Three stands operated by the Amish and Mennonites, along with Market Manager Brian Long have left. A few more stands popped up last night and maybe even a few more this week.
But down the road, there could be some significant changes.
Monday night, borough council approved two items that they expected to bolster the market for the long term.
First, council approved revisions to the market stand leases with modified rents and electric charges, along with asking stand holders to pay in advance with options to pay weekly, monthly or for the year. Those paying for a year will get their stands for two weeks free as an incentive.
Second, council approved changes to an ordinance that will allow for a market house trust to be formed, taking the running of the facility out of the hands of the borough.
"These changes have been the result of many meets with stand holders and we feel it is a fair and equitable option,: said Kelly Murphy, councilmen.
Council expects the trust to be formed throughout the year with takeover in 2012.
"We are working on establishing members of that group and bylaws," Murphy said.
"There is still a lot of work to do and this won't happen overnight," Mary Wickenheiser, council president said.
14 comments:
now we all know why no one cared about losing all these standholders.
if anyone was listening this was predicted
The trust sounds like a step in the right direction. A year to get it going seems a bit excessive though. The sooner the better.
i thought that a "trust" was for people that were either dead or ready to die -
why not just form a market house "promotion" -
or, just kill the damn thing and make it a parking garage for the po po
we always did love the po po
Trust: "an arrangement in which property is managed by one person or entity for the benefit of another."
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust
We hope that this will do something to help the market house. It is such a sad thing to go to an historic market and see so many empty stands. It has always been said that a store is only as good as its manager. Such is the case in this situation. If it was run properly there would be no stands left and vendors would be on waiting lists and bidding for stands like in other markets. Also, you may want to consider altering the hours of operation to accomodate consumers (a.k.a. people who work for a living). The market opens and closes in hours that many people are still working.
Hey now....Prudhomme's Lost Cajun Kitchen has opened in Market as an attempt to bring life back! rumor is that they will also try to bring in other products, Gourmet Coffee, seaonings/herbs, bulk items....thursday is tough due to people working....saturday more folks are off, cashing paychecks, in for shopping, etc.? It looks dusty and frumpy....how about highschool kids needing Community service credits coming in to wipe down & clean areas.....free labor.....a win win situation! Who do you know with products to share......?
i just don't get it - why would a big place like Prudomme's want to have a stand in a farmers market - she must be up to something - i bet she's gonna run for politics
she can't run for politics- does not live in columbia- but at least she is trying it out.... don't knock it- support it....
I am glad to see Prudomme's come to the market, If they didn't have a main business they would be like the rest. As far as the person says about the hours and not being open while people work, the hours wee changed to suit a few that never showed up, and as far as a manager the market had a good one, better than the last, good stands were put in nobody shows up. Also a council women bad mouthing the market because she was fired doesn't help, its funny the people she bad mouth on council were so called friends. This market can work you need to support it not bitch about it, what do we as people in columbia want to see in there, yeh right a just a joke except for a few who care about this town. Good luck with the next person.
Well you can't show up at a market and shop if the only hours of operation are during your working hours. I would love to make a weekly trip to the market house and buy fresh produce and support our local vendors. We hope that things will work out and that the market will thrive like it did many many years ago. How great would it be to walk into this beautiul building and see every stand filled.
Ahhhh, Columbia! Now lets just set facts straight...Prudhomme's started 21 years ago in Meadowbrook Farmers market. Sharon started a standholders assn. and with 98 stands all filled, it was nice to have standholders working together. Prudhomme's couldn't open early the last couple weeks as they don't have the floor finished, refridgeration, equipment, etc. Remember, wood floors were allowed-not anymore. Tiles goes in next week. Prudhomme's wanted to go into the Market to try and help build it up. Let's look at things another way....Prudhomme's On Fourth was a dump and condemned, floors, walls, roofs caved in, no heat or running water, 5 gal buckets in EVERY room for a toilet, all pipes burst on 2 floors....and the poor old building is now alot prettier than before-weddings, rehearsals, Comedy Shows, etc. The Old Rising Sun Hotel had toilets falling thru' to the next floor, crack pipes, needles, etc. under radiators & bathtubs, no fire walls in kitchen and NO plumbing connected to the street for sewage and waste in over 70m years! Phew! But now then ol gal has new above floor plumbing, drain lines, etc. So, no Sharon isn't looking for any town positions...she and her husband are at least trying to do good things and change bad situations that were ALLOWED to continue for years. Oh...They are also putting in a Gourmet Coffee Stand, "A grind Above", featuring excellent quality flavours & more. And if Becky & Ken come thru' after speaking today....they'll possibly be taking the rest of the side. Now one side will be bright, clean and sporting a happy look! Sharon is contacting everyone she knows regarding various products, etc. Look around, who do you know? Knock out the layers of dust, etc. Overheard from a couple from reading last week. Husband in suit & tie...."let's go this place is really dirty".
Sadly they left....IF we can all support the Columbia market....throw a little "Columbia Pride" into it.
now it makes sense, sharon must want to be market master
No thanks! I work 7 days a week, often 14 hours a day running a couple different businesses. And as many who know me, have not had a vacation in 20 yrs. Actually, Carmen is the new market master. And what a good one she'll make! Level headed, fair and smart! Stop in and meet her. And Let's all try to work together, no speculating, no gossip, no pulling apart. If you have an idea that can help in any area, speak up. Positive thinking and attitudes are where it's at. "Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative!" www.lostcajunkitchen.com
cut sharon a break. she is big support to the market and deserves the adda girl! at least she is trying to help down in the market. she has a nice stand and it seems to be doing just fine. i sat in the market and used the internet while i worked and noticed that other stands were doing better too. maybe things are looking up after all.
kathleen
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