Sundays on the Market

Actually, lately it's more like Sunday's on the street.

I love the market, and I think the idea of it being open on Sunday is one of the best I've heard in a long time. Even the vendors I've spoken with are amazed at the amount of customers on Sundays.

But now theres a problem, a big problem.

I thought the primary focus of the City Farmes Market was for local merchants to sell things, and local customers to buy.

Hard to do when you cannot get to the merchants. Or even worse, when your a merchant who finds that the available booth space is limited by diners.

Yep, diners.

2 major guilty parties here. Wertz, who has apparently been give the greenlight to dominate the corner of Kirk and Market so they can bar-b-que. Allright - was nice to smell a bbq while walking among the vendors, but no longer. Now - they have chained off the vendor space directly before the restaurant, for their own private use. I'd like to know what, when, and who authorized such a thing. The blocking of a sidewalk (forcing pedestrians into the roadway which bears traffic), the removal of prime vendor space, and the usurping of city property for private gain. How much they paying?

Well, that was bad, but limited bad. Now they have allies. My "Bad Karma" canidate, Trio. For those of you who have not experienced Trio yet, it's name also describes how many storefronts the operation controls. Walking towards Church on Market - theres a dining room, a wine store, and the bar/restaurant area. Now, they too have taken control of ALL 3 storefront sidewalks for use as their own private dining area.

Pardon me? One of those storefronts is not even restaurant related. They must have paid well for such a prize. Now there are those who will say there are rarely vendors down that far on Market. I beg to differ, I have purchased some of the finest produce there from a vendor who tends to show once the produce season is in full swing. Will Trio give back the space when that vendor shows?

With Trio inserting their dining area into the sidewalk, there is barely enough room for a person to walk and browse, much less stop and NOT have a massive backup of pedestrians behind them.

Although Im sure that with the limited space, and impassible sidewalks, the vendors are thrilled as punch over this new development. I know I would be if someone else was cutting into my profits simply because they had more money and could pay for the right to limit my visiblity to the public.

Fair? Oh yeah, totally.

Now then, this could be easily made acceptable in one easy step. Close down Market St. on Sundays. No traffic, no cars.. just an open walkway for shoppers and diners alike. More room would be opened up for vendors, more money would flow...

Imagine that.. more money downtown. On a Sunday of all things! Heavens to betsy...

What will they think of next....