Heather Latter
The local BIA’s “Market Thursdays” kicked off last week with one vendor setting up shop on the sidewalk in front of the old Rainy Lake Hotel on Scott Street.
“I think it went well,” noted Richard Boileau, a member of the BIA’s promotions committee.
“It seemed to be busy.”
Loewen Greenhouses from Stratton was the first vendor to take part in the market, which is set to be a weekly event running from about 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
“I think it’s a good idea to try to reinvigorate downtown Fort Frances and draw attention back to the streets,” said owner/manager David Loewen.
“I think it needs that . . . and it could be a good attraction [that] keeps people in the centre of town.”
While Loewen thought business was a little slow last Thursday, he’s hoping to take part in the event again.
“It was the first time,” he reasoned, adding he’d like to see more vendors take part.
“I hope it catches on.”
Boileau said the idea for a downtown market was developed while deciding how to fill some of the empty space downtown.
“We have a lot of empty space downtown—that whole area in front of the Rainy Lake and we were trying to figure out ways to fill it,” he explained.
“We’ve seen other communities that do markets right downtown and it generates some traffic.
“And we’re just trying to let people know that downtown Fort Frances is alive and well,” Boileau stressed.
He added the hope is that each week “Market Thursdays” will grow and expand.
“Once we have even four or five people taking part, it’ll be busier,” he remarked.
Boileau added they’d like to have vendors selling not only local produce and plants, but also artisans and crafters offering up their goods.
Even buskers (street performers) would be welcomed as a way to spruce up that area of the street with activity.
“It would be great to have someone there playing their guitar or bagpipes,” Boileau said. “It would be fun.”
The BIA also is hoping “Market Thursdays” will catch the attention of some of the tourists heading through Fort Frances.
“Hopefully, tourists will stop and pick up something downtown instead of rushing right through,” he noted.
“Get them to slow down and look, anyway.”
Boileau clarified the BIA’s market isn’t meant to compete with the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market here each Saturday, but rather enhance it by allowing some of those same vendors another opportunity to showcase their wares and bring more people into the community.
Having it on a Thursday also may catch those who spend their summer weekends up the lake.
“A lot of people take off for the weekends and this will give them a chance to get some things before they head out-of-town,” he reasoned.
“And there are a lot of people that work downtown, so they can just do their business downtown as opposed to having to wait and do it on Saturday somewhere else.”
Boileau also said “Market Thursdays” doesn’t have to be a “weather permitting” event.
“If a vendor has a tent, as long as they are not blocking too much of the sidewalk, they are more than welcome to continue in the rain,” he remarked.
“In the olden days, they just did things out of the back of a pick-up truck. They just parked on the side of the road and did it rain or shine.
“They farm in the rain, I’m sure they can sell in the rain, too,” he added.
Anyone interested in being part of “Market Thursdays” can contact Boileau at McTaggarts (274-5371) or fellow promotions committee members Doug Anderson at Betty’s (274-9565) or Connie Cuthbertson at Northwoods Gallery & Gifts (274-9224).
