atmosphere," Lynn Shimko said.
She estimated the larger events each attract between 6,500 and 7,500 shoppers.
Catherine Farina-Molnar, director of administration for North Canton, said the city is honored to have the name be a nod to the city's ZIP code of 44720.
"We love Lynn and Dave and have supported them from the start of their venture and by hosting the first 720 Market event, plus we continue to support their efforts along the way," Farina-Molnar said. "The events are great for the community and give people a reason to visit the city and draw people to visit the downtown area. The events also support all of the many vendors, small businesses, and entrepreneurs who are just getting started and need visibility."
One of the local favorite vendors is the Crazy Cucumber, owned by Katie Varga. She started it in 2014 in Johnstown. Varga said she set up at a 720 Market for the first time in 2017 at Gervasi.
"I put a Facebook post up and asked people where they would like to see us set up at, and we got a large number of people responding that they wanted us to do a 720 Market," Varga said. "The 720 events have always been top-notch events. Selling at the different 720 events has impacted my business tremendously and helped us expand our market from the Columbus area to Northeast Ohio. We serve thousands of people at the 720 events. Our biggest sellers there are Dill Pickle and Sweet Heat Pickle."
Another vendor is Abby Leno, the owner and graphic designer for the Gameday Boutique, who started her business as a side hustle.
"My sales have totally taken off since I started selling at 720 Markets," she said. "My brand has been exposed to a market of people that I wouldn't have reached without 720. Aside from my sales increasing on market days, I have made many professional connections."
Leno believes the 720 Markets concept has been successful because the Shimkos have created an authentic brand.
"The slogan of 720 is all about good vibes, supporting local and having fun, and that is exactly who they are: good people who truly want to make a difference in the community by supporting local artists. When you go to a 720 Market, you know it's going to be well organized, well promoted, and a good time," Leno said.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: 720 Markets founders celebrating 10 years of shop-local mentality