Editorial
Front Page - Friday, April 23, 2010
Favorites return for ninth season of Chattanooga Market
Erica Tuggle
The Chattanooga Market returns for the 9th season in providing local crafts, art, produce, music and a social atmosphere. The Market is held every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning April 25.
- Erica Tuggle
By Erica Tuggle
For the April 25 opening day of the Chattanooga Market, old favorites like sweet smelling handmade candles, delicious treats, beautiful art pieces and juicy local produce will be in attendance at the First Tennessee Pavilion. Because it wouldn’t be the Chattanooga Market if there wasn’t something new to each Market day, joining these items will be new music acts, art and exhibitions. Not to mention that all this is included in the unbeatable Market admission price of zero dollars.
This year the market will run each Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Dec. 5. Paul Smith, the general manager of the Market, says some returning hits will be the two-day barbeque cook-off known as the “Beast Feast,” the fall German themed market; Oktoberfest and the most attended Market; the Holiday Market. Special Market days will also include one on July 4 to recognize the troops and a special Haunted Market on Halloween.
Smith says, “It is kind of funny that some people come for certain events and others come all the time, but each event is kind of like your child, you don’t want to think one is better than the other. And it’s hard to say what each person will like.”
Also, returning for its first full season is the Thursday Plaza Party, a smaller version of the market held during the weekday at Miller Plaza. Smith says, because of the ever-expanding vendor base of the Market, this event is an attempt to expand Chattanooga’s buying local opportunities.
Market Media Relations head, Melissa Siragusa, says, “This even gives the business district people an opportunity, before they go home, to shop for some fresh produce, maybe grab a bite to eat and maybe even provide a little social time after work while listening to the entertainment act for that day.”
She says besides being an avenue for social interaction, both Markets provides a storefront for the craftsman and farmers that might otherwise not have one, and the local economy gets a boost from the producer only policy.
Business is good for the Market with 1.4 million dollars in sales last year Smith says. If statistics are right, once the money for those items purchased locally turns over an average of five times, it would give a seven to eight million dollar financial impact from the Market to the city.
With that kind of impact, the Chattanooga Market can hardly be classified as a typical “farmers’ market,” Siragusa says.
“We have a huge assortment and variety versus a typical farmers’ market,” Siragusa says. “There is really not another market like this, because those of our size are more geared towards being flea markets, and here everything has to be locally made and that in itself is unique.”
Smith says it is frustrating to be categorized in the flea market division because he says typical flea market items, like cell phone covers and hunting knives, won’t be found at the Market.
Smith says, “A lot of people hear the word “market” and think flea or farmers’ market…but with our average of about 125 vendors a week, there is this energy surrounding us that the farmers’ market doesn’t traditionally have.”
With the small Market staff community support is essential Smith says.
“With this structure we depend on goodwill from the city and sponsor dollars, and without those organizations sponsoring us we just wouldn’t be able to do it. There would be no way it could be done.”
Siragusa and Smith say, although every part of the Market is a must see, there are certain favorites they anticipate.
Siragusa says, “My favorite part is when some of those really popular crops come in, such as strawberries or peaches, and just seeing the excitement in the air and the anticipation leading up to it. Especially when strawberries come in and it makes such a beautiful presentation and people are clamoring to get theirs.”
“Clamoring” is putting it lightly when it comes to the yearly Strawberry Festival, held this year on May 16. Last year $13,000 worth of strawberries was sold in three hours Smith says. This year the berries should have no less of a demand.
Smith says the most gratifying part of the experience is seeing the local small businesses and farmer’s thriving through the efforts of the Market.
“They come to me at the end of the day and tell me how well they have done and how much money they have made, and I know they are going to go home with that. I like knowing we played a part in bringing those patrons to them and the income for their hard work and effort that they wouldn’t have otherwise received.”
For a full schedule of the Chattanooga Market events visit www.chattanoogamarket.org.
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