Thursday, July 29, 2010
On the Market Manager
Talked with Brian Long today. He was at the market, trying to make it better, but won't comment on what happened earlier this week. I sensed the situation is not good and still feel that if a borough council member overstepped their bounds or a borough management employee did something, they need to be reprimanded, fired or asked to resign.
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74 comments:
so is he staying on the job?
Yes the person should be put in their place. I agree. No one will last if they keep interfering.
Nobody will be reprimanded as this council covers everything up and protects their puppets!
This council is shameful!
Copied from Two Resignations Blog on 7/27/10:
Anonymous said...
I disagree completely regarding Sears returning as market manager, she was fired for a reason and the boro moved on and chose to hire someone new. Sears and her sons Mark Vera and Chris Vera have had a great hand in negativity surrounding Brian Long ever since he started his position as market manager. Mark who is a stand holder has been encouraging other stand holders to leave the market and set up in the supposed new market that would be run by his mother, Sears. Chris Vera who is a member of the local historical society has been defaming and bad mouthing Long to whom ever will listen to him and would not deal with the Market House any longer for future events such as the upcoming train show. This event drew a wonderful crowd to the market house and the event was well received. This year it has been relocated to one of the local firehouses since Chris Vera indicated that he would not work with Long and "those boro people." I have watched this negativity swarm around the market house and throughout the town not only relating to Long, but basically to anyone that is new or comes into the picture with a fresh view and ideas. If Sears in fact over stepped her boundaries it is time to deal with her approach once and for all and a decision needs to be made about her position on council. I feel very strongly that we just lost someone that was an asset to the Market House and to the community. I think it should be public knowledge what the circumstances were that caused Long to step down, the community has a right to know this information, Sears is an elected council member and she should be held accountable for her actions whether positive or negative. Enough is enough.
July 29, 2010 4:40 AM
Yes, just like a select few covered up Renae calling Frank Doutrich a "Fu*@ing A-hole".
The entire Sears/Vera 'brood' should be tarred and feathered and not let back into town. They're responsible for holding this town back.
I continue to believe this town has AMAZING potential. If we can get rid of the negative entities, like Sears and her sons, there's so much we could do. There's so much happening that's positive these days. Why do we continue to ALLOW such evil-doers get away with it?! As a town, we've got to stand up and fight back against these power-hungry, self-serving, tiny-brained cretins! Get involved. Come to meetings. Voice your opinion. Join organizations. The nice thing about this town is that it's small enough that ANYONE can make a difference.
This woman is out of control and abusing her power. This needs to be addressed so as not to indicate that her behavior is acceptable or tolerated. The Sears/Vera "brood" as mentioned are toxic individuals with agendas that benefit no one but themselves.
do I dare ask what happen with Sears. I am not familiar with her and yet I see her paws in almost every disaster? Can someone explain to a newby in town..... thanks, John
Well whatever happened, it's a shame that Brian can't get over it and step up to the plate and do the job he was hired to do if he really has the ability.
WAIT A MINUTE! Who ran the market in the last 6 months? What happened to the market in the last 6 months? Where have all the stand holders gone in the last 6 months? Why are people just guessing at what happened to the new market manager? No one really knows the real answer, except Brian Long and until he will tell his side of the story, please quit speculating and accusing someone else. The market was full and clean when Renee was manager! In the 6 months after they fired her and Mr. Meiskey took over, the market lost most of it's stand holders. Why? Does anyone know how much time Mark and Chris had put into the market house when their mother was manager? Does anyone know what these men did at the market house above and beyond their standholder/janitorial duties? I just wish that for once people would see the other side of things before they go and accuse some one of things that they know nothing about!
That's the trouble with Columbia, you have people that put their heart and souls in the work that they do, they put their whole life into their work and town and live their life with PRIDE. Only to be ridiculed to the fullest when something doesn't go the way that someone else feels isn't right. Oh and how rumors will fly. But that's ok. When someone lives with PRIDE, ain't no one gonna take that away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Weekly Market Shopper
if you only knew how true your statement is !, and speaking from personal experience
Weather or not Sears was in the right or wrong and weather or not Long was right or long, they are both gone and not coming back so forget about it and get on to the real issue at hand!!
