Courier Article - Farmers’ markets making move to RiverLoop Expo By JOHN MOLSEED, john.molseed@wcfcourier.com | Posted: Sunday, April 11, 2010 9:00 am |
WATERLOO - The downtown farmers' market is moving to a more spacious home this season.
The weekly market will move across the river May 1 to the RiverLoop Expo. The public space also will host the Thursday market that was at Crossroads Center last year.
"I'm looking forward to it," vendor Brenda Pfautsch said. "It's what, years ago, the project was initially intended for."
Sindee Kleckner, executive director of Main Street Waterloo, said the move gives the market more room and an opportunity to showcase changes made downtown.
"That space is just crying out for it," she said.
Mark Litteaur, a vendor, said the change likely will draw more people to the market.
"It's a little more visibility," he said.
Litteaur added that relocating the Thursday evening market downtown also will draw more walk-up shoppers.
One concern vendors have expressed is where they will go when other downtown events occupy the plaza. But Kleckner said layouts have been developed to accommodate activities, such as My Waterloo Days.
Pfautsch said she isn't concerned other events might confuse her customers.
"The biggest move we'll make is going to be maybe 50 feet," she said.
The other activities also can be a source for new customers to the market just as farmers' market shoppers could be customers for downtown venues.
"We're going to find activity breeds activity," Kleckner said. "This move will be great in letting those opportunities unfold."
Kleckner said other activities, such as presentations by master gardeners and cooks, will continue and activities could expand.
"Right now we're concentrating on moving what we have," she said.
The downtown farmers' market has been in the lot adjacent to the Regions Bank since the early 1980s.
Litteaur is looking forward to the change.
"We see this pavilion area as a very permanent, stable place," he said.
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