The Market at Caplan’s

Future Vendor Interest: The Market at Caplan’s

Thank you for your interest in The Market at Caplan’s, a new local-goods marketplace and incubator located in the historic Caplan’s Building in Old Ellicott City at 8125 Main Street. This marketplace and incubator is being administered by the Howard County Economic Development Authority.

The goal of this market is to serve the practical, everyday needs of those who live and work in our community, while offering visitors a meaningful way to take home a piece of the region’s history and creativity.

We know there are many talented makers and small businesses in and around Howard County, and we’re excited by the amount of creativity and craftsmanship in this region. As a new project, we’re starting small and carefully, focusing first on the kinds of goods that help us build a solid foundation and stay in harmony with other Main Street businesses.

Currently, we are primarily seeking everyday kitchen and household goods, as well as shelf-stable foods and beverages that are produced in compliance with Howard County food licensing regulations. To learn more about those requirements, please visit the County’s Farmers Markets & Cottage Food Businesses page.

After the holiday retail season, we plan to pursue additional licensing that will allow us to include a broader range of locally produced foods. This will help us thoughtfully develop a long-term marketplace that better meets the needs of local growers, makers, and buyers.

Any questions about licensing or food safety requirements should be directed to the Howard County Health Department directly, rather than to The Market at Caplan’s.

What We’re Looking For

At its heart, The Market at Caplan’s is a place for useful, well-made goods that people use every day and feel good about buying locally. We’re especially interested in:

• Shelf-stable pantry items such as jams, pickles, hot sauces, syrups, spices, teas, and baking mixes made under appropriate licensing.
• Everyday kitchen and household goods like tea towels, cutting boards, ceramics, cleaning products, and other functional items that bring craft into daily life.
• Household textiles such as blankets, towels, pillows, aprons, and other well-crafted fabric goods.
• Beeswax products including candles, wraps, or reusable household goods made from locally sourced wax.
• Regionally inspired goods highlighting Maryland agriculture, manufacturing, or history (railroad, mill, or river themes welcome).
• Culturally rooted crafts and practical items representing the diversity of our community.
• Books or printed materials connected to local agriculture, foodways, crafts, or cultural heritage.
• Seasonal or giftable items that fit the above categories, locally made, functional, and reflective of Old Ellicott City’s character.

Our guiding question is simple:
Would this item serve a real purpose in someone’s daily life while allowing them to take home a meaningful piece of this place?

If the answer is yes, we’d love to hear about it.

Why These Guidelines Exist

We’re proud to share a town with many wonderful local boutiques and galleries. To complement, not compete with, our neighbors, The Market at Caplan’s is focusing on underrepresented categories such as local foods and handcrafted household essentials.

We are not currently seeking vendors whose primary offerings include:

• Jewelry
• Clothing or apparel
• Art prints other than those featuring Caplan’s or Main Street
• Books outside regional agriculture, manufacturing, or arts themes
• Candles or body products duplicating existing offerings
• Purely decorative or non-functional home décor

Incubator Program

Beginning in early 2026, we’ll also be developing The Market at Caplan’s Incubator Program, a next-phase initiative designed to help local makers, growers, and small producers strengthen their businesses through mentorship, licensing support, retail training, and shared resources.

The incubator will focus on removing barriers for emerging entrepreneurs, especially those from underrepresented communities, while creating a supportive pathway from small-scale production to sustainable retail and wholesale readiness.

This phased rollout allows us to build the structure and partnerships needed to make the program meaningful and equitable for participants.