Why would you want to move the day for one of the best events in Farmington or any of the other local communities. Learn to adapt your business to the number of people visiting down town Farmington on Saturdays. This is opportunity knocking for business ownwers, You just need to get creative as to how you adapt to the higher volume of people in town.

Sundays would be a great day rather than Saturday. People could come after church if they wished to do so.

This illustrates one of the main problems that continues to plague downtown Farmington. The market draws more people on Saturdays than all other days of the week combined. Most reasonable and diligent business owners would be absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to engage a group of potential customers this large - and learn how to take advantage of it. But, that's not enough for a few complainers. Instead of taking advantage of what's being dropped in their lap, they whine about customers not coming in to their stores, as if it's someone else's fault. Ridiculous.

If your only customers refuse to patronize your store because they have to walk a short distance to get there - one day a week - what does that say about your store? Are Farmington customers that lazy? Or, is it these merchants? Many other, successful local downtowns thrive as diverse, walkable shopping areas. Why is it only in Farmington that this proven model is frowned upon? Why do these few whiners believe that they can only succeed if their customers can park directly in front of their business, like a strip mall?

If 3,000 - 4,000 people walk by your storefront in a period of a few hours, and you can't pique their interest enough for them to come inside, it's time to look at yourself and your business model. It's no one's fault but your own.

I suspect that there would be fewer venders if the market was open on another day of the week. Shoppers want to shop on Saturdays because most of them are working Mon-Fri out of the area and would like to support the DDA enterprises and benefits of a walkable community. The farmers market concept allows shoppers to celebrate the opportunity to visit with neighbors, gather fresh fruits and vegetables, purchase a drink or sandwich, or simply to sit and "people watch" on a pleasant day. Could people who want a spa experience shedule their appointments for another time or day since the market is only open one day a week for five hours?

So, a cosmetics store that appeals mainly to the 65+ woman (and those in need of a wig) and a tiny, services limited "spa" complain of lack of business. Hmm. Maybe the DDA could pay for gurney rides from the car right to their doors...

Seriously? I work in downtown Rochester, and shop mainly there and in Royal Oak. I know, as do many others, that I might have to park and walk a short distance to get to the stores I find interesting and worth spending my money at. I think that's the case in most successful downtowns.

The market draws that many people because it offers what they want, and those people are willing to park some distance away and walk to the market because it's worth it to them. This is a lesson that seems to escape some businesses in Farmington.

Ridiculous! Moving the market to another day would mean fewer shoppers at the market...these retailers have a stationary location that customers can come to any day...for many of those market vendors they are even smaller businesses and the market is their own day to sell to customers. The Farmington Market is so great because of what it offers and when its open, other nearby towns with markets on other days have MUCH lower attendance and bring much less money to their towns. If Farmington supports small business owners and farmers, they'll leave the market as is.

Perhaps flyers offering a slight discount on market days would encourage foot traffic and increase business?

Funny, I go to the Market almost every Saturday and have never had a problem finding a reasonable parking spot. I am also much more likely to shop at the downtown stores at that time because I'm already there. And If I happen to be parked a little further away, that gives me a chance to explore more stores. On a non-market day, I would probably just park in front of a particular store to shop there instead of browsing around. The Farmers Market really brings a sense of community for the whole neighborhood, not just the Market. It is a great invitation to see all downtown Farmington has to offer. As someone else mentioned, this could be a great marketing opportunity for the stores in downtown Farmington to lure in more customers. Don't just expect it to happen (or not happen) - do your part to invite us in!

I agree with marie. I am much more likely to pop into different shops on Market day. And the market closes at 2 pm. Maybe those businesses should consider staying open later than 4 or 5. I've never understood why small shops have such limited weekend hours.

So let me get this straight.....There are to many people downtown so you are losing business? That is the most absurd thing that i have heard in a long time. Stop blaming the city and the citizens of this town for your failing business and start looking at what you can do to interact with the thousands of people that are brought downtown by these events.

Bella Spa? Merl Norman? Didn't even know those businesses existed in downtown Farmington and I've lived here for 27 years. Sounds like their prob isn't lack of parking.

If people go to the big mall they know they will have to park and walk a distance, so stop complaining about a short walk to these stores. I have never had problem getting close parking on market days. Sat. is best day and I also tend to go into other stores while downtown. Offering discount to complaining customers who have to walk more than a block would be good. But, I would bet that would not happen often.By the way, where did the funding magically come from that is going to pay for the renovations downtown??? Maybe I should call a dispatcher in Farmington Hills and ask!!

Board Chair Bob Rock pointed out that Starbucks and Tubby Sub Sandwiches did well on Market Day. Of course they do, they share the same parking lot as the Market!! They are the lucky ones.

Shuttles...cool tram....a few reserved for business spots....

Seriously?? Too far to walk? in Farmington? This isn't New York City! What did they have to do...cross the WHOLE parking lot? For shame!!! Why doesn't Ms. Ellis work her "magic fingers" at the market? Bring in a few chairs and offer little mini massages,,head, neck, shoulders, arms,hands. A few minutes for a few dollars. We go to a resort in Florida that offers this service poolside and it is always a hit! Plus I go to the spa later int he week of our visit. Or offer coupons to patrons that visit during the market. There are a lot of ways to improve business...not just complain about it. It would be a shame to move the market to another day, Practically everyone I know starts their weekend at the Farmers Market.

