Christiansburg has been brainstorming ways to revitalize the downtown area and the town seems to be using the farmer’s market as a possible springboard to increase community engagement.
The farmer’s market opened Thursday with more vendors (13) than it has ever had according to town spokesperson Melissa Demmitt.
Additionally, there was a barbeque food truck and Homestead Creamery was serving ice cream.
Town officials said that food options would vary throughout the season with the hopes of having a variety of vendors.
Casey Jenkins started with the town at the end of March as an events coordinator with the public relations department. A large part of his job centers around managing and growing the farmer’s market.
Jenkins, 26, said that his goal is to strengthen the market through improved vendor relations and effective programming. The new programming at Thursday’s market included a face painting and balloon making station, lawn games and live music.
He said that he was pleased with the turnout for opening day. While the open atmosphere and multiple points of entry make it hard to know just how many people came out to the market, Jenkins estimated that at least few hundred had made their way around the closed off portion of Hickok Street by early evening.
“I was very happy to see how opening day unfolded. There was great energy and anticipation among the vendors and patrons alike. It was a combination of eager customers, great community partnerships, diverse vendors and a great effort from town employees that made the first day really come to life,” he said. “I thought the event was planned and executed very well, resulting in a product that will make downtown an exciting place to visit on Thursdays.”
In her second year at the market, Angie Crandall from Stump Ridge Farms in Pulaski said that she was happy with some of the changes the town has made to hopefully attract a more vibrant and regular customer/vendor base.
“The advertising efforts have been better this year,” she said. “It also helps to have someone here fulltime that is dedicated to growing the market.”
Jenkins said that his long-term goal for the market would be to have something similar to Blacksburg’s turnout, which has a robust and year-round following of customers and vendors.
Blacksburg also has a permanent structure off of Main Street dedicated to the market, which Christiansburg has talked about doing as well.
The News Messenger has reported previously on the discussions by the town council on how to cultivate a more active downtown presence by its residents, particularly closing off the portion of Hickok Street permanently to build an area for the market and to host other events throughout the year.
Mayor Michael Barber has previously noted that while most of the storefronts on Main Street are occupied, the majority of them are 9-5 businesses that do not generate much activity past that time.
“In the past, we did have more food and service options downtown, and I’d like to see these types of businesses return. With all of the businesses and the government buildings downtown—both the town’s and the county’s—there are so many employees who get off around 5 p.m. and would love to stay in the area for dinner and entertainment. We have a resource in the amount of daytime workers who are located downtown and who can support these types of businesses, venues and entertainment options.”
Todd Gordon is the owner of Gracie’s Garden in Riner and is a first-time vendor with the Christiansburg market. He said he is optimistic about the market’s growth opportunities and would like to see the town put in a permanent structure, not only for the sake of the vendors, but the community as well.
“You see people playing music and jamming out in Blacksburg (at the market) on days when nothing else is being held there. It is just a great place for people to gather for face-to-face interactions,” he said. “We need more of that here and just everywhere in general. Too many people are just staring at screens all the time.”
Powell said that while the council has talked about making the street a more permanent fixture for downtown events, nothing has been set in stone. If the town did approve development, it likely wouldn’t occur for a few years anyway, because a stormwater project is scheduled to tear up the road next year.
The town is still accepting vendors for the market season that runs from 3-7 p.m. every Thursday through November. Vendor fees have been waived again for those that are interested.