23 replies to this topic

[ducky]

There is also a farmers market on Saturday mornings in the light rail station parking lot at Sunrise. It's not Folsom, but it's a very short light rail ride away.

I agree I would have loved more produce at the TNMs.

Great post, Steve, especially about half the fun was running into people you know.

I agree with Darth Lefty about the food needing to be stuff you could walk around with and not go in a sit down.

It's too bad it's gone now.

[4thgenFolsomite]

The merchants' association (FHDA) would entertain the idea of something similar in the future. It's very hard to come up with the right mix. There are so many expenses that come up with having an event that shuts down the street, especially fees for police, EMTs, etc. It has to be organized so that it attracts a mix of visitors that will support and attract a mix of vendors that complement each other. Farmers market types say they do not want to come at night in July and August when its so dang hot. Vendors find they can't commit to an entire summer of Thursday nights. The kid fights weren't just one or two years, it was increasing on a regular basis as the reputation for TNM spread to other towns and drew the bad apples here. There was vandalism and blood shed (I'm not kidding) on the perimeters of the market that even paid security couldn't contain. It had become a problem and a great expense for the FHDA with no visible benefit.

the FHDA thought it better to give the TNM a break and focus on new better activities, like the skating rink around the turntable, the new farmers market on the railroad plaza, Second Saturdays, the fall fest, the Christmas Tree lighting, which should be great, the Fall and Spring antique fairs that Folsom is famous for, and the Top of Folsom event being organized for the fall.

[Steve Heard]

I agree with Darth Lefty about the food needing to be stuff you could walk around with and not go in a sit down.

It's too bad it's gone now.

I discussed the issue with various managers and stakeholders over the years, and it seems they saw the market differently than the public did. I thought it was something to bring people down to see the historic district, introduce them to the merchants and get them to spend some dough.

The managers and stakeholders thought that we saw it as a party, an excuse to get drunk, a farmer's market, a flea market, or a food fair.

When one would remark that many of the shops were closed during the market, the general response was either, 'that's because no one buys anything', or 'those are merchants who choose not to participate'.

So, with no consistent direction or goal or a way to get there, it died. I hope it comes back some day.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

The restaurants could have set up areas out in front of their restaurants (a la San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf restaurants) to serve a sampling of their fare that would be easy to walk with -- for example:
1) A slice of pizza or wings from Chicago Fire.
2) Pot stickers or barbecued spare ribs from Hop Sing Palace.
3) Nachos or quesadillas from Haciendo Del Rio.

It would have been a great way to give people who haven't patronized their restaurants a sampling, enticing them to dine there in the future. It would have been a way for the restaurants to capture the business of people who didn't want to sit down -- preferring to browse.

Just a thought in case the concept of a night market is revisited in the future.

[Steve Heard]

The restaurants could have set up areas out in front of their restaurants (a la San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf restaurants) to serve a sampling of their fare that would be easy to walk with -- for example:
1) A slice of pizza or wings from Chicago Fire.
2) Pot stickers or barbecued spare ribs from Hop Sing Palace.
3) Nachos or quesadillas from Haciendo Del Rio.

It would have been a great way to give people who haven't patronized their restaurants a sampling, enticing them to dine there in the future. It would have been a way for the restaurants to capture the business of people who didn't want to sit down -- preferring to browse.

Just a thought in case the concept of a night market is revisited in the future.

Chicago Fire and Hacienda both did that, although Hacienda stopped after a couple of years, and as mentioned, Old Europe had sausages grilling.

Also, Caligirlz noted, there are other towns with successful street markets which have the elements we can't seem to pull off, notably: street food vendors who seem do well, and co-exist with restaurants, police and security to keep the youngsters in line, good live music, lots of farm fresh produce, merchants doing business and a good time had by all. San Luis Obispo is a perfect example.

[aztransplant]

There is also a farmers market on Saturday mornings in the light rail station parking lot at Sunrise. It's not Folsom, but it's a very short light rail ride away.

Yes, I usually hit that one on my way back from Soil Born Farms farm stand on Saturday mornings May through November, and, if needed, hit the Costco right there as well so I don't have to drive all the way across Folsom to get to that Costco, which is way out of the way for me on any given day (approx. 15 mile round trip from home to Folsom Costco and back - ugh).

Soil Born Farms
American River Ranch Farm Stand
2140 Chase Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 (last left before entering Hagan Park)
Saturdays 8am - 1pm
May 26 - November 17, 2012

http://www.soilborn.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=87&Itemid=83

[ducky]

Yes, I usually hit that one on my way back from Soil Born Farms farm stand on Saturday mornings May through November, and, if needed, hit the Costco right there as well so I don't have to drive all the way across Folsom to get to that Costco, which is way out of the way for me on any given day (approx. 15 mile round trip from home to Folsom Costco and back - ugh).

Soil Born Farms
American River Ranch Farm Stand
2140 Chase Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 (last left before entering Hagan Park)
Saturdays 8am - 1pm
May 26 - November 17, 2012

http://www.soilborn.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=87&Itemid=83

I hadn't even thought of hitting that Costco. Great idea! I feel the same way about the long drive through Folsom. Plus, it seems like our Costco has some of the angriest people ever. I can't decide which are scarier - the ones driving angry through the parking lot to get to the gas station or the ones inside driving angry with giant shopping carts

Also, I didn't know where Soil Born Farms was so thanks for that info, too.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

I can't decide which are scarier - the ones driving angry through the parking lot to get to the gas station or the ones inside driving angry with giant shopping carts

Some are angry cart drivers and even more are oblivious to the fact that they're not the only ones in the store... which is why I will only go to Costco if I can get there just as they're opening. I'm in and out in under 15 minutes.

BTW, I have a theory that the same people who drive their carts in angry and/or oblivious manners are the same people who drive their cars in angry and/or oblivious manners.

[ducky]

Some are angry cart drivers and even more are oblivious to the fact that they're not the only ones in the store... which is why I will only go to Costco if I can get there just as they're opening. I'm in and out in under 15 minutes.

BTW, I have a theory that the same people who drive their carts in angry and/or oblivious manners are the same people who drive their cars in angry and/or oblivious manners.

Okay. So I'm not the only one who has noticed this.

Sorry for the derailment. Back to TNM or lack thereof.