Frogs, crepes and soap have very few things in common – until now.

The Juanita Friday Market at Juanita Beach Park opened Friday with 22 vendors selling everything from living aquariums to fresh vegetables. But the big topic of discussion for market goers and vendors was what side of the street the market was set up on.

“I think it is going to be a lot better than last year as long as they do a little more marketing,” said Tal Chang, who runs the Living Aquariums business.

The market was temporarily moved the past two years to the north side of the park by Juanita Village for the redevelopment of the beach side of the park. But this year the market moved back across Juanita Drive to the delight of vendors.

“I think it will increase the numper of people who come down because of the setting,” said Maryann de Haas, who runs The Trimmed Wick. “People can eat outside and enjoy the view.”

The City of Kirkland’s Deputy Director of Parks and Community Services Michael Cogle worked to get the park redeveloped and attended the first day of the market.

“I know how excited the vendors are to be over here and we hope that it will attract more people,” said Cogle. “It’ll grow. The market will probably double at the peak of growing season.”

The market is located at the west side of the parking lot with space for growth.

The Friday Market showcases many unique businesses, including the Living Aquariums, which are designed to be their own ecosystem for a pet frog. The self-contained environment, which is about the size of a large thermos and up to a small lunch box, has a snail to clean the algae off the sides, plants to generate oxygen for the frogs and gravel to clean the water. The aquarium also comes with a year supply of food.

“Kids like them and some people buy them as a desktop pet,” said Chang, who will also be at the Kirkland Wednesday Market at Marina Park this summer.

Haas, who has done the Friday Market for years, said that while small, the market has given her some of her most loyal customers.

“We had a good crowd last year,” said Haas, who does multiple markets each year. “If we can get more booths it will help.”

The Trimmed Wick sells handmade soy-based candles and soaps and has been in business for 10 years. The homemade products have been so successful that “cut your own slice” vendors have been available at Thriftway stores. The Trimmed Wick can also be found online at www.trimmedwick.com

“My son was born with eczema and started making our own soaps,” said Haas, who is from Woodinville. “The markets really help our product because we depend on word-of-mouth.”

Many of the businesses at the market depend on word-of-mouth to advertise and the market gives them a place to display their goods without the cost of a storefront. Some just sell delicious goods for the day at the beach like the Oak Hills Farms Hawaiian Shave Ice, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

More information

The Juanita Friday Market runs from 3-7 p.m. through Oct. 5.