PEEKS The New and Improved Farmer’s Market The new revitalized Farmer’s Market is making a big splash in our East County culture. The change of date & time plus the move to First Street has made a big difference. July 2007

Don Huntington

The Brentwood Farmer’s Market, now in its third year, has made two important changes. For the first time the market has changed to a Saturday (8:00 a.m. to noon) schedule. Residents and businessmen have greeted this with great enthusiasm; the change of day and time has had a wonderful effect on attendance.

The other change was to move the venue from its former City Park location to First Street. Local merchants have responded to the change with unbridled enthusiasm.

Judy Carpenter, owner of the A’Mon Amour Bridal Wedding Store, for example, said:

The change from Thursday to Saturday was great! Putting this on First Street brings everyone closer to the merchants. The change has made people more aware of my business. People have come in and told us “I wasn’t aware you do tuxedos. It’s increased our business.”

Darius Mahallati, owner of Grazie! Restaurant has changed his operations to match the new reality brought in by the success of the Farmer’s Market.

I think the Farmer’s Market is a good thing because it brings people downtown. The first day the market was open I was concerned because the vendors blocked my window with their trucks. I thought he was ignoring me, but he actually listened and the next week the vehicles were gone.

We merchants must harness this influx of people. I need to modify my normal dinnertime in order to capture some of that foot traffic. I need to open earlier and provide smoothies and bread to capture the market. I’m developing this as we go forward.

Even when customers don’t stop in on Saturday, however, some people will see me there and come back later.

I like the way the Farmer’s Market staff conduct themselves. They leave the streets clean. There are no issues with vandalism.

I have nothing negative to say.

Gary Kinsey, owner of Delta Floor Covering, was equally enthusiastic about the change:

Moving the Farmer’s Market to First Street is one of the few things the city and the U-Pick do that actually serves First Street merchants.

Having 1,500 or so people pass in front of my store each week is invaluable. Now that the market is on Saturdays a lot of families are showing up. People are beginning to learn where downtown is and what kinds of stores and services are there.

Paul Laza, one of the owners of the Wine Store, also had some good things to say.

The Farmer’s Market is great for our downtown. A big advantage of the Farmer’s Market is that it is a regular event, not like Corn Fest, which comes in once a year. The Farmer’s Market attracts a different set of people.

The Farmer’s Market brings people down, and then keeps them here. Maybe they’ll have a meal at Grazie! Perhaps they’ll have a glass of wine at the Wine Store.