I am thrilled to see the expansion of the farmers market approved. Increased access to high-quality, locally-grown food is a positive move for Sebastopol.
For the local businesses concerned about parking and losing business - could they not get a booth at the farmers market and take advantage of the hundreds (thousands? IDK how many people come to the market on average, but other than Peacetown Wednesdays it’s likely the largest regular gathering of folks in town?) of potential customers who have already committed to shopping in town that day?
Or if a booth is not feasible (although it seems like the booth fee is quite reasonable), what about opening up their store on the inside of the plaza, to again capture more shopping dollars from folks already there for the market? There are so many businesses on the outside of the plaza, but almost none who open on the inside… is this a permitting issue with a simple solution? Or something new that is difficult to start? Maybe some previous tiffs that simply need to be squashed for the good of the town?
I appreciate the spirit of your suggestionswe all want both the farmers market and downtown businesses to thrive.
Unfortunately, it isn’t as simple as getting a booth or moving our stores. Most of us have established brick and mortar businesses with inventory, staff, rent, and overhead that can’t simply be duplicated in a temporary market booth. We already pay to maintain storefronts that depend on customer access and convenient parking.
Since the farmers market began using the West America Bank parking lot, several businesses around the square have experienced Sunday sales declines of up to 40%. One business owner may have to close on Sundays.
Barbara met with many of the downtown merchants and, from my understanding, promised she would work with us to minimize the impact and preserve customer parking. Those promises gave many of us hope that we could find a solution benefiting everyone. Instead, those commitments have not been fulfilled, and the expansion removes even more convenient parking.
Suggesting that customers park at CVS is not a practical solution. It requires pedestrians to cross the busy intersection of Highway 12 and Highway 116, one of the most congested intersections in our area. That isn’t a convenient or welcoming experience for shoppers, especially families, seniors, or anyone carrying purchases.
I don’t believe this has to be an “either/or” situation. We all want a successful farmers market and a thriving downtown. The goal should be finding a solution where both can succeed, rather than one coming at the expense of the other.
I appreciate your reply. Very much agreed that the goal is a thriving downtown business corridor and farmers market!
If I could gently push on the idea of downtown businesses getting a market booth or having items for sale on the inside of the plaza… I see from your bio that you own Silk Moon - you have a lovely store ☺️. I often see several racks / shoes / items for sale in front of Silk Moon (and having those items outside the store often gets me to stop and look at the items for sale 👍🏽), would it be so different to put those same items on the inside of the plaza? Please know I ask this with genuine curiosity, as this seems like a potential solution, and a way to strengthen the connection between the farmers market and business owners.
Your comment about business owners seeing a Sunday decline in sales is serious. However I assume you mean in the past, as the farmers market hasn’t been using the West America parking lot for quite some time (a year?) It seems odd that with so many people coming downtown for the market, (again IDK whether it’s hundreds or thousands) that decline is occurring.
Outside of the ideas suggested, do you have alternative solutions that you would propose? Other ways for local businesses to capitalize on the large number of people who are downtown and ready to spend money on Sundays?
I am concerned with this change. I am disabled and cannot walk very far. If all those parking spaces are deleted where will I park? I fear that I will no longer be able to access the farmer's Market. I would suggest that perhaps you could add some additional handicapped spaces in what is left of the plaza lot.
I am thrilled to see the expansion of the farmers market approved. Increased access to high-quality, locally-grown food is a positive move for Sebastopol.
For the local businesses concerned about parking and losing business - could they not get a booth at the farmers market and take advantage of the hundreds (thousands? IDK how many people come to the market on average, but other than Peacetown Wednesdays it’s likely the largest regular gathering of folks in town?) of potential customers who have already committed to shopping in town that day?
Or if a booth is not feasible (although it seems like the booth fee is quite reasonable), what about opening up their store on the inside of the plaza, to again capture more shopping dollars from folks already there for the market? There are so many businesses on the outside of the plaza, but almost none who open on the inside… is this a permitting issue with a simple solution? Or something new that is difficult to start? Maybe some previous tiffs that simply need to be squashed for the good of the town?
I appreciate the spirit of your suggestionswe all want both the farmers market and downtown businesses to thrive.
Unfortunately, it isn’t as simple as getting a booth or moving our stores. Most of us have established brick and mortar businesses with inventory, staff, rent, and overhead that can’t simply be duplicated in a temporary market booth. We already pay to maintain storefronts that depend on customer access and convenient parking.
Since the farmers market began using the West America Bank parking lot, several businesses around the square have experienced Sunday sales declines of up to 40%. One business owner may have to close on Sundays.
Barbara met with many of the downtown merchants and, from my understanding, promised she would work with us to minimize the impact and preserve customer parking. Those promises gave many of us hope that we could find a solution benefiting everyone. Instead, those commitments have not been fulfilled, and the expansion removes even more convenient parking.
Suggesting that customers park at CVS is not a practical solution. It requires pedestrians to cross the busy intersection of Highway 12 and Highway 116, one of the most congested intersections in our area. That isn’t a convenient or welcoming experience for shoppers, especially families, seniors, or anyone carrying purchases.
I don’t believe this has to be an “either/or” situation. We all want a successful farmers market and a thriving downtown. The goal should be finding a solution where both can succeed, rather than one coming at the expense of the other.
I appreciate your reply. Very much agreed that the goal is a thriving downtown business corridor and farmers market!
If I could gently push on the idea of downtown businesses getting a market booth or having items for sale on the inside of the plaza… I see from your bio that you own Silk Moon - you have a lovely store ☺️. I often see several racks / shoes / items for sale in front of Silk Moon (and having those items outside the store often gets me to stop and look at the items for sale 👍🏽), would it be so different to put those same items on the inside of the plaza? Please know I ask this with genuine curiosity, as this seems like a potential solution, and a way to strengthen the connection between the farmers market and business owners.
Your comment about business owners seeing a Sunday decline in sales is serious. However I assume you mean in the past, as the farmers market hasn’t been using the West America parking lot for quite some time (a year?) It seems odd that with so many people coming downtown for the market, (again IDK whether it’s hundreds or thousands) that decline is occurring.
Outside of the ideas suggested, do you have alternative solutions that you would propose? Other ways for local businesses to capitalize on the large number of people who are downtown and ready to spend money on Sundays?
I agree. There should be greater coordination between the Farmers Market and downtown businesses.
I don't see why business owners in Sebastopol can't take advantage of the increased foot traffic the farmers market generates on the same block.
I am concerned with this change. I am disabled and cannot walk very far. If all those parking spaces are deleted where will I park? I fear that I will no longer be able to access the farmer's Market. I would suggest that perhaps you could add some additional handicapped spaces in what is left of the plaza lot.
Larry Harper
I believe all six of the remaining spaces will be for handicapped parking spaces. Though they were calling them accessible rather handicapped.