Common Market South End will close July 30. On Friday night, they threw a final party. The owners are looking for a new location, but nothing has been finalized.

How do you say goodbye to such a special place? April Marten, Laurie Smithwick and Chandler Marten executed on a beautiful idea – a giant wall of post-it notes filled with memories and messages. 

April Marten shared an art studio space above Common Market. When asked about the last few months, she told the Agenda: “It was hard to watch my studio partner, who was there for over 20 years, go through the process of eviction. We all hung out at Common Market on a daily basis, these were our friends and neighbors and we were all feeling a range of emotions about the impending loss of our beloved neighborhood gathering place. I knew I had to do something to bring everyone in, at street level, to express ourselves through art.”

April describes the art as a “love letter.”

Neighbors were invited to share their thoughts on the post-it notes that made up the collage.

When asked what she’ll miss most about the Common Market, April responded, “Chuck, the people and the only gathering space in South End where everyone is welcome and safe to be truly themselves.”