Market On The Move?

“Why can’t Glenwood do something like Malvern?”

That’s a question Jeni Kirsch hears often from customers, fellow business owners and Glenwood residents who believe the city’s Town Square isn’t being utilized enough for public events and social gatherings, like the Wednesday evening farmers market at Glenwood Lake Park. Kirsch and others see the attendance and success Malvern is enjoying with its Main Street farmers market and summer concert series and they wonder why Glenwood can’t do something similar.

Kirsch, the owner of JWren women’s clothing boutique on the west side of Town Square, is spearheading a movement to move the farmers market away from the park and onto the square. In the past month, she’s pitched the move to both the Glenwood City Council and Glenwood Park Board. Both governing bodies appear receptive to the idea.

“I would love to see more hustle and bustle on the square,” Kirsch said. “The square is the heart of our town. Having the farmers market on the square would be a great way to spotlight businesses and vendors.”

Kirsch praised the efforts of past and present park board members and others who have been involved in developing and overseeing the farmers market at Glenwood Lake Park over the past decade, but she believes moving the event to Town Square (possibly on the west side of Vine Street across from Vine Street Cellars winery and the former Mills County Jail), would be a win-win situation for the community and market vendors.

Having the farmers market on Town Square would make the event more visible to the community, Kirsch said, and have the potential of providing financial benefit to nearby businesses and the city in the form of increased sales tax revenue.

Kirsch envisions a partnership between the farmers market and Town Square businesses. She noted the additional exposure the market would receive from parents taking their children to the Wednesday Movie Nights at the Glenwood Public Library and classes at Gary’s Tumbling in the basement of the American Legion Building. Kirsch said Wednesdays are the busiest night of the week at Gary’s Tumbling.  The Glenwood Senior Center, Eagles Club and

American Legion are also on the square, she noted.

She’s talked to several market vendors and business owners around Town Square and most are receptive to moving the market, Kirsch said.

“I’m having more conversations with businesses and I haven’t heard from all the vendors,” she said.
Vendors she surveyed last spring gave Kirsch an assortment of opinions and comments. One person in favor of staying at the park likes the shady location, access to restrooms and a children’s playground area. A vendor favoring the move said the current market is not being promoted or advertised properly and visibility on Town Square would benefit both vendors and merchants.

The Opinion-Tribune also conducted an informal and unscientific survey of some market vendors in July. Four favor a move to Town Square and two are opposed.

“I’ve been coming here for seven years and I’ve seen the numbers go down in the last couple years,” a vendor stated. “We used to get 300 people through here. Now it’s closer to 150. I think a change would be good.”

Another vendor favoring the move said, “I think it would help Glenwood, the square and all the businesses there. It’s something new. I think it’d bring more people out, walking around and they’d go into the square businesses, too.”

One vendor who spoke critically of the idea, noted the market is well-established at the park.

“I’m totally against moving it,” this vendor said. “This is the perfect spot and people who come know where we are.

There’s parking and shade. This is a great spot.”

The most outspoken critic of moving the market to Town Square is Glenwood resident Gary Newman, who said he initiated the farmers market at Glenwood Lake Park while serving as park board chairman. Newman said previous plans to “hi-jack” the farmers market have failed. He cited concerns about parking and handicapped-accessibility on Town Square and potential cost to taxpayers if public works employees and police officers are required to place and remove barricades every Wednesday.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Newman said.

Kirsch said she respectfully disagrees with Newman and envisions the Wednesday night event becoming more than just a farmers market. She’d like to see additional activities - maybe chalk drawing and face painting for children, dancers and musical entertainment.

“I’m trying to make it equally important to have activities going on,” she said. “I have a big picture in my mind, but we need to start small,” Kirsch said.

City council members indicated they would be receptive to the move.
Council member Jessie Lundvall said the city is progressive minded and asked Kirsch to submit a formal plan for council review.

After taking in a power point presentation by Kirsch at their meeting in July, Glenwood Park Board members also shared their support. It was noted at the park board meeting that neither the city nor the park board have ownership rights to the farmers market, although the park board takes in about $1300 in annual revenue for hosting the weekly event.

“I applaud the work you’ve done here,” park board member Tim O’Connor said.

O’Connor also made it clear he would have no problem with the market leaving the park.

“If someone wants it, it’s theirs,” he said.

Kirsch said if the Wednesday evening event is moved to Town Square, she would support continuing to earmark any revenue generated by the market to the park board.

Over the next few months, Kirsch said she’ll continue to solicit feedback from market vendors and businesses before submitting a “solid plan” to the city for next summer’s market.