7/5/2013
Matt Mershon, WTVO video

ROCKFORD - Warm weather and a holiday weekend had people out in force at Rockford's City Market on Friday, but that was only adding fuel to the growing weekly event. New numbers show the market's success is up significantly. "From 2011 to 2012 we had a 50% increase in attendance," said Kathy McDermott, manager of Rockford City Market. "And for the first five weeks of 2013 we're up 25% from 2012." As of this time last year, City Market saw over 18,400 people in attendance at the downtown event - this year that number was more than 23,100. A growing crowd means a growing market. Market coordinators have increased beverage stations, grown the volunteer base and even expanded the grounds to the north to allow for more vendors. They've even added more porta-potties to handle the crowd. For returning food vendors like Jodi Dierks, owner of Kiwi Caf and Bar, it means increased business. "Now I have to bring three times as much food and I've run out every single week," said Dierks. Even though increased business means more work for Dierks, her bottom-line isn't complaining. "Our numbers have tripled," said Dierks. The larger crowds are also welcome news for newcomers to City Market, like Ronit Golan, owner of Ronit's Kitchen. "We're trying it out and seeing how it goes," said Golan. "It's been going fantastically. We've been busy every week, even when it rained last week we had tons of people." One of the overall goals of City Market is top help start-up businesses like Ronit's Kitchen to build their own stand-alone venue. Golan already has high hopes for a storefront. "I'm hoping for that sometime in November," said Golan. "That's the hope!" - See more at: http://mystateline.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=407022#sthash.1X0ogL2D.dpuf


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