WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Farmers and Artisans Market in downtown Warsaw will temporarily move to Center Lake this Saturday.

The move is happening to accommodate the Freedom Fest parade, which is set for 10 a.m. and is part of three days of local activities celebrating America's 250th birthday.

Lisa Hawley, one of the co-directors of the market, said vendors will be located in what she calls the shoehorn, where the old city parks office was located. 

Some city officials have previously floated the idea of moving the market permanently to somewhere near Center Lake, and Hawley said this week's temporary shift will serve as a test for that idea.

“We'll try it and see how it works,” Hawley said.

She added, “We'll have to get together afterwards to discuss how it went and if it's something feasible.”

Meanwhile, the market saw a significant change earlier last month after city officials chose to no longer close off Buffalo Street as part of the downtown market. 

[caption id="attachment_132014" align="alignright" width="300"] A sign points out that more vendors can be found in the city hall parking lot during the farmers' market along Center Street in Warsaw. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

Hawley said sales have been good for vendors on Center Street, but not a lot of shoppers are venturing into the City Hall parking lot, where overflow vendors have been located — even though there is abundant signage directing shoppers into the parking lot.

Overall, they had about 40 vendors participating recently.

“I put 13 or 14 up in the (parking lot), and they were saying that they did not do very well," she said.

Hawley has been a strong supporter of the market in the downtown because, in part, it provides a boost to downtown merchants.

Falling Rabbit, which specializes in a wide variety of whiskey and other drinks, has been participating in the market (through the city's existing DORA policy) and selling Mimosas on Saturday mornings.

That would not happen if the move to the park, she pointed out.

The market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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WARSAW — Kosciusko County Farmers and Artisans Market will remain in downtown Warsaw this summer, but with some changes.

Those include a more compact schedule and a smaller configuration that will keep Buffalo Street open.

Representatives of the market had sought last month to renew its street closing plan for the Saturday downtown tradition with closures on Center Street between Lake and Buffalo streets, and Buffalo Street from Center to Market streets.

A plan approved Friday by the city board of works will limit the closings to Center Street between Lake and Buffalo streets, and overflow parking will be available in the City Hall plaza

Buffalo Street will remain open.

Organizers had wanted to run it from April 18 to Oct. 31, but the board approved an alternative plan provided by the market organizers for the street to be closed on Saturday mornings from May 2 to Oct. 10.

The changes were made following some complaints about the extent of road closings.

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WARSAW — It appears the Kosciusko County Farmers and Artisans Market will likely remain in downtown Warsaw.

Two of the organizers said they felt blindsided recently when a plan to renew the annual street closing for the summer-long program was delayed after some city officials expressed an interest in looking at whether it should be relocated out of the downtown because of the inconvenience of street closings.

Within a matter of days, two petitions, including one online, were organized to underscore the market’s popularity.

At the same time, Main Street Warsaw and the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce reached out to 34 merchants in downtown Warsaw to gauge their thoughts on whether the market should remain on Center Street in front of the Kosciusko County Courthouse.

Parker said 34 stakeholders said they support the market remaining on Center Street, and one opposed, including part of Buffalo Street as part of the overall closure.

Parker said he does not support closing Buffalo during the ongoing construction along Indiana Avenue, which is part of a major exterior renovation by Lake City Bank that’s expected to continue into the summer.

Talk of the annual plan to approve the closure of streets for the market was tabled earlier this month after some questions arose about whether merchants see the market as a plus on Saturday mornings despite the street closings.

Parker said the survey provides convincing evidence that the market should stay in the downtown.

Parker said Main Street Warsaw and the chamber have always supported the market in its existing location.

"We believe very strongly, have always believed, that it's beneficial to have that happen in the downtown on Saturday mornings because it draws people to the downtown," Parker said.

"We're going to work hard to make sure it moves forward and not delay it any further," he said.

But he cautions that the survey focused on Center Street and not Buffalo Street, which he said needs to remain open in light of part of Indiana Avenue being closed due to a Lake City Bank construction project.

Lisa Hawley and Josh Fox, the market’s co-directors, talkd with News Now Warsaw shortly after Parker shared his findings and were cautiously optimistic, despite some lingering anger over how the issue surfaced.

"It's great, but I don't think it's over. I think the city council will come after the market after this year to be moved," Hawley said.

"It sounds good if it truly is," Fox said. "I guess time will tell. My gut says there might be a hidden agenda in there. I don't know.

The city board of works will address the issue at its meeting on March 6.

The board of works often welcomes input from the city council and the chamber on a range of issues.

A specific relocation plan has not been proposed, but some, over the years, have suggested Central Park would be a good option.

The market used to operate at the Kosiusko County Fairgrounds but moved to downtown about 13 years ago.

Despite having competition from a similar market in Winona Lake, the Warsaw market has continued to do well and saw traffic increase last year.

In fact, more vendors began using Buffalo Street (between Market and Center streets) last year, and it was further bolstered by Krista Brown, the owner of Maggie's Coffee and Treats, who helped organize a "cars and coffee" promotion that attracted classic car owners to downtown.

Parker said he thinks some city council members wanted to pause it to evaluate whether there was a better option.

He said he believes opinions from his survey provide a "solid footing" for elected officials to make informed decisions rather than “knee-jerk decisions” based on a few opinions.

Negative opinions often stand out, he said, because most people who like something are less inclined to be vocal about it.

Brown said she thinks the Main Street survey sends a strong message.

"People in the community want the market to stay where it is, and they're happy with it," Brown said.

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WARSAW -- Kosciusko County Farmers and Artisans Market in downtown Warsaw on Saturday featured nearly 30 vendors filled up an entire block of Center Street with more vendors in the adjoining City Hall parking lot.

[caption id="attachment_81327" align="alignright" width="370"] Here is a view of flowers on display by Nature’s Farm and Garden, of Syracuse. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

About 8 to 10 booths offered fresh products and flowers, but there was also a sense of local creativity and entrepreneurship.

Need your old chair recanned? A veteran named Little Hawk can do that and even show you how it's done.

There was Nate Carver, who works in orthopedics during the day ane ventured into woodworking earlier this year and had a large display of wavy wooden American flags.

And Linda Whitaker, who sells plants and flowers alongside her grandchildren who make a wide variety of fidget toys using a 3-D printer.

Norma Monik, Nature’s Farm and Garden, of Syracuse, was selling flowers, veggies and herbs. She's been a regular at the market for four years.

“We have a lot of foot traffic here. Lots of nice people. Regular customers who come out whether it's rainy or whether it’s sunshine – they’re just very dedicated to come out every week,” Monik said.

This year, the market is being overseen by a group of directors

Josh Fox, who sells honey products, is one of the directors. He said he feels the downtown tradition has been re-invigorated

“We’re doing really well. We’ve had quite a few new vendors coming in this year. Seems like weekly," Fox said. "Our numbers seem to be up. We’re seeing a lot of new faces of patrons coming into the market.”

The market is also offering vendors on Wednesday night in the city hall parking lot from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

This spring, a new farmer’s market began operations just a few miles down the road in Winona Lake at the Miller Sunset Pavilion.

From Fox’s standpoint, it looks like there’s room in the market for two.

“I think we are definitely holding our own with it,” Fox said.

The market runs every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m . and continues into October.

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