Flower Mound Farmer's Market moves to The Riverwalk
What happened
On Wednesday, October 9 at 10:30am the Flower Mound Farmer's Market updated their social media channels with a surprise: ownership at Parker Square (the home of the market) was terminating operation.
They were "devastated" by the change but just 8 hours later they announced the market had found a new home: The Riverwalk.
Why this was not cool
Parker Square terminating with less than a week's notice put vendors in an undesireable place: no way to update their customers where they'd be next week. It left market officials scrambling to secure a new location and for locals it's likely to create confusion. We're sure people will show up at Parker Square this Sunday and wonder where the market is.
But how did they find a new home so fast?
Matt Brown, Strategy and Operations at Four Seasons Markets, the group that administers the market said, "I have to give Mike Beaty, the current property owner at The Riverwalk credit. Mike had reached out serendipitously a few weeks ago about having the market there and I had told him we we would be a little bit challenged at The Riverwalk because of the lack of visibility."
We agree here: long a sore spot for locals for a variety of spicy reasons, The Riverwalk is definitely tucked away between FM 2499 and Morriss - it's basically invisible to people driving by.
"What makes a market thrive is you have to have repeat customers and you have to have a visibility for the impromptu. It's about a 50/50 ratio. So I had told Mike at the time, it's probably not gonna work just yet because we wouldn't have the visibility. And then this happens, so, of course, I call Mike back."
Props to the Town of Flower Mound
If you've ever applied for a permit to do...anything here in town you know it's not a fast process.
But our officials cleared permits for the new location inside of 48 hours.
Brown said, "I would like to give the town a ton of credit because we talked about the quick nature of turning this around from Parker Square over to The Riverwalk, and that took a permit. So Engineering, Health, Fire, the town came through in less than 48 hours."
Okay, tell me all the details on the new location
When: Sunday, October 12, 10am to 2pm
Where: The promenade that backs up to 2499 on the south side of The Riverwalk has been permitted to be blocked off. Turn on Central Park Avenue right before the hospital, you'll see it.
But also: There will be bathrooms, and in future weeks you'll see more amenities like picnic tables, etc. They're working to make it a welcoming space.
Who's going to be there? What kind of cool stuff can I buy?
The Farmer's Market is not just responsibility vegetables any more. There is a TON of cool and delicious stuff.
Up to 53 vendors will be there for the launch of the new location - Sunday is going to be a great day to visit.
Last thoughts
Brown left us with a plea: "It is critical in these early stages of The Riverwalk that people show up and show their support to the market. Please be patient, continue to show up, and we will have vendors there."
