close

Street Market to kick off today

3 min read

The Community Redevelopment Agency’s Street Market kicks off this Saturday for five months of unique items, including antiques, original artwork, handcrafted gifts, and up scale collector’s pieces.

Starting this weekend, the street market will run for the first Saturday of the month through the spring, joining the Farmer’s Market on select dates to fill downtown with fresh food and interesting bargains.

CRA Marketing Director Helen Ramey said people shouldn’t expect a flea market or close-out style items at the Street Market.

“This is a quality street market, similar to what they have in Europe or New Orleans,” she said.

She also touted the new sidewalks that were installed to make traversing between the two markets easier than ever.

“With the new sidewalks coming out of Club Square, basically you can park and walk between the two markets,” She said. “It’ll be easy to have a great time.”

The market is 100 percent leased, according to Ramey, who said she had to “squeeze” in a few extra vendors. All the vendors are also signed for the market’s entire five-month run.

“Shoppers will be able to see the same vendors from one week to the next,” she said.

Also new this year is the inclusion of live music and an antique car show.

The “3 T’s Car Club” will have a bunch of vintage, stock, and classic cars for the auto enthusiasts, and Tom’s Traveling Tunes will be providing all the music by spinning classic and contemporary hits.

“A lot of the time we have ladies come out with their husbands in tow,” Ramey said in a previous interview. “Now there’s something for the ladies to do and the guys can check out the cars. They’ll really have some nice vehicles out there.”

For those who are concerned about parking, Ramey said it should not be an issue.

She did warn that Southeast 47th Terrace does close at 5:30 a.m., down to E. 46th Ln. But parking will be available throughout the downtown area at Big John’s, Iguana Mia, and the lot by Walgreen’s.

The market opens for business promptly at 8 a.m., and runs through 1 p.m., with the Farmer’s Market holding the same hours of operation.

“They open at eight, as we do,” Ramey said. “People are in cue for the Farmer’s Market at 7:30… the early bird gets the produce, so to speak. But, after they’re done, they can just walk to over to the street market and check us out.”