Chamber’s Farmer’s Market and CRA Street Market to merge
Two of the South Cape’s most popular events are going to join forces this year.
The Chamber of Commerce’s Farmers Market, and the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Street Market are coming together to form one uber-market in the Club Square parking lot.
CRA Public Relations Manager Helen Ramey said the two markets are teaming up because of the chamber’s recent success of opening the Farmer’s Market to homemade crafts and other “unique offerings.”
“Over the past three years the Chamber of Commerce Farmer’s Market had expanded its vendor mix to include crafts, jewelry and more,” Ramey said, adding. “It is the Community Redevelopment Agency’s mission to be a catalyst for economic development, so it was positive to merge the two markets into one large open air market in South Cape.”
Nine years ago the CRA transferred its farmer’s market to the Chamber of Commerce, and supported its growth through annual grants, according to a press materials.
The CRA started its Street Market along Vincennes Boulevard, which was closed to traffic, offering vendors the chance to sell their wares directly to the public in an open air setting. Vendors praised the market last year.
The Street Market and the Farmers Market usually took place at the same time, but were connected only by a path that led from Vincennes to the Club Square parking lot. People either had to walk, or jump in their car and make the drive.
Now residents and visitors can enjoy a expanded one-stop shopping venue.
“By combining the two markets, we also avoid the inconvenience to drivers of the closing of Vincennes Boulevard and having one merged market in the public city owned parking lot of Club Square,” Ramey added.
The Farmer’s Market begins Oct. 16 and runs through May 7, every Saturday between 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce President Mike Quaintance could not be reached for comment.