La Mesa Farmers Market Will Move West of Trolley Tracks in Early May

La Mesa’s Friday afternoon Farmers Market is moving a few blocks west in May, its first change of venue in 18 years, according to city officials.

Chris Gonzales, community development program coordinator, shared the news Wednesday night at a meeting of the La Mesa Village Merchants Association.

Now operating in a parking lot south of Allison Avenue and east of Spring Street, the market will move across the trolley tracks to an area north of Allison and east of Date Avenue, a corner of the civic center that neighbors Spring Street.

Gonzales said the market, which started in 1993, will “grow slightly,” and an added section—an arts and crafts area—will spill onto Nebo Drive parallel to the trolley tracks. He said the city assumes vendors will be pleased with the new site.

The move—set for May 6—was a surprise to local merchants, one of whom said in an e-mail: “I'm curious if the … vendors are in favor.  When we tried to move it onto La Mesa Boulevard,  literally hundreds of feet away,  the vendors balked, [saying] ‘No!  You will kill the farmers market!  No one will find us!’ I’m curious what [vendors] think of moving it to a location with less parking and less pedestrian traffic.”

The move was prompted by planned improvements, Gonzales said—“to maximize parking availability in the Downtown Village in anticipation of future construction activity related to the Downtown Streetscape Improvement Project.”

Councilman Ernie Ewin said via e-mail: “As the plans go forward for downtown improvements, including La Mesa Boulevard, utilization of all or part of the Allison ... parking area is needed for various improvement staging activities.”

Gonzales said 19-20 vendors operate in the market now, but that 63 are on a waiting list should any spaces open up. The popular market’s busy season extends from April through August, he noted.

Ewin said May was chosen for the move because “spring is an important time for the Farmers Market and the managers believe that it will help/better time to move.”

Vendors had been contacted by the market managers, Mark and Suzanne Bendixen, Ewin said.

Suzanne Bendixen manages similar markets in Poway and Oceanside.

“The city also wanted to get out in front of this aspect in its planning efforts,” Ewin said. “Space actually will be larger. Given the city's office hours—clearing more space with every other Friday off and visibility from Spring Street—this effort should also enhance attendance.”

Gonzales said the La Mesa Village Merchants Association and the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce had not been consulted about the change.

“The LMVMA was informed at [its] regular meeting on March 16 and invited to participate in the market before and after the transition,” he said.

According to the merchants association website, the open-air Farmers Market—which operates 3 to 6 p.m. year-round except for Oktoberfest and on certain holidays—is “sponsored by the City of La Mesa with the support of the La Mesa Village Merchants Association, [and] offers farm fresh goods including flowers, produce and live plants.”

Said Ewin: “I am sure there will be additional thoughts from the Village Merchants Association on continuing to make this a win-win activity.”