The Big Red Shed has always had a little bit of everything inside.
Soon, there will also be a little bit of everything on the outside, too.
The Westby Friday Night Farm and Flea Market will kick-off on May 29 in the parking lot of The Big Red Shed, located at 113 E. State Street, Westby.
It will run weekly every Friday night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. through the summer until Labor Day. According to vendor coordinator Tabby Voss, there will be something for everyone, from handmade crafts to locally grown produce, and even some baby chicks.
“It’s a mix,” said Voss. “Handmade items, body products, soaps, lotion, jewelry, woodworking. Some produce, baked goods, people who sew.... placemats and purses. Eggs, and someone is bringing chicks... A good mix of locally produced items.”
Food will also be available from Borgen’s Cafe take-out window in the alley.
Voss says they currently have 15 vendors and will be accepting applications through the season, which can be found online or at The Big Red Shed.
Monte Hankee, owner of The Big Red Shed, was inspired by the Viroqua Farmers Market and came up with the evening shopping event as a way to bring more people to downtown Westby on a Friday night. He also says the idea is rooted in his upbringing since he was raised on a farm.
“I was born and raised on a farm, so I’ve always loved fresh produce and baked goods,” Monte said. “I also love supporting other small businesses.”
Hankee says that their target audience is those who may be driving home for work and need to grab some fresh produce for dinner, or just those looking to fill the void on a Friday night.
“My hope is that this market brings fresh food to the community and gives people something fun to do on a Friday night,” said Hankee.
Hankee foresees the market growing to include live music, but to begin with, he’s just looking forward to drawing more people to Westby and opening the doors most nights to The Big Red Shed.
MONTE & THE BIG RED SHED
Monte Hankee, who resides west of Cashton in Portland, bought The Big Old Red Shed in 2023 but fell in love with the building nearly a decade earlier when he became a vendor.
“I started as an upstairs vendor here in 2016,” said Hankee. “I loved the place and started helping clean up areas upstairs and expand some of the booths. I just saw what this place could be.”
The building was built between 1911 and 1913 and was originally a lumberyard, stationed on the west side of the railroad.
Around 100 years later, it was accurately named when it started housing antiques for sale around 2010: it’s big, it’s red, it’s old, and it’s a shed. The majority of the space is not completely climate-controlled so the indoor temperature is at the mercy of whatever is going on outside, which is just one of its quirks.
“It’s an adventure. People come here and they love it,” said Hankee. “There’s no place around like it. The boards are uneven. It creaks. There’s not a straight board in the building.”
Hankee says he’s cleared up a lot of old storage areas so now most of the space is used for selling. He’s invested a lot of time and a fair chunk of change into improving the vendor spaces and walkways with new lighting, structural reinforcement, and fans for airflow. Those who have ever tried to keep a barn dust free will understand when Monte says he spends most of his time sweeping.
“It’s truly neverending,” said Hankee. “But it’s a labor of love.”
He says that there are over 50 vendors across 80 booths and that inventory turns over often and there’s something for everyone.
“It’s constantly changing,” said Hankee. “We really have a little bit of everything.”
Monte says that will ring true for the Friday night market as well, and that there is still room for more vendors outside, and inside, The Big Red Shed.
The Big Red Shed is open Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For information about becoming a vendor inside the building, contact Monte Hankee at 608-487-1669 or email mc.hankee23@gmail.com.
