by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
After eight years of weekly operation near Hemming Plaza, Downtown Vision’s Friday Market moved to its new site at the Landing last week.
The 52-week-a-year event (or less, depending on inclement weather) opened for the first time under the Skyway track on Hogan Street with just two vendors. After a couple of years and as it grew in popularity with merchants and customers, it was moved to Hemming Plaza, its home for the past six years.
The decision for the latest relocation and partnership with the Landing was based on DVI’s interest in taking advantage of the Laura Street improvement project and the Downtown advocacy organization’s published study of ways to create a more vibrant urban core.
“One of the principles of our recent white paper discusses what we have Downtown and making things work better. This partnership is our effort to take the market to the next level and make it successful,” said DVI Executive Director Terry Lorince.
Global GreenUp, a local company that specializes in event planning with an emphasis on environmental awareness and sustainability, manages the market. It also coordinates the farmers and arts markets at the Whole Foods grocery store in Mandarin and similar events in Orange Park and Fleming Island as well as the annual Jacksonville Green, Health & Wellness Expo.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to bring their expertise Downtown and for vendors to be able to engage more customers,” said Janice Lowe, Landing general manager.
The inaugural market at the Landing hosted merchants offering fresh produce, baked goods, local honey, snow cones, jewelry, skin-care products and pet fashions, a wider variety of selections from more vendors than has been available at Hemming Plaza.
Another aspect for the market’s new home is that at the Landing, vendors will be able to set up their wares indoors if it’s raining or cold and windy, but climate wasn’t an issue for the debut.
“The weather was perfect and everybody was happy,” said Landing Marketing Director Michael Chambliss. “We’ve been looking for a way to activate the front of the Landing and the market did it.”
The Downtown Friday Market is held each week, rain or shine, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Interested retailers can call Global GreenUp at 236-9966 for details about how to participate.
356-2466