It is high time for the Borough to step up to the plate and hire a professional market manager that knows how to run a market!! The County and State have dumped over a million dollars in tax money to fix up the nicest market house in the Country, and we can't even keep a market manager on board!
If it takes $50,000. a year to hire someone that knows how to run a market, then that's what we need to do! - we don't have a choice!! Oherwise we will be the laughing stock of the Lancaster County commissioners which I'm sure will be remembered the next time we need a County grant.
Think about it!! the county gives us a million bucks to fix up the building and we sit around quarreling over weather the 1/2 time manager was better then our 1/4 time manager, HA HA HA!!!!
If we don't have the guts to get off our buts and hire a good manager and RIGHT NOW, then we sure as hell better not complain if someone else decides to open a farmers market in another part of town.
It's now or never folks, and much better now then never!!
There needs to be an emergency meeting of Council and a vote to advertise for and hire a new and professional FULL TIME manager within ten days.
THIS MARKET CAN AND MUST SUCCEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Weekly Market Shopper's" post above makes a very valid point. My wife, the late Melissa A. Glenn, toiled tirelessly for so many projects and venues in Columbia the last fifteen years of her life - some of which now bear her name. And now I have to listen to a neighbor outside regularly trashing her name and memory because he blames her for a fine he received last summer for weeds growing around his property. Sad part is - it wasn't her complaint, but this guy holds her responsible for it. But so often ignorance rules in Columbia. I can't fault anyone for reluctance to get involved after this.
How much money has the market house made, or lost??
Renae had her best day as the market manager on her first day. Then she only went down hill from there. She couldn't keep standholders. Every month we lost some then we would gain some. This is no way to run a market house. She made promises to potential stand holders and then couldn't keep them. Stand holders would come in on Wednesday night or Thursday morning only to find that Renae moved their stand, once again!! They would bring ideas to her and she would shoot them down with no consideration whatsoever. She kept a second produce stand out for years and got wind it was coming to the committee so then she let them in before that happened. She was allowing an artist to display and sell their art without paying for a stand. You can't discriminate when you are in this type of position. Every body must be treated fairly and equally, but she chose to play her games and be selective. Allowing Norm to run this for 6 months was the mistake, not getting rid of Renae.
Look, it doesn't matter how much the market makes or looses over the last one year or the next one year. This is business and not accounting 101. Business people must look at the big picture. The Market House is at the heart of Columbia. The Market House is a project that draws people to Pennsylvania, Lancaster County, and Columbia. This increases business all over the place. The County recognizes this and to the tune of over one million dollars! After that, if we are going to sit around and debate weather or not it is prudent to spend $50,000. a year on a professional market manager (whom incidently could also be commissioned to promote the entire down town), then shame on us for not supporting the hands that feed us. We have no choice but to step up to the plate and make this market work, and if not out of appriciation of the State funding, if not in appriciation of the County funding, if not in appriation of the businesses in Columbia that have held out for so long, then do it in appriciation of our dead fore fathers that had the guts to build the beautifull Market House in the first place. Can you imagine how many nay-sayers were questioning them when they spent the money to build such a monumental structure in a day when most farmers markets were outside!
Shame Shame Shame on any Council member or elected official that thinks for a second that we can't afford to hire a professional manager.
The Market House is LOSING money every month!!! In March it was over $4,000 in the hole, now with paying someone all but $30,000 a year who knows where we are now.
well Kerry - just remember what Jesus said when he hung on the cross "father forgive them, for they no not what they do" - we can't hold peoples ignorance against them or we are just the same as what we see in them. Your wife was the BEST OF THE BEST and I'm sure that you and your family will always remember her for who she was and pay no attention to the poor sole that never really got to know her!
