Bumper crops will be back at this year’s farmers market, but planned construction in downtown Silver Spring leaves the market’s location in the lurch, organizers say.
The seasonal market, which sets up on Ellsworth Drive between Fenton and Cedar streets, could be squeezed out by construction on Silver Spring’s civic center, Janna Howley, the market’s outreach manager, told Silver Spring’s urban-district advisory committee last Thursday.
“We’re not sure how we’re going to tackle that,” Howley admitted.
Construction along Ellsworth Drive could start in late May or early June and could last until late 2009, Gary Stith, director of Silver Spring’s regional center, said previously. Work on the civic center and adjacent plaza will shut down the Turf for good, but traffic on Ellsworth Drive will remain open.
However, vendors and pedestrians will not have enough wiggle room on that stretch of roadway once construction starts, Howley explained. Instead, market organizers hope to move operations one block west, to Ellsworth Drive between Fenton Street and Georgia Avenue.
A spokesperson for The Peterson Cos, which leases that section of Ellsworth Drive from the county, said the company would be willing to work something out with the farmers market.
There’s just one hitch: Whole Foods Market. The Texas-based supermarket chain, which rents space in the downtown development, has a clause in its lease that prevents The Peterson Cos from introducing another tenant that would pose direct competition. That could include the farmers market.
“There isn’t any ill will there,” Susan Hoffman, Silver Spring’s marketing director, explained. However, management at Whole Food’s downtown market requires permission from its corporate headquarters to give the farmers market the green light, she said.
The farmers market returns to Silver Spring on Saturday, Apr 19.
Photos: (top) Peaches for sale at the market in 2006; (left) a shopper who evidently didn’t get my message about the market’s tasty apple croissants. Credits: J. Deseo/SSP.
Updated Mar 27, 2008, at 10:40 a.m.
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I understand the contract clause between Whole Foods and Peterson, but it would be stupid for Whole Foods’ corporate to deny the farmers’ market some space on Ellsworth. If anything, it’s just illogical: when the vendors set up in the current space, they’re actually closer to – and thus more directly posing a threat as direct competition to – Whole Foods.
I also wonder about the effect of having a weekly farmers’ market near Whole Foods on their business. It reminds me of an article on Slate about how mom n’ pop coffee shops actually do better business when a Starbucks (or a dozen) open up nearby. Would/does the S.S. farmers’ market’s proximity have a similar effect on Whole Foods, or vice versa?
Okay okay, and the purely self-interested reason that I hope the farmers’ market doesn’t leave downtown: this year I’m getting a CSA through one of the vendors and don’t want to travel too far to pick up my share. :)
Nosestuckinabook wrote:
True-true. However, that stretch of Ellsworth between Fenton and Spring is public (ie, not leased by the Peterson Cos) and, therefore, not bound by the non-competition clause in Whole Foods’ lease.
I think it would be nice to put the farmers’ market in that stretch of Ellsworth, since it would enhance that part of the road as a pedestrian plaza of sorts. If that encourages the powers that be to make it permanently off-limits to cars (except for emergency vehicles), so much the better.
As for Whole Foods, you would think that anything which brings more people out to shop would be good for them. Besides, once you buy those fresh berries at the farmer’s market, the next logical step is to go to Whole Foods to get the flour and other stuff you need to make fresh muffins, etc.
What about setting up in the Arts Alley behind Mayorga, or along Kennett Street in the high-falutin “SOPO” district of Silver Spring ? Bring some foot traffic down south-side.
Or even the little feeder street in front of Taste of Jerusalem ? Lord knows they could use the traffic.
Editor’s note: I like that idea. — JD (Mar 27, 2008)
(An-ornery)mouse, that would be a great spot, though I wonder about parking for the vendors’ trucks and vehicles.
By the by, does anybody know what’s up with the vacant Georgia Blue shop near Taste of Jerusalem?
I wish they’d do this on Sunday, like in Du Pont Circle. Doing it on the Sabbath means I can’t go. :(
DMZ doesn’t roll on Shabbos.
Why don’t they just put it on Fenton St. between Ellsworth and Wayne? Doesn’t seem too complex an issue to solve to me.
Sligo, I think that there are a few bus lines that go through Fenton along that corridor. What is the likelihood that WMATA and MTA will change the routes for Saturdays?
I seem to recall the farmers market being on that stretch of road before.
It’s not like they don’t close it down for other events.
DMZ, you can go on Shabbos, you just can’t buy. Maybe you could send “someone” to buy for you, like they did back in the old days : )
my two cents fron our ning group:
By the way, does everyone know about the farmer that lives down the street. He lives on Bonifant and Grove. His name is Charlie Koiner. He is 87 years old and he grows about every type of fruit or vegetable that you could ever want and he sells everything at a very reasonable price. You can stop by anytime you see him outside and buy whatever you need. I like to just go by and talk to him. He is very nice. Stop by and say hello. This is a tremendous resource for our community.
Editor’s note: Thanks for the info, Lucy. I believe Mr Koiner also sells produce at the farmers market. (He’s the guy with the tore-up pickup truck.) — JD (Mar 28, 2008)
Penguin: Any way you could find out who we should contact at Whole Foods headquarters to express our support for the farmer’s market?
Don’t get your reusable, organic-hemp grocery bag in a twist just yet. There will be more news on the farmers market next week.
Mr. Koiner is a very nice man, and my wife and I often pass his home garden when we stroll throught the hood. He also sells at ridiculously low prices, or very fair prices, depending on your outlook.
I know at least on one occasion the farmer’s market was moved to Fenton between the WSC and Whole Foods.
I like the idea of moving it to South Silver Spring, maybe using Kennett St like the block party did.
However, if it is moved to an area with so much less foot traffic, will people go?
What about on the green space that is supposed to open on Bonifant until they build the library where they tore down the abandoned building?