After the Quarry Farmers & Ranchers Market closes on Dec. 7, the market is scheduled to open at a new, to-be-determined location the following Sunday, Dec. 14.
In a prepared statement released Sunday, the Alamo Quarry Market shopping center reported that they are still “determined to discontinue” the market, despite the outpouring of public protest. The release cites parking problems, even though only a few of the center’s stores are open before noon on Sundays.
According to Arthur Cavazos, a public relations representative hired by the Quarry, customers of anchor stores complained about parking availability and those stores relayed complaints up to the corporate office of San Diego-based American Assets Trust, which owns the shopping center. Cavazos called the market “a victim of its own success.”
The statement also included the possibility of reopening a weekly farmers market after the holiday season. Whether any market would choose to operate in the space remains to be seen after the current operators received a surprise, three-week eviction notice without the benefit of any meetings or conversations. That release also cited ambiguous parking concerns.
None of the nearby stores open on Sunday before 12 p.m., except Whole Foods. The market ends promptly at 1 p.m. There seemed to be more than enough parking on Sunday, Nov. 23, a sunny, fall day. Most of the Quarry’s western side parking was empty, except for farmers market customers, but moving the weekly market to that site was not an option with the owners.
“Most weeks, I’ll drop by some shop or another at the Quarry after the market, and I bet most customers who come to spend money at the market probably do the same thing,” said vendor Danny Shaffer with Oh-Kimchi.
If that’s true of only a quarter of the 2,500-4,000 people who frequent the market each week, the market should represent a significant revenue boost for Quarry businesses.
The controversy surrounding the eviction notice has stirred a serious backlash, with the public flooding the in boxes and voicemails of Alamo Quarry Market corporate decision-makers. Still, the decision is unlikely to change and many across San Antonio are beginning to speculate about the market’s possible new home.
Heather Hunter and David Lent, founders of the Quarry Farmers Market, also started a Saturday farmers market at the Blue Star Arts Complex last year, but construction on South Alamo Street lowered attendance and the market had to end. Now that the construction has ended, some are hoping the market reopens there.
Others see it an opportunity to add a farmers market to the Northwest side, citing enormous parking lots at UTSA’s main campus and in Stone Oak that are largely unused on Sundays as ideal locations for a big market. After recent comments, however, those locations seem less likely.
Lent met with reporters Sunday morning amid the bustle of customers on a perfect South Texas November day, and said more than 100 different venue owners had reached out to the couple with an offer to talk about relocation. The main locations they are considering, Lent said, are within two miles of the Quarry.
That sent reporters to the map to explore possible venues within a two-mile circumference. While there might be any number of property and business owners that would like to attract the market’s customers on a weekend, the question is which locale represents the best option for serving the population in the Alamo Heights area and the near-Northside?
Staying close will maintain the strength of the community surrounding the market. During its three-year tenancy, the market has steadily grown from 10 to nearly 30 booths. The market’s success has even propelled certain vendors to adopt brick and mortar locations, including Bakery Lorraine and La Panaderia.
Given the affluence and culture of Alamo Heights and the Quarry, a farmers market there was in fertile soil to grow. Owners Hunter and Lent are determined to keep serving and growing that customer base.
Besides proximity, Lent and Hunter said they are looking for locations with local businesses rather than the national chains that dominate the Quarry. They want a strong community in the new location and sufficient parking to accommodate expected market growth.
The Whole Foods at the Quarry isn’t the only grocery store in the immediate area. The nearby Shops at Lincoln Heights on Basse Road are anchored by a large H-E-B that might benefit from farmers market customers also frequenting the grocery store on the same visits. While that H-E-B store might sell less produce on Sunday mornings, it would probably sell more staples unavailable at the outside market.
The Yard at 5309 McCullough Avenue, south of Basse Road, is home to local favorites like Two Hearts Yoga & Fitness, Yaya’s Thai Food, Olmos Perk, and Urth Juice Bar, with a strong community that would integrate well with the market. Parking space, however, could be insufficient to accommodate the market’s existing customer base.
The University of Incarnate Word has a large parking area that is lightly used on Sunday mornings, and features the headwaters of the San Antonio River, but the only retail within walking distance is Central Market, which features a large selection of fresh produce and organic fare.
Park North near Northstar Mall has ample parking space and is home to several local businesses, including Earth Burger. The area directly in front of the Alamo Drafthouse and LOL Comedy Club is nearly deserted on Sunday and could bring more customers into the outlet.
With luck, the new location will be selected before the final edition of the Quarry Farmers Market on Dec. 7. That would give regular customers as well as residents near the new site the chance to attend the opening market next month without vendors or their clients missing a week.
“Any plans for this market will be successful,” long-time vendor Tony Koch said Sunday. “There’s enough momentum that I don’t have any doubt that the customers will follow it.”
*Featured/top image: Vendors line the parking lot of the Quarry Farmers & Ranchers Market. Photo by Scott Ball.
