By Chris Bavender
The closure of the Marsh store in Boone Village has led merchants in the plaza to come up with innovative ways to continue to provide customers the opportunity to purchase fresh produce and other goods.
Farmer Albert Lewis operates a produce stand seven days a week, offering anything from melons to sweet corn to tomatoes. Lewis opens at 10 a.m. and stays open until 7 p.m., unless he sells out first.
“Marsh was an anchor in the shopping center. We would see people get groceries (at Marsh) and then come get fertilizer or oil for the car, etc., so we have seen a decrease, and it’s created its own set of challenges,” said Leigh Ann Akard of Akard Hardware. “I think (the produce stand) has helped. We see people walking in with fresh produce or they come in and thank us because they can get what they need still.”
But that’s not all. A Wednesday night Pop-Up Farmers Market started in July and will run through Sept. 27. Hours are 5 to 8 p.m.
“We called and talked with the organizer of the Zionsville Farmers Market and wanted to work together with them. They’ve been advising us on how to do this and we agreed offering this on Wednesdays was a great alternative,” Akard said. “I never have the opportunity to go to the Saturday morning market because when it opens at 8 (a.m.), so does the hardware store, and in talking to other merchants they said the same thing.”
The first week of the market featured 14 vendors, including local handmade offerings ranging from jewelry to natural cleaning products.
“Everyone seems very excited to have the Wednesday option. There are people who want to refresh and replenish after the Saturday market, or those who don’t have the opportunity to attend one,” she said. “We were spoiled because we were able to go over (to Marsh) and get whatever we needed.”