The best solution for that Market is to give full control to the Market Manager.Borough Council or Norm Meiskey have no business at all getting involved. Look at all the issues Council screwed up and there is no doubt in my mind they will screw this up as well. You can't have the former Market Manager who was fired and then she ends up on Council. That's just wrong. I'm sure who ever get the position will not be as good as she was. That Market should be leased out to someone who knows how to run a farmer's Market....Here is the funny thing. Norm included in the job description that the Market Manager has to have a real estate license. If you don't believe me ask at the next council meeting.
I KNOW BACK IN THE EARLY 1970'S WHEN MR. SCHOPF WAS MARKET MANAGER EVERY STAND WAS FULL AND YOU COULD NOT WALK THROUGH THE MARKET WITH OUT BUMPING INTO PEOPLE. I THINK MR. SCHOPF GOT HIS PAY FROM THE RENT THAT THE STAND HOLDERS PAID. I KNOW HE DIDN'T MAKE THAT MUCH AND HE CLEANED UP THE MARKET EVERY WEEK. I THINK IT IS TIME TO GO BACK TO THE OLD DAYS. BACK IN THE DAY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS STAYED OUT OF THE MARKET BUSINESS. SADIE MEYERS WOULD HELP MR. SCHOPF WITH ANYTHING HE NEEDED TO KEEP THE MARKET HOUSE RUNNING.
Let's get the record straight on the reason for the Columbia Train Show moving to the Columbia No. 1 , these stands that are permanent now will stay permanent and moving the show was on behalf of respect of the stand holders . I do not make the decisions of the Historic Society , the venue we are using is better suited because of possible real trains coming . I get tired of all you people who do not want Columbia to succeed into the future . You should be ashamed of yourselves for being so negative and believing putting comments about someone makes you a better person , especially anonymous . I can walk away anytime I want , but my passion and love for this town will never die . So anytime you would like to come out of your little closet and sit down with me and discuss this I will be there . Brian Long is a man and he feels like I have done something to him , he may say what's on his mind to me . Please people , getting your kicks on my namesake makes me a stronger person to succeed . Thank You
I always thought that the idea of using the Market House as a garage for the police dep't was a good one... at least it'd serve a purpose.
I don't know if tom lives in columbia but to say use this market house as a garage is a joke. I was a vendor in the market house, I saw and herd all the things that went on about the stand holders that received breaks. After sears was fired vendors who were there came in and told us how sears ran them out. I also herd from a vendor that was in when sears was fired that she said she would make the new managers life hell whe she got on council, I guess she kept her word, she needs to be taken of council, don't you think its a slap on the face for her to open her own market at the old phone company, to this town. Last comment is why don't columbia people use the market house, its a shame what we have and people don't come in. I think we shoud move the whole building to another town where people may really care.
Yep, I live in the boro.
The idea of using the market house as a garage was kicked around by some before it reopened. At least the old building would be doing something.
The problem was, when the market reopened, there wre too many non-fresh food stands. You had stands selling popcorn,dog biscuits, wine, art, and other items that you wouldn't visit a market weekly for. And then there were fresh food stands that were never open. Then the market was stinking hot in the summer becuase no one would open the doors at both ends of the aisle for some cross-ventilation.
I can go to Roots on Tuesdays, Lancaster Market...which is a great great market, my choice of Tuesday, (Roots day) Friday or Saturday..if I need anything in between...Herrs out at Prospect Rd is very nice and pretty affordable...if not there Mussers has 2 locations. Pick one. Quite honestly...all the bickering is just immature. If the police department needs a larger area just do some renovations and move them in there.
I agree - if there's room in the Borough for a Farmers Market then let some private enterprise take a crack at it and watch them fail - it's not worth loosing $5,000. per month to try to prop this thing up when the police can put it to better use
It makes no sense to have Norm involved with the market. Norm needs to get off his but and go knock on doors and find some industrial companies to move in to our KOZ. Council needs to hire a good market manager and give the market manager the freedom to make things work. Obviously it was a mistake to fire Seers because the market was almost full last October and now it's almost emptly, but it doesn't matter now. We are coming in to winter and if the new market manager can go and hand out flyers at all of the outdoor markets, we can easily fill this market house with quality food vendors. It's a dumb idea to make it a parking garge for the police. The old Sprint building should be the police station, not the historic market house.
