By TOM TROY
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Article published Tuesday, July 27, 2004
The Erie Street Market may begin feeling some new energy with the recent formation of a group calling itself Friends of the Market.
The loosely organized group of boosters is working to make two things happen soon: a "Cornfest" Aug. 21-22 and a reconsolidation of two vendor bays into what is now the food bay.
"We all just want to add some traffic to the market," said Cheryl Hardy of Hardy Communications, which is designing logos and posters for the market. "Right now, we are focused on the Cornfest."
Sue Wuest, who chaired yesterday's meeting at Manhattan's Restaurant, said the group has no formal structure yet, and does not plan to run the market. It does plan to accept any willing member, and may offer premiums or privileges to members in the future.
"It's something that should have been done when the market opened," said Ms. Wuest, assistant director of the University of Toledo Urban Affairs Center and one of three informal coordinators. "All [public] markets have them."
The Cornfest will draw local restaurateurs who will compete with corn-based recipes using locally grown corn. It will feature a corn-shucking contest, a "kernel guessing contest," music, and other attractions. The Friends group is trying to raise $5,500 to promote the event.
Less well defined is the group's plan to move Frog Town Square vendors back in with the food vendors at the southern end of the market as a way of making that area look more occupied. It would also open up Frog Town Square, or Bay 3, for events.
Nonfood vendors, including soap, candle, and gift merchants, were moved into the brightly lit Frog Town Square bay in 2001, with the hope that their former spaces would be replaced by new food vendors. However, many of the vacated stalls remained vacant, and Frog Town Square also has empty space.
Steven Seaton, deputy director of economic and community development and a member of the Friends group, said Frog Town Square is an ideal event space. He said it would be cheaper to move the Frog Town vendors than the food vendors, who have exhaust ducts, fire suppression systems, and plumbing.
The idea of consolidating the two bays has been considered among the gift vendors, some of whom fear the potential for food odors and particles damaging their goods.
But Pam Weirauch, owner of Pam's Corner lunch counter, said she thinks the move would add to the convenience and the crowd level.
"I've wanted to do it since I got to the market two years ago," Ms. Weirauch, who is also a member of the Friends group, said. Having two half-empty halls "does not make much sense to me," she said.
Members of the group said they plan to use a recently completed consultants' report as a general guide to how the market should be developed.
Among his recommendations, Ted Spitzer with Market Ventures Inc. of Portland, Maine, proposed in May that the food bay switch places with the Libbey Glass Factory Outlet to create a closer relationship with the Toledo Farmers Market. That move has been put off indefinitely because of the $5 million price tag.
Contact Tom Troy at:
tomtroy@theblade.com
or 419-724-6058.