08.12.24
KIVA Spotlight: Swizzle Market stirring up change in Fort Wayne
Mix style, selection, quality, and location with a dash of non-alcoholic beverages, and you have an establishment unique on the Fort Wayne entertainment scene — Swizzle Market, at Jefferson Pointe. The concoction is the creation of Crystal Vann Wallstrom, who received a boost from a Kiva Loan secured through the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC).
Crystal’s extensive entrepreneurial experience served her well as Swizzle Market went from good idea to reality in a matter of a months. The native Oklahoman moved to Fort Wayne nine years ago and worked with emerging businesses for several years before starting one of her own.
In a recent interview, she credits “decades of experience as a brand strategist and business coach” for preparing her to launch Swizzle Market. “I’ve been doing entrepreneurial-related activities for a long time and this just fit as my next chapter — kind of a personal mission that meshes my professional experience with my personal passions. Suddenly, I found myself creating a unique space here!”
She established Swizzle as a place where people can enjoy the ambiance and camaraderie of a traditional cocktail lounge — minus the alcohol. Customers can partake of non-alcoholic wines, beer, and spirits in a setting that includes a variety of attractive plants and gifts. The unusual concept quickly resonated with a clientele that appreciated an alternative to the customary bar scene, fostering a community around health-conscious and inclusive social experiences.
“I don’t drink anymore and couldn’t find adult, sophisticated beverages,” she recalls. “I went online and discovered this whole world of alcohol-free beverages and decided to bring it to Fort Wayne.”
Swizzle Market began last winter as a pop-up on The Landing and was so well-received that Crystal needed to find roomier quarters. She found that in the former goodMRKT location at Jefferson Pointe, on the city’s southwest side.
“I opened the doors on May 6th, and people have been very excited at how much there is to choose from,” she says. “Now there is a place that provides the cocktail experience without the alcohol, allowing people to enjoy a drink that is sophisticated yet alcohol-free. Our mission is to normalize being alcohol-free without sacrificing taste, community, or engaging experiences.” Swizzle Market is open from 8 a.m.-7 pm. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays.
Crystal sought a Kiva Loan to help with Swizzle’s initial utility services and other start-up operational expenses. Kiva is an international nonprofit, founded in 2005 in San Francisco, with a mission to expand financial access to help underserved communities thrive. Kiva, the world’s first personal micro-lending platform, empowers everyday people to pool small lending contributions to support small businesses. By crowdfunding loans, Kiva unlocks capital for entrepreneurs who are unable to secure traditional bank financing. The NIIC introduced Kiva to Northeast Indiana entrepreneurs in 2020, collaborating with the City of Fort Wayne, The SEED Program, and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). Through Kiva Northeast Indiana’s efforts, these entrepreneurs can launch and grow their businesses, driving economic growth and creating new opportunities in the community.
She assembled her investors through social media posts and was awarded a $5,500 loan this past spring.
Beverages and gift sales are just the opening act for Swizzle Market. Crystal plans to repurpose unused parts of the building as areas to nurture fellow entrepreneurs’ start-ups.
“Ideally, we’re going to grow and become a community retail incubator as well,” she concludes. “It will provide a space for different businesses that want a brick-and-mortar space but can’t afford the full $100,000 it takes to open one. They can find affordable space here and work on growing their business, enriching the entire community.”
Let’s offer a toast to that!
