Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Events Markets topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves Times Square farmers market; merchant raises access and obstruction concerns
Summary
The council approved a special-event permit for a Friday farmers market at Times Square starting Oct. 3; a nearby restaurant owner said merchants were not consulted and expressed concerns about obstruction, vehicle access and past communications with market managers.
The Fort Myers Beach Town Council unanimously approved a special-event permit on Sept. 24 to hold a farmers market at Times Square on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., beginning Oct. 3.
Linda Miller of Shop Local Productions, who operates the markets, told the council the Times Square market will run Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with Santini and Moss Marina locations opening in November. Miller said the organization expects about 40 vendors per location and that vendors may apply at 41markets.com.
After the approval, Tom Houghton, owner of Loyola Surfside Restaurant in Times Square, urged the council to pause and consult Times Square merchants before the event proceeds. Houghton said merchants worry vendors will obstruct storefronts, compete with businesses, and create vehicle access problems during busy Friday afternoons. He also said attempts to reach market managers in the past had been unproductive.
Town Manager Will McKinney and staff said the Times Square bollards will remain locked to prevent vehicular access, that setup must be hand-carried or use boots for moving items, and that event vendors should use Lynn Hall Park for unloading so they do not block storefronts. McKinney offered to facilitate a meeting between Shop Local Productions and Times Square merchants to clarify rules and logistics.
Action: Councilor John King moved the special-event approval; council members voted “aye” and the motion carried unanimously. Council asked staff to help facilitate merchant-organizer coordination to reduce impacts on businesses.
