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22 new vendors at Rockford City Market

5/17/2018
Adam Poulisse (RRSTAR)

ROCKFORD — City Market returns Friday for another season of food, fun and music. But the downtown summer staple along Water Street that began in 2010 will have one noticeable absence. Bella Luna Bakery, which has been with City Market since its initial planning, will not be among the vendors because of high demand at Bella Luna’s brick-and-mortar location. But Bella Luna’s departure actually is a City Market success story. This year’s market will offer more vendors and more room to socialize. Here’s everything you need to know before heading to City Market on Friday: New options There will be 22 new vendors at this season’s City Market, and 19 of them will be on hand on opening day. The three others — Just Craftin’ Around by Jen, Wanderlust by Kate, and Pins & Squares — will join the event later in the season. Overall, there will be 65 vendors on opening day. As for the new businesses this year, there’s something for everyone: cheesecake, crafts, candles, hot dogs, gyros and produce, to name just a few. “I feel like it’s a few more new vendors than normal,” said Cathy McDermott, City Market manager. “It’s a pretty good number.” A full list of new and returning vendors is available on the City Market website. City Market success story Bella Luna Bakery was among the first vendors to find an audience when the market started in 2010, back when the bakery operated out of pop-up locations, personal kitchens and rental kitchens. Since 2013, Bella Luna Bakery has been a fixture inside Stewart Square. When Bella Luna first started at City Market, it had about 100 customers each night, said Polly Happach, who co-owns the business with Lori Parker-Weinrich. Its reputation spread by word-of-mouth, she said, and last year Bella Luna drew 3,000 visitors a night. Happach and Parker-Weinrich decided not to participate in City Market this year because of expanding business obligations. “We are so busy in the shop, and we have so many weddings, that it’s hard for us to continue to do City Market and keep up with the shop and clients,” Happach said. Of Bella Luna’s success, Happach said, “everything is credited to City Market.” “We could build our customer base there and try products and see what worked and what didn’t,” she said. “If there was no City Market there would be no Bella Luna Bakery.” More room to socialize The pavilion layout has been reworked this year to allow for more high-top tables near the live music, McDermott said. “That’s our No. 1 request, to have more tables available.” More food trucks will be grouped together at the north end of the market, McDermott said. Storage issues It’s more of a behind-the-scenes change, but City Market storage during the off-season and non-market summer days has long been in the indoor market building on North Madison Street. Because that building has been under construction since March, City Market officials have had to use other storage units and storage pods. “For me, that’s my biggest challenge,” McDermott said. Construction on the 24,500 square-foot indoor market should be completed in early November. An indoor market similar to the outdoor City Market will be open five days a week, likely Tuesday through Saturday. Design a T-shirt, win a prize Local artists are getting in on the fun by creating the design on this year’s City Market T-shirts. The deadline to submit was Monday. The top five designs will be featured on opening day, and attendees can vote for their favorite. The winner, to be announced Monday on Facebook, will receive a $100 gift card for a downtown Rockford business and a T-shirt bearing his or her design. 2017 recap Last season, City Market began with its coldest-ever opening day, with temperatures in the mid-40s. The season ended with its warmest closing day at 92 degrees. Friday’s forecast calls for a high of 82 degrees. The market recorded more than 110,000 visits last season.


For More Information:
http://www.rrstar.com/news/20180517/22-new-vendors-at-rockford-city-market

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