JUNE 20, 2025 |
Photo – Sweet Marie’s logo – Courtesy Facebook
After allowing the Saratoga Farmers Market to be held twice downtown in the last month, the governing body decided not to okay the event to be held on Bridge Avenue for a third time.
The market will happen this Saturday, but in a different location.
Sweet Marie’s Mercantile owner Marie Christen offered to restart the Saratoga Farmers Market last month. The open-air market was previously organized by the owners of Badges and Bagels, but as their business grew, they declined to continue managing the event.
Christen offered to move the farmers’ market from the town hall to her property located at Bridge Avenue and Highway 130 downtown. The Town Council expressed concerns that food trucks parked in front of the shop on the busy corner could make the intersection more dangerous on weekends.
The governing body voted to allow Christen to host two farmers markets at her Bridge Avenue location. Afterwards, the Council would determine if the location was suitable for the event.
At the June 17th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Marie Christen reported she thought the farmers market went smoothly.
Audio PlayerSaratoga Police Chief John Moore said the single food truck caused attendees to spill onto Bridge Avenue. Additionally, Chief Moore said he was told the food truck operators were frustrated by the lack of space in front of Sweet Marie’s Mercantile.
Audio PlayerChristen acknowledged the event had few vendors but said both they and attendees reported being satisfied.
Audio PlayerCouncilman Mike Cooley said area around Sweet Marie’s Mercantile is too small to accommodate a larger number of vendors. Additionally, Councilman Cooley said ambulances from the North Platte Valley Medical Center, along with funeral processions, regularly use Bridge Avenue.
Audio PlayerCouncilman Cooley said many regular vendors from past farmers markets may have chosen not to attend Christen’s event out of concern there wouldn’t be enough room.
Christen responded that she had space on the east side of her shop, facing Highway 130, but didn’t have enough vendors to make use of it.
Audio PlayerMayor Chuck Davis said he received only one complaint: an unnamed business owner claimed the farmers market was occupying their parking spaces. Christen said she only blocked off the area in front of Sweet Marie’s Mercantile.
Audio PlayerCouncilman Jerry Fluty said downtown restaurant owners complained to him about the food trucks, saying they were not subject to the same overhead costs, such as water and sewer, as brick-and-mortar eateries.
Christen said she understood their concerns. However, she said the presence of the food trucks is good for the farmers market attendees.
Audio PlayerChristen said she believed that the event was successful, but the final decision was in the hands of the Town Council.
The governing body unanimously voted not to renew Christen’s farmers market permit. The Town Council instead voted to allow Christen to hold future outdoor markets in the small park west of her store. However, the event organizer said she has no plans to host any more farmers markets.
Christen posted on Facebook following Bigfoot’s story that the farmers’ market will continue this week on her own property with off-street parking.