Every Saturday morning, the little farmers’ market that could kicks the teeth out of the farmers’ market that seems to dry up a little more each season in Shockoe Bottom

Several of the growers I deal with a Byrd House and Lakeside also have “closer to home” Saturday markets they attend in Hanover, Goochland, Petersburg and a couple go to the Saturday market in Williamsburg.

As for Thursday evening markets, how can you expect given the restaurants, bars and so on in the bottom to find space for the vendors and their trucks not to mention parking for patrons?

In Fairfax county ALL of the regional farmers markets are on weekday mornings and the Eastern Market’s is Saturday am.

One of the grower/vendors I know has left the 17th St market for a variety of reasons but prefers afternoons since he can pick and wash his produce in the morning and then sell in the afternoon whereas at 17th St he had to pick and was the previous evening and he wares were not as fresh as possible.

Just one point of view. Personally we no longer go to 17th ST with Byrd on Tuesdays and Lakside Wednesday’s we can choose and then if we like hit Hanover or Forest Hill Saturday.

I am available through email: richmondfmaa@gmail.com

Thank you all for your interest!

Scott Sibley
Chairman
R.F.M.A.A.

As far as later hours, wouldn’t we all love to see a market that has more publicly convenient hours as an actual marketplace? Though I have made many attempts to work with the City over the past year, I am still not privy to new plans or development ideas. I only hope as time goes on I will be able to bring the ideas of the community into focus.

Regarding parking on the market. Please keep in mind Richmond Parking is a business as well. The independent owner makes his living from the charge paid to park on the market after hours. Though I would love to see the market alive well into the evening, protection still needs to be given to this dedicated business owner.

This would be a GREAT way to get the non alcohol drinking lunch crowd from downtown to come to the area!

Maybe; it might be hot as shit during lunch time outside in Richmond in the summer.

To back up a little — is there a better evening use for the market other than parking?

Information is directly from ABC Special Agent Anthony Jimende. This is the agent assigned to the Shockoe Bottom and Shockoe Slip areas.

The code forbids businesses from serving alcoholic beverages outside the confines of their businesses. This area is limited to outdoor areas accessible from businesses, and has the same address without crossing and public path, sidewalk, or street. Alcohol further, can not pass through another business prior to reaching consumer destination. 17th Street Farmers Market is not connected to any other business and is surrounded by streets, therefore businesses can not serve ALCOHOL on the premises. This is definite.

Though the agent agrees it would be a good idea, the code will not allow it, even if the city was to apply for permit.
The ONLY way to serve ABC controlled items is to hold a festival, shut down streets and apply for individual permits. This would be for EACH event.

Any business is welcome, with approval of 17th Street Market Management, to serve food and non alcoholic items on the venue. This would be a GREAT way to get the non alcohol drinking lunch crowd from downtown to come to the area! Ill continue to work on this a little more to see what can be done.

This Mall is operated by the Charlottesville Department of Parks And Recreation. The area, other than 2 cross streets, is closed to traffic and is considered a public mixed use area. Each business has ABC permits to serve outside as the bricked “patio” is attached.

After a call to the office, City of Charlottesville Manager Gary O’Connell will offer any insight he may find in the days to come.

The Dept of ABC could deny this use. Reason for denial is the 17th St Market is not attached to any other business. If this were the case, each business could apply for an extension to their license. For example, La Bamba has a patio where they are able to serve because the patio is attached to their building. If only this were the case for 17th St, seating would be very easy to obtain.

An agent for ABC is currently researching other permits available for this use. There may be leniences to this order, as CanCan in Carytown has an outdoor seating area though it is across a sidewalk from the actual business.

Ill keep you up to date.

Totally agree.

Scott Sibley:

Has your group considered this? If you become the new manager, what do you think the chances are of this happening? Open-air seating, I mean.

Richmond should find out how C’ville deals with the ABC stuff.

Thats what I was going for. They seem to have worked out how to use public space in a very community & business friendly way.

It sucks to think that the best use of the Farmer’s Market on any given night is for parking.

Richmond should find out how C’ville deals with the ABC stuff.

Lots of European cities do this. I’m not trying to be pretentious here, I’m just saying that they seem to know how to run successful markets that are viable during the day and at night. Two cities come to mind – Rome and Nice. They have either flower or vegetable vendors during the day and at night the local restaurants take over with seating and it’s always packed.

I understand the ABC problem, though.

If you lose your farmers, you’re screwed.

So… Why did the Economic Development Authority choose 8:30-2:30 on a Thursday? That appears to be the most inconvenient time for the majority of shoppers.

Is there an actual reason for this decision or was it arbitrary?

As far as this being a “void in cyberspace”, this seems to be a pretty active community forum, and therefore a good place to pose and answer these questions. Though Mary Kroll’s frustration after working through so many challenges is understandable.

I apologize if I came off “bitter” or “crass”. I have been with that Market through 5 managers, three droughts, a hurricane and a once-in 7,000-years flood. To me, the language of the original post was far more rancorous and I got defensive.

Mary Kroll

As Chairman of the Richmond Farmers Market Advancement Association, I am well aware of the issues the 17th Street Farmers Market faces. Although I have attempted to reach the city many times over the last year, to date I have yet to receive a positive response. The city views this as a city owned and operated market. With that, there are regulations set in place for its daily routine.

The RFMAA was set up to rebuild the market. Our organization is working to better the market outside the restrictions the city places. For more information, please see http://www.rfmaa.blogspot.com

Also, there are several petitions online regarding the market and the community championing growth through appointing management to the market. You may view this at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/17thst/index.html

With continued work by the RFMAA and the support of the community as a whole, will make the market a success again.

For more information on the RFMAA, please send a message to richmondfmaa@gmail.com to join our mailing list.

Thank you.

Scott Sibley
Chairman
RFMAA
15 North 17th St
Richmond, VA 23219

Ms. Kroll, Cyberspace is not a void. It is a new way of communicating, learning, sharing, creating and building community. Clearly the author is expressing frustration with the state of the Market and he/she expressed it in writing. Who knows what that action will lead to…perhaps a phone call or a letter or filling out an application for Market Manager….who knows?

Personally, I wonder if the city has other plans for the market and prefers to see it fail. Of course, that is pure speculation.
It will be interesting to see what the future holds.

http://www.byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com/

and join the e-mail list!

Mary Kroll
5+ year Thursday vendor