This story was originally published on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014.
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Quarry Evicting Sunday Farmers Market
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Blue star
The Yard shopping center
Wonderland. Covered parking area on Fredericksburg rd. At 410 and I 10 intersection, great locale.
Depending upon the out-of-town owners of a suburban retail strip by the freeway for an event that’s allegedly “part of city life”… well what the hell did you expect?
Park North Shopping Center plenty of space and would be a good addition to this part of town and not very far from the Quarry.
AH Pool area?
The concourse? Or an other shopping center that’s vacant but not far from the quarry. I don’t think the now vacant target will care for the competition. And plenty of parking.
I have a feeling you will come out the other side of this bigger and stronger for it.
Many blessings to all of the participants of the Quarry Farmers Market, may you find a home that brings you even more success.
Anyone with open property would Love to have this family gathering event. Builds traffic. Anyone in Alamo Heights or Austin Highway would love to have 3,000 shoppers
Only reason I shop at whole foods: to get other household goods on market day.
Whole foods was probably the one complaining.
Let the Farmers Market stay it is so important to support local farmers!!!!!!!!
the pearl
Aim for Central Park Mall. Loads of parking. No Whole Foods to compete with. No farmer’s markets in the area, at all. Easy access off of Loop 410. This thing sells itself.
It would be nice to help other businesses, but what about the Alamo Heights Pool area or adjacent park or Olmos Park? The Yard would not have enough parking…
La Villita in Downtown
How about Commander’s House Senior Center? Could be part of their overhaul. Or will it really be HEB’s private park;).
I would hate to see it placed in an area like UTSA or Stone Oak. Those are nice locations, but the success of the farmers market is likely in no small part due to its centralized location in the city.
UTSA downtown. ..
The old Target at Jones maltsberger would be good!
Evicting the farmers market from the Quarry is just going to bad news. What a poor choice.
Park North would be a suitable location, I think. Nearly empty on Sunday morning, ample parking, close to the original customer base.
Any old Albertsons will do.
The Yard shopping center!!!
Central SA.
Olmos Park
Come back to Blue Star!! The Quarry is a cluster f without the market, so I get the operator’s push out…didn’t ever mind it there when I ran my errands though.
151/Potranco rd, empty Albertsons store behind SHELL gas station, down a driveway from major shopping and restaurants.
Grace Point Church at Huebner near medical center had a mobile produce truck in the front lot facing the street last month.
Ample parking and steady business from regular churchgoers.
No Blue Star! Too close to Downtown area, already has Pearl. North Park area good, in front of Sears facing Rector street has big parking lot!!!!
What about that place on Jackson Keller by Olmos golf course….
I vote for Sandy Martinez, That lot is huge.
I would suggest relocating the farmers market at one of the church parking lots in Alamo Heights, such as Alamo Hgts. Methodist, or on the property of Trinity University.
Just incorporate it at the Pearl on Saturday, don’t like this farmer’s market, not a lot of variety
Amor y Arte at Travis Park!
Monticello Park Deco District…there’s a new market that needs more vendors!
Wherever it goes the surrounding businesses will be getting my lunch and random shopping business as well. I only frequent the quarry shops and restaurants because I am there for FM. Wonder how much they will lose as a consequence. Guess not enough to care. Farewell Quarry !
Absolutely should be in front of the old Target on Jones Maltsberger.
Make the Farmers Market itself the focal point for the new venue. The market doesn’t need the headaches of another retail maze. I find the Quarry to be a bit of a turn off. Good riddance and don’t look back.
Southside
Off 90 when they are done building it
1604/pat booker has a huge parking lot to a building that’s been empty for over 5years.
Also 35/3009 area, the old garden ridge is vacant with plenty of space/parking lot.
Boycott Quarry through Holiday Season.
UTSA downtown/or old Target lot is a great idea.
This was my favorite market in town!! So approachable and friendly, not paranoid like the Pearl vendors seem to be. I always go to Quarry, not going to Pearl ever again.
Is it just us at the Rivard Report or do others also wonder: Why hasn’t Whole Foods come out and made a definitive statement supporting the Quarry Farmers Market and distancing the company from the decision by the shopping center’s owners? Given its customer base, why would Whole Foods management not comment unless it supported the eviction?
Try a college campus. I was hoping to make it to this one. Just moved here from Hawaii and my favorites were at college campuses, and mall parking lots. There was a huge one at a big college, really popular. We had smaller ones at high schools and elementary schools. Anything to support farmers. We went every Sunday religiously.
Actually, there are several farmers markets…one off Vance Jackson on Tuesday and Saturday and at the Rim on Sundays…I believe one off 281, but not sure, so I thought this was “local”. The Pearl is already big. So, perhaps like mentioned the old Target on Jonesmaltsburger, then no one would complain and maybe a business or two could open there!!! Like an indoor farmers market what used to be downtown at Market Square….where ever it is, I hope they do continue!!!