Tag Archives: farmers market
Cleveland Park Mentions
What’s the world saying about Cleveland Park this week? Find out every Thursday in Cleveland Park Mentions…
From Washington Post’s Going out Gurus blog…
The Underground going out of service to make way for Belgian-themed St. Arnold’s the Abbey
“It’s the end of the line for the Underground at St. Arnold’s Cleveland Park. The London-themed basement bar and sibling of the six-month-old mussel bar upstairs will be closing in late July or early August. But the space isn’t going out of service for very long, said St. Arnold’s operating partner Mark Moore: By Aug. 15, the digs will reopen as St. Arnold’s the Abbey, with a Belgian theme replacing the British.”
From Huffington Post (via some great source)…
Fate of Cleveland Park Farmers Market in DDOT’s Hands
“It seems as if the fate of the Cleveland Park farmers market has been sealed. The ANC voted last night 4-2 not to support the market (see voting record below). Brookville Market made the argument that the farmers market would actually put them out of business and this seemed to scare enough commissioners away from supporting the market.”
From Eat the District blog…
Pulpo: Tentacular
“We talk about Cleveland Park a lot here at Eat The District. Maybe too much. But the commercial stretch of Connecticut Avenue betwixt Porter and Macomb is truly a culinary gold mine. Establishments such as Ardeo-Bardeo, Ripple, Medium Rare, and Palena would deter some restaurateurs from jumping into this packed culinary environment. But just a few weeks ago, owner Dino Tapper (also of Logan Circle’s Floriana) brought his newest creation, Pulpo, into the mix. I am happy to report that this Cephalopod focused Tapas spot does not disappoint.”
Fate of Cleveland Park Farmers Market in DDOT’s Hands
It seems as if the fate of the Cleveland Park farmers market has been sealed. The ANC voted last night 4-2 not to support the market (see voting record below). Brookville Market made the argument that the farmers market would actually put them out of business and this seemed to scare enough commissioners away from supporting the market. Susie Taylor, who spent months organizing the market summed up how most of the neighborhood feels. “Hard to imagine that 4 hours of two produce stands and one orchard stand would negatively impact their bottom line to the extent that they would be forced out of business.” DDOT could still technically approve the market, but most people we’ve talked to, including Taylor herself, do not believe that they will.
Many thanks to ANC commissioner Richard Steacy who left a blog comment that explains the way he voted. “Based on listserve [sic] responses, much of the Farmer’s Market support came from west of Conn. I represent a part of CP (east of Conn.) that is pretty dependent on our local stores- Lots of seniors & young professionals in condos and apartments.” We think that the senior citizen point is a good one, but don’t see the evidence that young professionals east of Connecticut did not support the market, we actually think that they would overwhelmingly support it.
You may be interested in how your ANC commissioner voted. The vote record is below.
Voting no (4):
Leila Afzal (SMD05)
Richard Steacy (SMD04)
Lee Brian Reba (SMD01)
Bill Kummings (SMD02)
Voting yes (2)
Carl A. Roller (SMD06)
Chair Victor Silveira (SMD07)
Brookville Market Refuses to Meet on Farmers Market
Tonight the organizers of the Cleveland Park Farmers Market will go before the ANC to request a public space permit. In the time leading up to this request, the organizers and other community groups have been busy selling the farmers market to the many stakeholders in Cleveland Park. Sadly (we think), one business remains firmly opposed to the farmers market: Brookville Market. This shouldn’t be too surprising, but what is surprising is the company’s refusal to meet with ANC commissioners and community groups to discuss its concerns. Susie Taylor of the Cleveland Park Citizens Association even offered to meet with management over the weekend to discuss the situation.
We’re not even sure that a farmers market would hurt Brookville’s business. Taylor has anecdotal evidence that the Palisades Safeway actually sees an uptick in business during that farmers market (the same organizers will run the Cleveland Park market). Taylor has made a call to get confirmation on that data point for Brookville. It does seem likely that a farmers market decreases the incentive to go out of the neighborhood for groceries, yet shoppers certainly cannot get everything at the farmers market. That means neighbors have additional incentive to pick up what’s left on their list at Brookville. For us, this would be an additional sale for Brookville … we normally would have purchased everything outside of the neighborhood.
As a neighborhood, we have to walk a fine line with Brookville Market. It’s easy to say that we should allow the market to determine a business’ value (ie. if they lose business to the farmers market so be it). Theoretically, a little competition would force Brookville to innovate and improve its offerings, making everyone happier. The problem is that Brookville could very easily respond to competition by closing its doors. For all of its faults, most would agree that having Brookville in the neighborhood is a huge benefit and this would be a terrible outcome. On the other hand, Brookville faces less competition that it did a few years back when Magruder’s was in the neighborhood. Has it innovated or made any improvements since its competition has gone done ? We’d say no.
Hopefully, Brookville will come to see the farmers market as a potential revenue generator and accept community leaders’ offer to create a symbiotic relationship between the two entities.
Cleveland Park Farmers Market: Business Killer or Neighborhood Enhancer?
Could a fear of competition keep these smiling faces from Cleveland Park?
As we’ve posted, the proposed Cleveland Park Farmers Market will go before the ANC Board at its next meeting. Based on a posting from Richard Steacy (ANC3C-04), it seems as if debate will center on the market competing with existing local businesses.
As he posted, “Question: Would you support a Farmers Market if it was in direct competition with a local merchant?”
Some of the immediate responses on Twitter and Facebook included:
“I don’t think it would be. A farmers’ market brings more foot traffic to the neighborhood–something that CP could definitely use.”
“I don’t see a biz in CP that would get hurt. They are mostly restaurants or non-food shops who would/could benefit.”
“a stand competing with a local vendor for 5 hours on a Saturday morning doesn’t have me particularly worried that we’ll lose local businesses”
“if anything I will be more likely to stop at Brookville or Yes! since the market probably won’t have everything”
“Existing businesses? That Giant they wouldn’t allow to be renovated? So you’re left with Brookeville and YES! Market?”
And our favorite…
“@CleveParker #AnnoyingYuppieProblems”
The farmers market as planned would look something like this:
* Every Saturday from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
* Located on the west Connecticut Avenue sidewalk between the Four Fields and USPS year round
* Starting later this month if permitted
* 10 vendors and 2 tables to showcase local organizations and/or existing local shops
Cleveland Park Farmers Market Has “Breakthrough”
We’ve recently heard that a “breakthrough” has been made with regard to the permitting problems plaguing the much anticipated Cleveland Park farmers market.
We talked to Susie Taylor of the CPBA who emphasized that the CPBA and the CPCA have joined forces–along with market manager Gloria Garrett–to bring the market to Cleveland Park. Taylor tells us that the trio is diligently working on permitting issues, and recently discovered that a glitch in DDoT’s online permitting system was causing the delays. They have been working with the city to correct the problem. Taylor expects to resubmit the permit for approval by the end of this week and hopes that the market will be back on track after resubmission. She advises us that they are working to ensure that the market “enhances, rather than competes with” Cleveland Park’s existing stores, and the mix of market vendors has been “carefully created” to respond to CPBA concerns. Taylor, Garrett, and Jane Treacy from the CPCA plan to appear at Monday’s ANC meeting to seek the ANC’s endorsement of the market.
We still have not heard an anticipated opening weekend for the market or a list of participating vendors and look forward to the release of this information.