Tom, how in the Hell do you expect Columbia Borough explain to Lancaster County that the million dollars that they spent to fix up the Market House is now being used as a garage for ten vehicles? - are you nuts??
for a million dollars we can build a new police station!
Christopher, nice defense there. It's great to sense you angry rather than weepy and close to crying like a babe on WGAL.
The market is a great asset to Columbia and it should continue to be a great asset to Columbia. We currently have a serious setback that needs fixed. I do have my real estate license and have seen many possibilities that could come from the use of the market. The market is great eye candy to a visitor and accessibility to those who don't drive. If the market is to flourish it will need someone who has great ideas and ACTS on them. I didn;t know Mr. Long personally ..or Mrs. Sears, but I do know that what I seen of the market while Long was there.. it was on the right track currently. Whatever, the argument is/was we all will suffer the down whirl of yet another Columbia kaos. I believe if Mr. Long takes back or if not and they hire a new market manager-we need to support rather than hate. We also need to be sure of his/her roles as the manager and see that boro only does what they are suppose to do and not cross paths of something that could be great and turn into yet another kaos. The market should have dog treats and other dry goods. They should have BBQ shack, veggies stands, clothing and almost any other thing that can fit. It should be a mini roots or green dragon.It should grow and grow to the point where we ask Columbia proudly for more space. People please see this as positive. We have abeautiful building that could be rented for weddings, graduations, markets, holiday celebrations and more. Why let this good thing pass us ....
The problem is that you are not going to get repeat visitors from the local area residents by selling crap like dog biscuits, clothing, expensive wine and art. The market is NOT Green Dragon. It is way too small for that. (plus Green Dragon sells counterfeit crap and drug paraphernalia). Although maybe the latter would do well here....
If you want a farmer's market, then you have to *BE* a farmer's market. Not a flea market.
Yeah, maybe the ship has sailed on adaptive re-use of the building (for now). But if the market is a failure - just how long are we going to keep pouring tax money into a hole? I mean, it's not like we have a lack of them in the borough (paging Dr. Doolittle.....) So, try to make the market work, but never completely dismiss any future uses for the building 10,20,30 years in the future.
The market is not a failure! - Burning Bridge is doing well, Hinkles is doing well, and this Market can do well. The problem is that the Columbia Borough government is lacking in committment to the success of the Market. With the money that has gone in to restoring the building, failure of the Market should not be an option. Good management along with a advertising and promotional budget can make this Market work. It's just a question as to weather Columbia cares enough about the market to be willing to loose money now to save the bigger picture in the long run. No doubt, it's a money looser for now, and no doubt, it's a key to the success of the downtown. No pain, no gain.
Someone help me out here, I can't remember exactly:
how long has the market house been re-opened?
How long do you keep throwing money at something before it becomes a "failure"? 5 years? 10? 20?
If you love it enough - until it succeeds! - did you ever read the book about Winston Churchhill, "Never Give In" ? -
if failure is an option, the market will fail
the only difference between success and failure is that success tried one more time
Tom, the problem exactly is that Columbia is not throwing money at the Market House!! - Here is a question for example: How much money was spent over the past six months on advertising? I'm guessing perhaps zero!! Now, go around the county and ask ten other markets how much they spent over the last six months on advertising!! This is basic business stuff! It's high time that the Borough does start throwing money at the Market House and that's what it will to make it work!!, it sounds horrible, but that's how business works. It's not going to take hundreds of thousands, but it might take a good manager and tens of thousands of seed money to do it right, which is peanuts compared to what the County has done for us!!
No, never read that book. Failure is not an option, but a definite possibility. It's not the market's fault, but the result of a change in downtown demographics, personal mobility, transportation, a grocery store system that can and has created a system to sell local produce and multiple other fresh food stands that operate without the overhead of the market house itself.