As a Downtown resident since 1983, the Farmer's Market and and many other positive changes that we have done nothing but make our Town even more special! Moving the Market from Saturday would be a grave mistake. More parking, perhaps just behind TJ Maxx, maybe.

I'd wager that the type of merchant we want in downtown Farmington is not the one who can't fathom how to leverage thousands of happy, strolling market customers into a few extra dollars of profit.

In spite of what your personal opinions are of me and the way I operate my business and my customer demographic, I would like to clarify that the quote you are basing your opinions upon is simply that my sales are down on Saturdays. The discussion was based on some pro-active problem solving in preparation of the upcoming construction in the east lot. We talked about accommodating the paying customers who have made an effort to support our businesses on Saturdays and would like the luxury of a parking space. I am very proud and supportive of the Farmington Farmers Market and its success. The suggestion that it would be moved to a Sunday is a very good one as far as I am concerned in regard to the parking issues. We are not suggesting that people can’t walk or that the market be moved. Again, we agree that it’s done very well and is a very good event for our community.

The best thing about this story is the large number of responses and their passion! It's good to see so many people feeling so positive about downtown Farmington and the efforts to improve it.

As owner of The Sacred Sage, located right downtown at the corner of Farmington Rd and Grand River, I have to say that I appreciate the market on Saturdays. This is a matter of educating customers that in a downtown setting you may have to walk as you do in every other downtown. My customers never complain about the parking so I'm a bit confused about the parking complaints. We have a very small parking lot behind our building and yes it gets filled with market goers. But, it brings additional potential customers to my back door. My regular customers generally plan to spend the day in Farmington shopping here and the market, going to lunch etc. It's time to take a positive outlook because having all the parking spaces full is a GOOD thing!
Diane Rothman
The Sacred Sage

The only thing I don't like about the market is that they have another dozen parking spaces they could be using, yet they are set up right in the middle of the parking lot still. There's a huge grassy space behind the pavillion that isn't ever utilized except for lawn chairs at the Friday night concerts. How about freeing up that parking?

Wow! This is insane! You people have turned against your hard working business owners and from what I have seen, all for attending a local DDA meeting. Don’t we need to encourage folks to brainstorm together at these meetings? You have no facts; you have made assumptions, thrown insults and attacked these people for no good reason. I live in Farmington and I love the market too but let’s be real…the market customers take all the parking on Saturday! I used to work for a Commercial Real Estate Developer and I often wonder if the property owners are aware of the monopoly of parking on Saturdays. These business owners are paying hundreds of dollars a day to run their businesses and shouldn’t be expected to peddle their goods at a produce fair. They need to utilize the space they pay for and part of that is the parking lot! Shame on all of you! No wonder the strip mall is full of vacancies. There seems to be a huge lack of support for the people that are the heart and soul of your beloved Downtown Farmington.

A real Buy Local campaign would help with posters and media attention to emphasize the value of small local businesses as opposed to chain stores, where much of the money does not stay in the community. Many people do not even think of frequenting the locally owned cafe instead of Starbucks for instance.

The "heart and soul of downtown Farmington?" Really?

The longer walk to the businesses is not the issue, it is the inconvenience to the customers. Like it or not when something is easily accessible every day of the week accept the one when it is most convenient most customers just aren't going to go. Beyond the few business in the immediate realm of the farmer's market there are many businesses that suffer because their regular customers cannot get to them and the farmer's market goers are not looking for their services. It is a tough time to be a small business owner and in Farmington for most of these merchants it means going above and beyond for their customers despite that climant, we as a community should not be making survival harder for the businesses that make our city great, we should be supporting them and helping them thrive. Having a farmer's market on Sunday instead of Saturday would be much more convenient for customers and merchants alike, allowing our city to have fewer empty store fronts and struggling residents.

So, "Mark", "Josie", it's the CUSTOMER'S fault that these businesses are not doing well? Sorry - it's the other way around. Customers are not going to go to these stores just because they happen to be in Farmington. It's obvious that those people that these businesses call their core customers don't think enough of these stores to walk even a short distance. I have lived in Farmington/Farmington Hills all my life, and have shopped downtown Farmington literally hundreds of times. I have NEVER - repeat - NEVER had a problem finding a parking space. With the T.J. Maxx lot, the lots behind the shopping center, across the street and even just a block away, I have never turned around and gone home because I couldn't park directly in front of a store I want to go to.
Customers vote with their feet - they go where they can get exactly what they want, at a good price. The merchants who are complaining have very limited clientele and service range, dark & cluttered stores, and evidently little clue as to how to market and promote their own businesses.
The key to survival is to get new customers. "Local" is about third or fourth down their lists, with selection, price, service being the top priorities. It's just human nature. Telling potential customers that they should shop at a store they don't like, just because it's in Farmington, has never worked, nor will it. If your "best" customers won't shop at your store if they have to walk just a little bit, you're doing something wrong.