DeeDee Vilas

DeeDee Vilas is a devoted and longtime customer of Findlay Market. She started coming to the market periodically as a child and even visited the market during an elementary school field trip. She recalls her parents giving her money for the trip to buy anything she wanted, but instead of getting sweets and treats like her fellow classmates, she spent her money on vegetables. 

“It’s really weird for a kid to buy vegetables, but I just really liked corn,” says DeeDee with a laugh. 

In 2020, DeeDee was invited to become a beta user for the Findlay Market Shopping App. At the time, the Shopping App did not have a delivery option available. It wasn’t until Covid-19 hit that the Shopping App opened delivery. 

“I was so happy that I could shop locally and get really good groceries AND have it delivered to my house, especially during such a difficult time,” says DeeDee.

The Findlay Market Shopping App was put on pause in the Fall of 2021 to undergo some changes. Shopping App 2.0 was officially relaunched in the Summer of 2022 and now has over 30 businesses and continues to add more each month. 

DeeDee tells us that the new app is much more user friendly and easier to use. She loves being able to shop from her favorite merchants on her phone, especially when the weather is too cold to shop in-person.  

While DeeDee loves shopping via the Findlay Market Shopping App, she still enjoys visiting the market in person to see her favorite merchants. Some of her favorites include Em’s Bread, Gibb’s Cheese & Sausage and Eckerlin Meats. 

One of DeeDee’s favorite aspects of Findlay Market is the people. “Everyone is so nice and friendly. This place has such a sense of community, and I always feel welcome everytime I come,” says DeeDee. 

DeeDee tells us that she enjoys visiting Findlay Market on Fridays during the summer. She would get off work at 1pm every Friday and would pick up her mom to shop together at the market. “Getting to spend that time together is so special,” says DeeDee. 

DeeDee’s advice for anyone visiting Findlay Market is to be open-minded; enjoy the experience and be open to walking around, asking questions, and talking to the vendors. “Findlay Market is such a great part of Cincinnati, and I want everyone to experience it,” says DeeDee.