No flea market for farmers market – for now, city says

While not considering it in the near future, Sudbury's downtown farmers market could consider adding a flea market in the long-term if there's a business case for it.

Meredith Armstrong, the city's manager of tourism and culture, gave city councillors an update this week on The Market's operating year from 2014. Overall traffic was down slightly last year, Armstrong said, something she attributed to the rainy summer last year, when 600 mm of the wet stuff put a damper on attendance. That led to a dip in traffic of about 1,000 visitors, to 11,722 from 12,768 in 2013.

However, an antique market held Sundays helped increase visitor counts by about 30, but Sunday traffic continued to be considerably slower than Saturdays.

“We're not at full capacity at any given time,” Armstrong said. “Perhaps one day there will be a decision to go to a one-day market. Or maybe a weekday. But for now, we're sticking with the same hours as last year.”

The Market is still evolving, Armstrong said, and its direction is being set by the Downtown Market Working Group, volunteers who are so dedicated to what they're doing, they continued to work even after their mandate ended when the last term of council was up.

While it was held for years outdoors in the parking lot of the Sudbury Theatre Centre, the market moved into a dedicated building on Elgin Street several years ago. But three years ago, the city moved it to the former CPR train station further up on Elgin to allow for the construction of Laurentian University's School of Architecture.

The working group is looking to find a business model that will allow the Market to thrive while still staying true to its roots as a place for local farmers to sell locally grown, fresh produce.

“What does the market want to be when it grows up?” is how Armstrong described what issues they they are grappling with. “Certainly we don't want to build a white elephant that can't be supported.”

They're also looking at how the Market will integrate with projects planned downtown, such as the Elgin Greenway, a parking garage and new arena.

Ward 8 Coun. Al Sizer wondered if they have considered going beyond food sales.

"When we're talking about increasing traffic, have we looked at the possibility of ... something like a flea market?" Sizer asked.

Yes, Armstrong said, but it's not a direction they want to go anytime soon.

"We have talked at great length about that,” she said. “The Market working group really has tried to stay true to the homegrown, handmade vision for the market, keeping the high-quality product.

"We have often entertained inquiries from folks who want to sell battery chargers or e-cigarettes or all kinds of other interesting products. And the group has really felt strongly that is not a good fit with a market that primarily draws consumers because of local fresh produce and handmade goods.

"At this time, the flea market is not necessarily the direction we're taking it in the short-term. However I would not hazard to guess what the long-term brings. And if there's a business case for it, I think we're willing to look at different models, for certain."