The problem is that you are spending everyone's money on a pet project of a few. There must be economic accountability, especially on the local level for a town that is struggling like Columbia. Sure if you spend enough you can make it succeed (handing out $100 bills to all patrons would GREATLY increase the frequency of their visits). BUT it is not the responsible thing to do. Especially if money is being used that could be used elsewhere. Sure the market may be successful in 50 years, but will it be worth the money that is currently being thrown down that hole?
With all do respect Tom, its people like you that create failure. Your expectations of growth in money is great, but in the same sentence-you cut everything off by saying Don't bring dog bisquits, clothing or otherwise. Thats like saying, Columbia if you make clothing, bisquits-please don't help our market. At least they are there. I agree, a market should have fresh produce and so on, but at this point until we ALL GET ALONG, this is what we have. We do need a market manager to promote this building. We also need everyone else to promote the market or any other asset in the boro. Tom, I am just asking that you see it from what could be a great asset rather than a negative bite. At this point the Columbia folks that are helping..please continue! Until we/or market manager promote the use of the building for a fresh market house, then... if so move all other stuff to another space on the same day. Produce in one building, clothing or otherwise in another building, food cafe etc. Tom, I too think you have great ideas and with your thoughts, mine and the rest of the great defenders of Columbia we can make this work, but if we continue to bash those who are willing to put some use to the market-we will never entise them to come. Shannon F.
Talking about use of buildings used well-this will open a new can of worms. How about Mikey's flea market-I was in there 2 weeks ago and saw people standing on boxes like pack rats . Can you say.....code enforcement wake up???? I am so proud of the Burning Bridge Antique shop. They made a beautiful use of the building. The window displays are well thought out and we need more people like that in our eye candy view as we pass through our town. The Mikey's warehouse is a fire hazard and so confusing to attend. I brought my dad who is 77 years old and he wanted to look for old clocks-where do you begin and what truly is a bargain? JUNK! JUNK! I was reading the blog from Shannon and I agree that the market house should get up and running properly and Mikey's warehouse should be ran by someone of the same character/if not the same market manager and use the building as the dry good market on market days. More open flags should be downtown and more restoring to represent the town it once was and can be again. The chipping LEAD PAINT downtown should be a focus. Its a 37500.00 fine if caught.
The skate park was closed-where do GOOD kids go. Boro, we are asking you for help, support and representaion. Please do your job! Mark H.
I agree with Shannon. If we continue to say Columbia is a failure-why would they come? Why would they risk their name/business name to a vote of bad luck. I don't have a garden, so I can't have fresh produce stand,but I do have wood working skills that has brung me success all these years and I would love to have a stand there in Columbia to sell my goods. Am I barking up the wrong tree? John Royer
Mikey's Warehouse is a liquidation sale for the warehouse storage facility of a lifelong collection of antiques and collectables and selling out fast.
and it's not hard to figure out how the sale works! - you go in, you dig around and find a valuable (and there are valuables!!), you take it up front to Mikey and he gives you a bargain!
This does not compare to Burning Bridge and The Market House, however the owners of the property are preparing to submit plans for the property that may include permanant indoor vendor space for dry goods.
Yep, its dissapointing that the skate park didn't work out even though they had a five year lease at a low rate, however I've heard that the warehouse on the corner of Bridge Street and Front Street is being vacated and available for lease - so maybe someone else can try a skate park down there??
I'm not sure the skate park operators had their act together 'cause it seemed pretty busy and the rent was cheap.
i agree with the remark about Burning Bridge-I love their window displays-it catches the eye and has a theme and is really cool!!
