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Vendors Seek Sunshine At Market Event

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By CHERYL KUCK

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 10, 2008

PLANT CITY - The Historical Downtown Plant City Merchants and Business Association's open air market that included arts and crafts for the first time was pretty much a washout due to heavy rains.

At the start of the Aug. 9 event, only 11 vendors braved the elements and set up displays in the municipal parking lot at Reynolds and Palmer streets. Within three hours, only three vendors remained.

Although it was a disappointing start to the expanded market, vendors Leo and LouAnn Watson, East Hillsborough Art Guild president and vice president, respectively, said they were optimistic about the future prospects for the event. The Watsons said they would return for the merchants and business association's next market Saturday.

Other vendors shared the same feelings, including the head of the nonprofit Unity in the Community, which brought its concession trailer. "We have a lot of needy people who count on our contributions and we won't let them down," Unity founder and president Joyce Jordan said.

Damp but undaunted folk arts vendors, Shirley Kitchen and Sherrie St. James, were all smiles during the soggy Aug. 9 market. They also plan to return Saturday with their collection of hand-painted signs with mostly beach and tropical themes.

The merchants and business association previously sponsored an outdoors antiques and produce market the second Saturdays monthly in the fall through spring. But this was the organization's first market in August and the first time it was expanded to include arts and crafts.

Association member Ed Hampson, owner of Pieces of Olde antiques store, 113 W. Reynolds, who has been the No. 1 advocate of the expanded market, said "we're looking forward to better weather and more participants," next time. The markets will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. the second Saturdays monthly through March at the Reynolds and Palmer location.

If the vendors come out in force, "I believe this will become a successful event both for area business and Plant City," Hampson said.

Anyone interested in participating as a vendor can call Hampson at (813) 717-7731

Correspondent Cheryl Kuck can be reached at wkuck@tampa bay.rr.com.

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