Shops look forward to Escondido Farmers Market move

By: PAUL EAKINS - Staff Writer | Wednesday, July 4, 2007 12:42 AM PDT ∞

ESCONDIDO -- After 12 years rooted in one location, the Escondido Farmers Market will be sprouting up all over downtown in the coming years, starting Tuesday when it moves one block east on Grand Avenue.

The Downtown Business Association, which runs the market, will begin rotating it every two years among several downtown locations, said Debra Rosen, chief executive officer. The farmers market has taken place between Broadway and Kalmia streets every Tuesday afternoon for the last 12 years, but will be held for the next two years in the 200 block of Grand Avenue between Kalmia and Juniper streets.

"We want to make sure everybody gets to reap ... the benefit of having it on their block and having it in front of their store," Rosen said.

Future market locations may be on the traditional Grand Avenue as well as other downtown streets, although the exact locations have yet to be determined, Rosen said.

Locally and other California-grown produce, flowers, herbs and other food items are sold at the farmers market, which has summer hours of 4 to 7 p.m. each Tuesday. Each week, dozens of vendors set up shop in the street, which is closed to traffic during the market, and hundreds of shoppers peruse their goods.

Some business owners said this week they have long awaited the market's relocation to the front of their businesses in the 200 block between Kalmia and Juniper streets.

"To sum it up in a multitude of words, it's about time," said Bill Houser, owner of In the Cave antique store, which has been downtown in the 200 block of Grand Ave. since 1988.

While many business owners and employees in the market's new block said they're hopeful the event will increase business, some were guarded in their optimism.

"We'll have to wait and see what happens," said Antonia Betencourt, a hair stylist at The Arcade Barber Shop. "Many people don't know this location. But if they're coming, it can be beneficial for us."

Tuesday was the market's last day in its current location in the 100 block of Grand Avenue, and workers there said the market either had increased business or had little effect on it.

"It is good for business," Lollicup coffee shop employee Christina Santana said. "It's almost like Cruisin' Grand. Not nearly as hectic, but it's consistent."

Cruisin' Grand is a Friday night classic car show on Grand Avenue that runs about half the year and draws large crowds from throughout the region.

Eleni Bennett, assistant manager at Drapers and Damon's clothing, said she doesn't think the market brings in extra customers, but that it is popular with her clients.

"All of our customers come in and they look forward to it," Bennett said. "We get a lot of traffic coming in and out."

But parking can be difficult during the market, she said, and a couple of her customers have gotten parking tickets as a result.

The parking and accessibility issue also has been a worry for some business owners who are preparing to receive the farmers market in its new block.

"There's definitely a fear of, 'Are people going to avoid coming here because of that?' " said Jessica Leigh, owner of LLLReptile. "But, ultimately, the more people you're exposed to, the better."

Judy Blackson, owner of Judy's Embroidery, said the market won't benefit every business, because each one has unique needs.

"It's good for some shops," Blackson said. "How it affects my business is different than the one next down."

-- Contact staff writer Paul Eakins at (760) 740-5420 or peakins@nctimes.com. Comment at nctimes.com.

Escondido Farmers Market

Relocating one block east between Kalmia and Juniper streets on Grand Avenue.

Summer hours are 4 to 7 p.m. every Tuesday.

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