Shop owners complain about farmer’s market

Eron Ben-Yehuda

Feeling pressure from merchants, the city’s downtown committee agreed

Friday to consider moving the weekly farmers’ market and crafts fair away

from shops.

“All we are saying is, ‘Not in front of our stores,’ ” explained Moe

Kanoudi, owner of Main St. Eyewear. “We have nothing against these

people, but why don’t they go somewhere else?”

Downtown businesses lose money, he said, when streets close down between

1 p.m. and sunset every Friday to make room for the outdoor booths, which

offer items ranging from fruits and vegetables to hand-crafted

merchandise. The city blocks off vehicle traffic on the second block of

Main Street as well as parts of Walnut and 5th streets.

The president of the Downtown Business Assn., Steve Daniel, said 90% of

the group’s members want the street merchants kicked out and the roads

kept open, especially Main Street. “We’re basically a one street town.”

Storeowners should be careful what they ask for, said David Biggs, the

city’s economic development director. The whole point of having the

market and fair is to help people feel more comfortable while visiting

downtown, which has a reputation for attracting a young, rowdy crowd. “A

lot of residents indicate this is the only time they come downtown,” he

said.

One of the fair’s organizers, Pam Fellows, said she wouldn’t object to

moving elsewhere in the city.

“I know there’s been controversy,” she said. “We would love to be out of

the line of fire.”

As an alternative to closing off the streets, many at the meeting favored

holding the event at Pier Plaza.

It wouldn’t interfere much with shows scheduled for the plaza because the

major ones are presented on the weekends, said Naida Osline, the city’s

special events director. The city can try out the new location as early

as November, she said.

Even if the plaza doesn’t work out, Councilwoman Pam Julien felt sure

that an answer can be found. “There’s got to be a solution that makes

everybody happy.”