by Bailey White
Staff Writer
Downtown Vision, Inc.’s Farmers Market is expanding. Because of the success of the Northbank market, which began last April, a mini-market has opened on Prudential Drive underneath the breezeway that connects the Aetna building to its parking garage.
“Our property is part of Downtown Vision, but I felt like it [the Downtown Farmers Market] was too far for a lot of my tenants to be able to go to and enjoy,” said Betsy Reichert, general manager of the Aetna building.
Reichert worked with DVI’s event coordinator Amy Crockett to open the Southbank market.
“It seemed only fair that they should have a market as well,” said Crockett on the decision to expand.
Reichert said the market serves not only her tenants, but ones from surrounding buildings.
“It’s not exclusively for my tenants, but for anyone on the Southbank. It’s all about creating what I perceive as people activities,” she said.
The Southbank market is a smaller version of the one that runs along Hogan Street between Adams and Monroe streets downtown. It’s open on Thursday because all the vendors are also involved in Friday’s downtown market.
“There were space constraints, so right now there are only three of the most popular vendors and they’ve taken off with it,” said Crockett.
Dale Collins was there first to sell his fresh produce and he convinced Ed Jenkins of Moonlight Roses to sell his fresh flowers and Maria Ferra to bring her pastries, breads and other baked goods from her shop, Maria’s Bakery.
So far, the vendors say it’s going pretty well.
“The only hindrance right now is that we don’t have the visibility and through traffic of downtown,” said Jenkins, adding his mixed bouquets have become very popular. “But we’re letting people know we’re here and I’m sure it will grow as people know about it.”
The Downtown Farmers Market began as a six-week demonstration program.
“We wanted to let people know that this was something we could do,” said Crockett. “But people kept coming and they’ve told us that they don’t want us to stop just because it’s getting colder.”
Both markets will continue year round, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“Apparently, the venue has done extremely well for the vendors,” said Reichert. “The first couple of weeks were windy and cold, but they still loved it.”
Crockett also said that another mini-market could open at Friendship Fountain. However, vendors plan to wait until warmer weather arrives.
In the meantime, Crockett and other organizers are working on making it easier for vendors to do business downtown and planning a possible expansion.
“The Northbank market averages around six or seven vendors. We’d like to see 10-15,” she said.
Both markets are open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.