also, i think the Market HOuse should sell what markets do-food, food and more food. was recently at Lancaster Market-numerous stands with fresh produce (not 1), numerous butchers (not 1), saled bar, coffee, drink stop, natural foods, fresh fruit, lunchmeats, farm fresh eggs, etc. you get my point. also, saturdays would be good again for special COMMUNITY EVENTS-school craft show, more social events. last but not least-ADVERTISE! the money this boro wastes is ridiculous, and they can't spend 1 penny to advertise. what a bunch of crap
that's right. we do need more OPEN signs downtown. why doesn't the boro make some incentives for businesses to come downtown-like a shoe store, (carry work boots too , spend money in town), maybe a candle store, etc. all the money it costs us taxpayers for these rental properties in the boro, why not create a program to help start a small business? maybe no taxes the first year...just a thought
antiques? when I was there I saw baby dolls, soiled boxes, games with no pieces, no real furniture or organization. So, I agree with the above statement from Mark. I too, live within two blocks of the so called flea market and it could have so much potential, but its nothing more than a hazard. The windows are all broken letting in dampness-causing a health hazard. You can't walk. I am 55 years old...and I will not climb , for an antique as you say?? Randy Jones III.
Shannon,
With all due respect, I'm not promoting failure. I just realize the possibility that something that may have worked 50-100 years ago may just not succeed today, for the reasons I have already cited. But if Columbia really wants a "Farmer's Market", then it must act like a Farmer's Market. Fresh foods, and maybe some ready-to-eat items, but no flea market style of stuff. It is not a flea market, nor advertised as such.
If someone visits the market, expecting to find lots of fresh food - finding a bunch of clothing, jewelry, dog biscuits and other junk is going to be a turn off. Especially when you maybe have one or two actual food stands. Might as well go to one of the other produce stands in the immediate area.
Who is the Market House targeting as consumers? Most people don't need to buy art, clothing, or crafts on a weekly basis. Apples and corn? Yes. Home-made dog biscuits? Not so much.
Once the new manager is hired here is an idea. All the restraunts in Columbia be rented a space at the Market (at a low price). Just think of going down an aisle with the choice of... A cheesesteak from Smiths Hotel...A shifter from Hinkles...Chicken from Mussers...A sub from Columbia Pizza...Maybe a French Fry stand...Turkey Hill drinks...Ritas or Dairy Queen...Plus everything that the market has to offer now...Marks Tacos...Sadies subs. Bring Rap back for his sauces...Gabbys soft pretzels. It is all here it just needs some planning. Yes bring back the record show...Use it for a flea market on Saturdays. A hunting/fishing show once a year (a smaller version of the outdoor show in Harrisburg)... Antique shows... Pep rallies for our high school teams. Anything can be done with a little support from the community.
But you can already get those items in town easily. I thought we wanted a farmer's market, and not a food court?
Nor do I believe that the Market House is a great spot for conventions/shows/pep rallies. Besides the obvious problem of close convenient parking, you don't have the climate control, decent sized space for exhibitors, nor any large amounts of open space/seating for demonstrations and the like. As far as pep rallies - we have an auditorium and (soon) new gym up at the high school.
Not that the market house couldn't be used for some events... but it's range for anything other than a farmer's market is limited. That's if it can even succeed at that.
Added:
My current feelings are as a result of the local economy. If the borough was doing well financially, then I would be all for doing a lot more to make the market succeed. But with limited funds, there has to be a limit. The market has been reopened for several years, and has not been the roaring success some thought it would be.
Maybe that has been a result of the then-manager... who knows. But we came to the chicken and the egg argument. The market can't succeed without money being invested into it, but the money to invest into it isn't exactly there (without the market succeeding).
Broken windows at the flea market? maybe a few?? - do you realize that not long ago the property was vacant and ALL windows were boarded up with rotting plywood? The owners pain-stakingly removed the plywood and hand cleaned and replaced thousands of windows to accomodate various tenants who failed to keep up with their end of the bargain. Perhaps as with the Market House they should just abandon all previous efforts and close it down and wait for the economy to get better.
well, money to invest in the Market is there, maybe not exactly!, but it's there. Make it work.
