12/16/2014
Ken DeCoster

ROCKFORD (WREX) - Over 75,000 people shopped at Rockford City Market in 2014. That tops the previous year's record attendance by 11 percent. A welcome jump not just for vendors at the market--but for nearby businesses according to City Market Manager Cathy McDermott, "About 60 percent of them go out to a business, a restaurant, or retail establishment before or after the market. They're spending money and it has a great economic impact on both market vendors and downtown businesses in general." McDermott says some vendors did so well at the market, they're making downtown their permanent home, "We have at least five businesses that have gone into storefronts or are relocating to actually manufacture their products and really incubating from the market booth to an actual storefront." The success has City Market organizers planning extended hours and more vendors, "Now that the new parking structure is going to be built with a pavilion, we're going to be able to have other shows there. Maybe vintage markets and holiday markets." McDermott says there are plans to expand City Market to the North Main & Auburn area this Spring. Those plans are pending City Council approval. So, why are the City Market crowds larger each year? "They like the locally grown or locally made items but they also like the location by the river. They like the music, the beer, the wine, so I think overall it kind of filled a need that people were looking for." City Market organizers say shoppers spent nearly four million dollars at the market and at neighboring businesses this year.


For More Information:
http://www.wrex.com/story/27645103/2014/12/16/city-market-economic-impact