Heather Latter
The local BIA’s “Market Thursdays” on Scott Street are beginning to wind down for the season, but organizers are pleased with the success of the weekly event.
The downtown market, which started up the last week of May, saw local vendors, artisans, and crafters selling their products between 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Thursdays in front of the Fort Frances Museum and the old Rainy Lake Hotel.
“A lot of the weeks, it was really good,” enthused Richard Boileau, who sits on the BIA’s promotions committee.
“The vendors thought it was great because it gave them an opportunity to sell their wares where normally they wouldn’t,” he remarked, adding tourists he spoke to also enjoyed the outdoor market.
“They thought it was neat to see some things that you can’t get everywhere,” Boileau said.
“It gave them another reason to get out of their car and take a look around.”
Doug Anderson also felt that, for its first season, “Market Thursdays” did quite well.
“We had 38 people at times on the street,” he noted. “Some people were really successful and came back every week.”
Boileau said the idea for a downtown market was developed while deciding how to fill some of the empty space there.
“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.
Both Anderson and Boileau noted the hope is that “Market Thursdays” will grow and expand even more next year.
“We’re really looking forward to next year and for people to start thinking about it,” Anderson said.
Boileau, meanwhile, indicated they’d like to start up next year’s markets earlier than they did this season.
Those who missed “Market Thursdays” will have one last chance to check out some of the outdoor vendors next weekend (Oct. 7-8) as the BIA presents its ladies shopping weekend promotion, which coincides with the opening of hunting season.
“There are some vendors who have indicated an interest in participating in that,” noted Anderson.
“So it will be the last kick for this year.”