Tom, I think you're right in that the Market isn't well suited to accomodate special events along with a good Market. It has to be one or the other and preferably a Market! Top quality standholds need to have permanant secure space where they can leave inventory and equiptment behind from one week to the next.
however, if the powers that be can't justify spending the money that isn't exactly there, the we need to respect that and go for the special events facility, coin shows, antique road shows, art shows, weddings, ect. ect. and forget the Market -
Heck, an event center could even be managed by Daisy Pagan on a contractual percentage basis with little to no overhead!
and to the guy that's 55 and doesn't want to climb for a valuable - then go to Burning Bridge and pay ten times more!, or better yet find someome to climb for you! - cause it's worth the climb!!
and if you're not convinced - just ask Mikey about the early Bill of Rights that was recently found in his hodge podge collection and what that is thought to be worth!
Bring back Junie Hart.
Gee, the climb comment must of been doolittle or mikey himself.... pay no mind!
Lots of good ideas here. First off I think you need to do what it takes to get people going to the market. If that means the initial look of the market isn't what you want it to be long term so be it. Second you need a good variety of vendors. Food, produce etc. Why not dog biscuits and a local wood worker? Give people sopmething to come back for next week that they may not be looking for this week. Lastly, and this may be a pipe dream, you have to get rid of borough council's influence over this. Find someone qualified to run the place and let them do it! Don't those folks have more pressing issues to worry about??
What a nutty place this town is.
I agree with LJ. I too, feel there is too many chiefs and not enough indians in this town. Our town needs positive leadership and not negative.
Below is what I found the word Market House to have as a meaning...
Century Dictionary (1 definition)–noun
1.A building in which a market is held.
It does not say: what type justifies a market.. ie; food, clothing or otherwise.
I feel the market should flourish what with we got and build from that. I agree, produce is and should be the main concern, but why knock the potential we have currently. Columbia's market blog has caused anger among us. I surely wouldn't want to feel the shoes of the new market house manager with all this anger. The stones are built to high! Be blessed we even have a market house that is not torn down, falling apart or otherwise.
I'm 25 and i will not climb in that Mikeys place... what a freaking mess and a serious violation that needs attended tooooooo! Sean L.smith
A market by definition can sell anything, yes. You could sell used cars in there (esp. small ones that would fit through the doors).
But.. what does the public EXPECT it to sell? What's the demand? What is associated with a "market" today? You could sell Armani suits there. I'm betting you wouldn't sell very many, but you could offer.
Lancaster Central Market, Broad St., York, Meadville, Roots (does Mt. Joy still have their open air market?), etc. all are known for one thing: food. I have no real issue with the other stuff, but the fresh food (and not all of it ready-to-eat hot lunch fare) has to be the emphasis. Are people really going to be repeat visitors buying wood crafts every week? Maybe if the market was in the middle of some high-priced tourist area, but here?
I have my doubts. I even have my doubts with selling of fresh food. After all, Manor, Wrightsville, Kinderhook all have stands/markets with fresh produce and such, and they offer free parking 3 feet from their door (and their stands aren't located int he middle of a hot town with trash everywhere). And we know that most lower income people aren't the ones buying the fresh foods like they should. Which means the people that are buying said foods have cars, and may just as easily go to the above mentioned places.
PS. What is up with that bank museum? Although that plywood has been up so long now, it probably qualifies as "historic". Even if it does make the building look like a crack house.
oh, the powers that be-wasn't the starks on council recently? anyway-i agree-give em a 30 day notice to take down the plywood and replace with real wood doors. it's absolutely unacceptable. and get the landlords on that block and the 200 block to clean up
Is the bank museum even open? I've wanted to get in there but assumed it was closed.
My only point was to offer what people are willing to come for and then build from there. You may not go every week for woodcrafts or dog biscuits but it might draw some when they wouldn't normally go. Personally, if they had a good butcher with decent prices and decent fresh produce we'd be here for it. Another cosideration is to have hours which work for those who work days and can only get there after 5 or so. I guess if I could sum up my opinion here it would be to say you have to do what the customer wants and is willing to pay for. We've gone to the market many times and really enjoy it and would love to see it really prosper!
this quote below from a previous post is actually a pretty good idea - but take it a step further - broden the market - for example, make the Market a food show place for resturants or food markets from all over the susq. valley - with the TH experience, the Market House could be a "Susq. Valley Showplace" so to speak - maybe even run by the Susq. valley Chamber - sort of like a welcome center for the susq. valley to welcome people to the food stuff all over valley!!
