Some of you have already heard that the Marketplace at Flower Mound shopping center is discouraging parking during the Farmers Market on Saturdays.
It speaks to the tremendous success of the Farmers Market and how that success has impacted some neighboring businesses. Specifically, the shopping center on the SW corner of Morriss and FM 1171.
The shopping center’s management company has expressed concerns about market patrons using their parking lot and how that is impacting the merchants in that center. Town staff has spoken the management company’s representative as have the folks who are managing the Farmers Market.
This evening I also had a conversation with the representative of the shopping center. First I want to say that based on information that has been shared with me, there are some businesses in that center who have been adversely impacted. Others have not had any impact, and others have seen their business improve since the Farmer’s Market opened. My concern was to address the negative impacts while working with the management company to insure that other businesses did not suffer and were in fact able to thrive. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful. This issue is with the owners of the center and their management company, not with any of the businesses.
The question that Farmer’s Market patrons need an answer to is; “Where does this leave us?” The short answer is the Market will be open on Saturday. Vendors will be there offering their produce and products. The only change is that the adjacent shopping center’s property management company has asked that the patrons of the Farmer’s Market not park in their parking lot. This is their parking lot, built for their tenants and the management company is completely within their rights to make and enforce this request.
There is parking in front of Town Hall and also on the east side of the building. I encourage folks to come to the market this Saturday and park in spaces around Town Hall. Please adhere to any property owner’s parking restriction signs. I want everyone to enjoy the market and I don’t want anyone to be towed.
Lastly, we are all anxious for the permanent location at the River Walk to open. It won’t happen this season, but we are working towards it for next season.
