New Bern Farmer's Market...a revitalization strategy to bring people downtown



Farmers Market - Under construction 1983



Newly constructed Farmers Market 1983



In the 1960’s and 70’s New Bern’s public market place, called the Curb Market, was located on George Street. Over the years, the customer base seemed to be aging, sales stagnating and its image had deteriorated over the years. When the revitalization effort began in the late 1970’s, community leaders believed a new location in the downtown area, preferable on the vacant urban renewal land, could serve as a catalyst to encourage redevelopment of the waterfront and provide economic opportunities for farmers and local entrepreneurs to bring people back downtown.

At the November 21, 1979 Swiss Bear Board meeting, preliminary plans to build a new Farmers Market in the downtown area were presented by Gary Bleau, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Agri-Business Committee. The board supported the project and began working with the Chamber of Commerce and  Craven County Cooperative Extension Service to secure grant funds to construct a market on the urban renewal land owned by the City. Although vendors from the Curb Market presented a petition in February 1980 to the Board of Aldermen protesting construction of a new farmers market, the Farmers Market Planning Committee with a member from the Chamber, Swiss Bear and Extension Service moved forward. Design work by Chamber Exec Bill Edwards  was finalized and the start-up  Board of Directors for the non-profit organization that would run it  was selected. David Roland, City Planner was consultant to the Board. It was determined the new  market would be constructed on land in the City’s portion of the urban renewal land (renamed Bicentennial Park) and leased to the Market board for 30 years at $1 per year. 

In April 1982, the Farmers Market Board received a special $125,000 appropriation from the state legislature for construction of a Farmers Market. The new Market began operating on May 14, 1983 in an open-air environment until the building could be constructed. Construction of the building was delayed due to a problem with the Southern Railway who owned an eight-foot strip of land running down the middle of the Farmers Market property. After a period of time, the City obtained an agreement with the railroad and the new open-air building was constructed with room for 30 producers in the building and space for producers outside.

In the mid-1980’s, during the tenure of Tom Barton, Chairman, Billy Dunham, Vice Chairman and myself as Treasurer, we saw the need to enclose the building to expand its use of one day April through October, to be open year-round. We submitted a grant application to the NC Department of Agriculture and received $52,500 in the spring of 1987 which made it possible to enclose the building, install a heating system, enlarge the parking area and landscape the grounds. The Market board hired a market manager and made an aggressive attempt to open the market Wednesday’s and Saturday’s and recruit groups to rent the building for on-going activities, concerts private rentals, and community events which was coordinated by Swiss Bear.  

Landscape improvements

Enclosed building with new wrought iron fence

In the spring of 1989, the New Bern Noon Rotary Club and the New Bern Breakfast Rotary Club donated $10,500 toward the purchase and installation of the wrought iron and brick fence around the perimeter of the property that enhanced the control and use of the Market for concert/event rentals, especially those charging  an entry fee. The Clubs used the Market for the Labor Day Week-end Michelob Cup Regatta  for a concert and awards party.  

Market vendors are required to join the market for an annual fee and must meet their “grow it, bake it, sew it, make it” rules to rent a space. The twenty member board of directors, chaired by Joe Hunt, are responsible for operating the market year round every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and conducting a year round calendar of events. Vendor and rental fees are used for marketing and the on-going maintenance of the property and building.

Over the years, the property’s value, space constraints for expansion, parking and minimal hours led to numerous discussions in the previous administration between the City and Market board to include relocation to a larger more visible location in the greater downtown area on a major corridor to service more people, be open five days a week, and serve as an incubator for start-up small businesses (seafood, and other food stuffs). More recently discussions focused on utilization of the space for public parking and week-day use by the Department of Recreation and Parks. Since the 30 year lease will soon be up for renewal, the City and Market board will meet to renegotiate the terms.

Bustling Farmers Market today

 

Farmers Market - Harvest Bear

The Market, like many other strategies played an important role in the redevelopment of the waterfront. Well-loved for both its local fresh produce and other offerings, it is and will always be a social hub for the community, regardless of its location.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director