pk
Anonymous said: Just think of going down an aisle with the choice of... A cheesesteak from Smiths Hotel...A shifter from Hinkles...Chicken from Mussers...A sub from Columbia Pizza...Maybe a French Fry stand...Turkey Hill drinks...Ritas or Dairy Queen...Plus everything that the market has to offer now...Marks Tacos...Sadies subs. Bring Rap back for his sauces...Gabbys soft pretzels. It is all here it just needs some planning.
better yet, give the Starks a thank you notice for preserving the place -
Yeah, preserving the plywood on the doors. I'm sorry, but I lost ALL respect for the Starks when they fought against the Columbia & Reading RR. Which btw, is running.
But does anyone remember the "nature interpertive center" that Stark proposed along Shawnee Run / Trinity house (which he said would happen even WITHOUT the rail-trail)? That never happened. But I'm far from surprised.
Then all that hassle over the town "octagon" at 5th and Locust. That is getting lots of use... (yes, that was sarcasm).
good points Tom. I agree. Code Dept now it's your turn to step up to the plate and issue a warning or wahtever-10 years is MORE than emough time to replace/refinish those doors. it's the gateway to town=and UGLY
rr
PK - When my late wife, Melissa A. Glenn, was Director of the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce (2004-2009), she originated the concept of an event which became known as "Taste of the Rivertownes." It was first held in the Columbia Market House in February of 2007 and featured many local restaurants which handed out samples of their various culinary specialties, with a few other entries as well - such as Dr. Larry Laird of the Global Time Wizard shop who had an impressive display there. Many of the regular market stands were open those days as well, and did a thriving trade. No admission fees were charged, and the Market was packed ALL DAY. St. Paul's Episcopal Church collected a huge amount of canned goods and dry foods for their food bank those days as well. Due to circumstances beyond my wife's control, she was unable to schedule the event for early 2009, much to her regret - and many others, as she passed away suddenly on October 3, 2009. The "Taste of the Rivertownes" was revived this year; held in Marietta ($15 per person admission fee). The Annual Business Expos that the SVCC held in the Market House in September were also very well attended, and drew many notable guests - who can forget meeting Janelle Stelson of WGAL-8 News there? Certainly not His Honor our Mayor!
The York Market is right behind my office. It has added many seats for dining and it has empty stands. It has morphed from a farmers market into a food court/variety market. It has tremendous help in that the Court is one block away and every 2-3 weeks per month there are many people coming downtown for jury duty plus all the downtown business people but it still struggles. Ingenuity is needed for what is an economically difficult task considering the lack of parking, metered parking, grocery stores, etc. Tourism may help but a market will require substantial work which government is not adept at handling.
Is it owned by the City or Privatized? - seems like most inner city market are owned by the citys, towns, and boroughs, 'cause they know how important a Market is to a down town .
York is private.
Interesting. well, why not immeadiatly put the building out for lease bid before we hire a manager. Explore both options at the same time. Even $2,000. per month would be better then loosing money and having to put up with all of the headaches!
Even if they are owned by the cities, how many are OPERATED by the cities?
is it fair to keep the property off the tax rolls and let a private enterprise lease it? It seems the Borough should be all the way in or all the way out -
the property can be controlled forever by deed restictions so why not just sell it and bring it back on to the tax rolls. Even at a moderate $500,000. assessment the taxes alone would generate major revenue!
Fine, sell it. Good luck though. No lack of big empty buildings in this area. And this one has no parking, to boot.
na, it won't sell in this market - not even worth the try - just hire a good Market Manager -and perably someone local that loves the market - maybe even one of the existing standholders that stuck it out - and who exactly are the die-hards? - Barry should post a list of current market stand owners to give them some much needed credit and PR and so that they go down in history as the ones that stuck it out and made it work in the worse of times!! - assuming that it survives, which I think that it will
pk
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