Courtesy Photo Alpena employees prepare the property where a new market is planned in downtown Alpena. The Alpena Downtown Development Authority announced the names of several of the businesses that will be open at the market, including Knaebe's Apple Farm Ciderworks.

ALPENA — Knaebe’s Apple Farm Ciderworks is one of the four businesses selected so far to be included in the new market on the Thunder Bay River in downtown Alpena.

Knaebe’s, based in Rogers City, will provide its hard ciders and will join a handful of other businesses that will set up shop in the yet-to-be-named market at the corner of Water Street and 2nd Avenue.

The public will get an opportunity to name the market, as the Alpena Downtown Development Authority also released several proposed names for the market that people can vote for.

The names that will be considered by the public are Water Street Shops, 123 Water Street, Riverside Market, Riverside Social, and Water Street Commons.

People can vote on the Downtown Alpena Facebook page and at downtownalpena.com. Voting ends at midnight on Friday.

The market will consist of five 10 feet by 12 feet tiny shops that will be leased out to businesses and a 24 feet by 12 feet space which Knaebe’s will use as a taproom. People can purchase drinks and utilize the downtown social district to shop and enjoy the downtown parks, art, and other businesses.

Anne Gentry, DDA executive director, said the businesses that were selected will provide a good blend of options for people who visit the market. She said 17 small businesses applied for six available structures, and it was difficult to make decisions.

On Wednesday, Gentry announced the names of the three businesses that have been chosen so far and gave a brief description of each.

Knaebe’s

Knaebe’s has been a staple in Presque Isle County for decades and is hoping to expand into Alpena. Scott Kromer, who owns Knaebe’s with his wife Alison Paoletti Kromer, said besides the hard cider, the downtown location will also include candles, jams and jellies, and other products sold at the primary location. Scott Kromer said renting the small building allows him to test the market in Alpena and see if there is an opportunity to open a permanent location downtown.

“We have been looking to grow for a while, and the market allows us to try it without making a long-term investment,” he said. “We’ll see how it does and what the demand is, and then if there was an opportunity to open an Alpena location, we would definitely consider it.”

Birch Hill Grocery

The Presque Isle Township business isn’t your typical grocery store, and it has big plans for its space in the market, Gentry said. She said Birch Hill intends to offer freshly-baked goods, such as baguettes, coffee cake, sweets, rum balls, and some gluten-free products. Also, there will be pesto spreads, salsa, and other spreads and dips. There will also be a refrigerator so cheese will be available, as well as unique gift items.

Like Knaebe’s, Gentry said the owner of the store has an interest in expanding her company and opening a location in Alpena.

“We’re really excited to have Birch Hill,” Gentry said. “We have been working with them for some time because she wants to have some type of downtown presence. She understands there is a bigger market here and this is the perfect opportunity for a business like this to try out the market.”

Mana Wellness

Mana Wellness has a location in Elk Rapids, and the owners have been considering conducting business in Alpena, too, Gentry said. The small store will sell women’s clothing, jewelry, and other accessories and retail items.

“She is another one who said she has always looked at Alpena’s downtown and wanted a brick and mortar location, and the market is a great opportunity to give it a try,” Gentry said. “She has been to a few of the markets downstate that we were looking at, and I think it is a good fit.”

Calia’s Empurrium

Calia’s Empurrium will feature locally made cat toys, accessories, as well as cat and pet themed gifts. Gentry said the owner wants to establish her business in Alpena with the goal of opening a cat cafe in Alpena.

Gentry said some of the businesses that were selected had second thoughts, and now, the DDA board will reach out to other applicants to fill the remaining shops. She said that wouldn’t be an issue because there was a lot of interest in the business space. Gentry said the application review process was challenging because the businesses that applied were all solid.

“It was difficult, and I think all of them would have been good fits for the downtown,” she said.

Gentry said the other businesses that will be in the market will be announced soon, and also that the DDA is still searching for food truck owners to serve food and drinks at the market.

Gentry said the DDA is hopeful the market will be open in time for the Flower Festival, which begins on June 6.