ROGERS — The Rogers Farmers Market is to open Saturday in a new location Main Street Rogers officials said will be more convenient.
The market for several years was in the municipal parking lot on Arkansas Street north of Poplar Street. This year the market will move to the municipal parking lot at First and Walnut streets, east of the caboose in Frisco Park.
“The new location offers easier access to shoppers and parking will be available directly adjacent to the market,” said Kerry Jensen, executive director of Main Street Rogers. “We think the move will be good for the market as well as the downtown merchants. Vendors will have access to electricity, something they didn’t have at the former location, as well as restroom facilities. Several downtown merchants asked if it would be possible to move the farmers market to add to the ambiance of downtown.”
At A Glance
Farmers Market
The Rogers Farmers Market opens Saturday in a new location.
• The market will be in the municipal parking lot near First and Walnut streets behind the caboose.
• Market hours are from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Source: Staff Report
The market offers locally grown products, flowers and plants and handmade crafts and jewelry, market officials said.
“I think it’s wonderful that the market is moving across the street,” said Clarice Moore, co-owner of The Rabbit’s Lair, 116 S. First St. “It will allow for more vendors, and the market will be more visible. I think it will be a good move for everybody.”
“We hope it’s going to be good for everyone, vendors and the downtown merchants,” said Kimberly Scott, market manager.
The move also gives the market the opportunity to use the Frisco stage for entertainment during market hours.
“We plan to have music every Saturday on the stage,” Scott said. “We think people will enjoy the music while they shop.”
The market is open 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday. No music is scheduled for the Wednesday market, Scott said.
Scott said she isn’t sure how many vendors will be at the market opening day.
“The weather has been a problem this year, cold one day, raining the next,” Scott said. “Some of our vendors said their gardens are under water. I will be thankful for every vendor that participates on Saturday.”
Orvis Laughter, a produce vendor at the Rogers market for several years, said her crops are behind schedule.
“We haven’t even begun to plant some of our crops yet. The weather has slowed us down this year,” Laughter said. “I’m not sure about the move to a new location. People are used to us being on Arkansas Street. I hope it’s a better location for all the vendors, but right now it’s a wait and see thing.”