Market Vendors worry about financial future

By Lindsey Ward

Published: September 30, 2008

We called eight vendors Tuesday night for reaction to the latest direction of the city market building, some were unlisted, some weren’t home and some were simply upset.
   
Anita Wilson, owner of Burger in the Square, says she’s too emotional to go on camera, but we discussed the idea of closing the building in spring for a major overhaul.

Earlier Tuesday at a retreat meeting, Roanoke City Council and city officials met to discuss the building’s future, saying it needs to re-open as soon as possible.
   
The city so far, has spent more than $50,000 on cleaning and renovations, a portion of which will be paid by the vendors.
   
In the coming months, the city says it’ll schedule a series of public meetings on ideas for the building.
   
Once council has voted on how to move forward, the building would be shut down for major renovations, which could happen as early as March.
 
City leaders were quick to point out this plan isn’t set in stone.

Wilson says the vendors were absent from Tuesday’s meeting and found out about the plan through the media.
   
Shortly after she says, City Manager Darlene Burcham and Council Member Court Rosen went to the market to discuss the future with the vendors.

When they found out the market would open and potentially close in the spring, Wilson says emotions ran high, because they can’t live without the income.
   
She’s also concerned about the money already lost and the money vendors are putting forth right now to get the market back up to Health Department standards.
   
These financial woes are causing some vendors to look for a more reliable paycheck, while city leaders plead with the public to come back.

“If you like the farmer’s market in downtown Roanoke, then don’t hesitate to come back when we do reopen.  We need you to come back, we need you to help make this a success,” said David Bowers, Mayor of Roanoke.

Wilson says vendors are planning a press conference of their own for later this week, where they plan to react to the future of the market building.