Organizers of a new market in Sidney are planning to test the town’s appetite for a Saturday event next month.
The group of organizers, made up of a team of local community members from the Peninsula and Greater Victoria, are hoping to use the month of April to test the waters with their idea.
Alex Carroll, one of the organizers, is hoping the market will bring new business into Sidney for weekend shopping.
“The idea has caught fire so quickly and with such joy and enthusiasm that it’s quite clear already that the event is going to take on a life of its own,” said Carroll.
“We have talked it over with members of the BIA, the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and other folks to ensure this is a participatory process that benefits everyone involved and enhances Sidney’s appeal as a weekend shopping destination.”
The market will be taking place in the building at the corner of Fifth and Beacon, above Odyssia Restaurant. The group is appointing a Cultural Programmer as well as they hope to hire two promoters, or “Market Mermaids” in the near future.
Their chief aim will be to spread the word of the Sidney Saturday Market through the town, Carroll said.
“We will be releasing a market map soon that will give people a clear picture of the ongoing event we might be able to create,” he said, adding that the location of the space above Odyssia Restaurant was chosen because of its central location.
Carroll said the market currently has a number of vendors on the books including farmers with locally grown produce, vintage clothing, high-end antiques, handbags, books, records, jewelry, cosmetics, pet food, coffee, aromatherapy and art.
“Every day new vendors call and sign up and the market is evolving into a living, shimmering, community event,” said Carroll.
The current plan, he continued, is to have the central aisle of the second-floor space function as a produce aisle which will sell locally grown fruits and veggies, as well as things like cheeses, jams, honeys and eggs.
“The first market will have two other distinct wings, which can roughly be classified as Culture and Glamour,” Caroll said.
Organizers hope to hear from the public as to what they’d be interested in seeing at the market before the April 5 Grand Opening.
“We want to hear what the people of Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula would like to see in a Saturday Market experience,” said Carroll.
“We are trying to remain as inclusive and open-minded as possible so we also encourage any vendor who wants to sell at the Sidney Saturday Market to contact us.”
Carroll and the market team can be reached at sidneysaturdaymarket@gmail.com.
reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com