This email was in reply to a number of discussions talking place on V2020, a local list serve. Folks were discussing the idea of moving the farmers' market to the fair grounds.

10/03/03

As a vendor, I see a number of things to consider. A couple of them are market location and market configuration.

Is the fair grounds a location where as many people will come to the market by driving, walking, and riding their bikes as they do now? Will U of I students and their visiting families attend as regularly? Will folks from Pullman, Colfax, and other locations attend as frequently? It is also necessary to consider that it will probably take a few years for the market to recover from a change in location. The market may not completely recover or it may improve. The vendors take the risk for both the short run and the long run.

There is something that makes the Moscow Farmers' Market a success. In my opinion, one of the major factors is market configuration. Consider a few of the things this market provides for the people who attend: A different kind of shopping, entertainment, and a place to socialize.

The present configuration is essentially a square. The entire market can be seen from almost anywhere within the square. Customers can see the vendors and the customers can see their friends. In other words, as the customers move around in this fairly tight square area, they have maximum exposure to the vendors for shopping and maximum exposure to their friends for socializing. Since food vendors are dispersed throughout the square market area, there are always a number of people standing around talking while drinking coffee, etc. If the customers want entertainment, they can find it at the side of the market in Friendship Square where it enhances the market, but does not interfere with it.

About 18 months ago, when I first heard about the idea of moving the entire market to Main Street, I started thinking about market configurations. It didn't take long to realize that the Main Street idea could only work under special circumstances and would be a bad deal for the vendors and customers in our market. At first, I thought maybe the most ideal configuration would be a circle with the entertainment in the middle. But, I concluded that the entertainment in the middle of the circle would interfere with the visibility and proximity between customers, friends, and vendors. I think the configuration we have now is as close to ideal as we will ever have.

In theory, if we moved to the fair grounds, the configuration could be the same. This idea has been around for a long time, so I've looked around at the fair grounds and thought about the advantages different folks have put forward. More parking and somewhat easier access to restrooms would be nice. The outside stage, with some modification, could face the flat area where the vendors should be. This flat gravel area doesn't have much atmosphere, but we could get our cars, trucks, and trailers in to load and unload. There would be quite a traffic jam getting in and out.

Using the inside area would be a problem. Vendors selling produce, plants, and a number of other things would have a miserable time moving their stuff in and out of the building. If only some of the vendors move into the building, the market is split and the advantage of the tight square configuration is lost.

I think this market is easier to damage than it is to improve. We need to make sure there is a very clear and compelling reason to change it. Changes in location or configuration should be considered carefully.

In addition to being a vendor, my wife and I are residents of Moscow and believe the market is important for downtown. We need to figure out if there is a way to solve some of the downtown problems, such a parking and other issues, without damaging the market. In the end, the council will have to make a decision that is best for the City.

I hope this is helpful,

Brad King

Previous discussion:

Subject: Re: [Vision2020] FM Improvement; another option

One other thought on proposed changes to the market: it would be very interesting to hear from vendors regarding their thoughts on such a move, or indeed any move/changes. Pros, cons and so forth.

----- Original Message -----

Subject: RE: [Vision2020] FM Improvement; another option

Thank you for your response and thoughts on Farmer's Market. The fair grounds does have a historic function very similar to the Market. Your idea has some good merits to it and I will forward it to the FM committee members for further consideration and discussion.

Best regards,

Subject: [Vision2020] FM Improvement; another option

Just a thought....but how about changing the venue of FM (Farmer's Market)? Move the market to the fair grounds.The fair grounds has plenty of space in a park like setting, lots of parking ( more to come), a ready made stage area, bathrooms, a kitchen/grill and indoor facilities in case of inclement weather.

Historically fair grounds were established to showcase agricultural products and marrying the market with the fairgrounds could be an ideal solution. I have talked with some of the venders at the market and they don't care where the market is located as long as they have space to sell their products and have customers. The fair grounds offers more space to allow for more venders. The local bakeries and restaurants could set up shop at the fairgrounds in the same way that Mikey's Gyro's does during the Fair. Saturday of the Fair would be the only time the fairgrounds would be unavailable.


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