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Photo by Elliot J. Sutherland/The Ottawa Herald
A sign directs shoppers to the corner of Second and Main streets in downtown Ottawa Thursday afternoon during the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce’s first Second Street Market. Kansas State Bank was on hand to give out free hot dogs and sell raffle tickets. An employee of the bank said they had given away nearly 80 hot dogs to would-be shoppers during the first 30 minutes of the market.
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Shoppers show, sellers don’t
Organizers: We’ll try again next week
By JODIE GARCIA, Herald Staff Writer
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Thursday’s farmers market on Second Street had everything ...
... except the farmers.
The first Second Street Market, organized by the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce’s retail committee, attracted a good crowd of potential buyers but no sellers.
“I don’t know if the rain scared them away or what,” Kathy Niehoff, committee chairwoman, said.
Officials from Kansas State Bank, who were giving away hot dogs Thursday afternoon, said they gave away nearly all of their 80 hot dogs within about 30 minutes.
Niehoff said the market will continue for at least a few more weeks to give area vendors an opportunity to attend and sell their products.
“We’re not throwing in the towel yet,” she said.
The market runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday on Second Street from Main Street east. Booth set-up begins at 3:30 p.m. There’s a $5 charge, and vendors must register each Thursday at the market.
Items must be home-grown or homemade.
Chester Fredricks, who lives south of Homewood and participates in the longtime Farmers Market in south Ottawa, said Thursday doesn’t work for him because of the other markets on Wednesday and Saturday. He said Monday would be better.
“I think most people are in agreement,” he said. “But I don’t know whether that is feasible.”
Vickie Stinebaugh, Williamsburg, said she didn’t think she had enough time or produce to attend both markets.
“Two days are just about my limit,” she said. “There’s not enough hours in the day to get it all done.”
Chamber officials have said the market isn’t intended to compete with the Farmers Market in south Ottawa, but instead boost downtown and retail while giving buyers and vendors another opportunity to buy and sell.
Niehoff said all vendors are welcome, but she wanted to target vendors who don’t already sell at the Farmers Market.
For more information about the Second Street Market, call the Chamber of Commerce at (785) 242-1000.
Herald staff writer Jodie Garcia can be e-mailed at jgarcia@ottawaherald.com.
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