Heart of Willoughby Outdoor Farmer’s Market is a livelihood for vendors
Published by: The News-Herald
Original article found here
The Heart of Willoughby Outdoor Farmer’s Market will be starting its 47th year in May in the parking lot of City Hall in Downtown Willoughby.
Jessica Dutton, Heart of Willoughby president, recalls when she ventured to the market as a patron when she was younger. Before getting involved with the market in 2021, Dutton said she would attend the market here and there throughout the years, visiting with her dad, Mark Dutton, market manager.
“People who have been vendors of ours for years — this is a livelihood for them,” Jessica said. “It’s not just some random pop-up shop they do.” The Heart of Willoughby, a nonprofit that formed in 1979, will host the market each Saturday morning from May to October from 8 a.m. to noon at 1 Public Square. Despite how COVID-19 affected the market, patrons and vendors have been well exceeding past where the market was before COVID-19, Jessica said.
“They had to close it for a couple of months and open late with a bunch of restrictions,” she said. “That was hard. A lot of people did stray away, but now, we have so many patrons who come every week we look forward to seeing. It’s something to look forward to and when someone’s not there, you notice and everyone’s asking. Even if they’re a patron or vendor, that’s special to have that sort of community.”
Depending on the weather, the number of patrons and vendors varies, Jessica said. Some vendors take off the month of May or October, so those outliers are taken out.
“For the most part, we have between 40 and 80 vendors a week,” Jessica said. “Whenever I’m like we’re maxing out, Mark will always find a way to wiggle someone in or make sure the map works out for who we said yes to that week, which has happened on a few occasions — normally ArtsFest weekend and random other days. We’re like, ‘We weren’t expecting that random weekend in August to be super popular.’ ”
As far as the number of patrons, on a good July weekend, more than 200 people an hour venture to the market, Jessica said. “It’s still a very thriving thing that takes place,” she said. “There is a magic about Willoughby and the community here. It’s that picturesque, movie, little downtown area everyone wants to be part of, want something like that to thrive and keep on going whether they’re part of it by being a patron or vendor. I think that has helped the longevity of it. I can see quite an uproar if it did fail or if we had to, for some reason, shut down.”
Jessica said it’s always a little mystery as far as what patrons are going to discover at the market.
“I love seasonal vegetables — all locally grown,” she said. “I love I can have a party in the afternoon and get my appetizers, and hostess gifts or birthday gifts all in one spot, and be able to go through my week with everything from the market.”
As a challenge during market season, Jessica enjoys seeing how long she can go until she has to go to the grocery store.
“I love that it’s a simple walk for most of our people if not just a short drive,” she said. “A lot of our patrons are from right here in this area.”
The artists and crafters who attend the market showcase their pride, Jessica said.
“Everyone wears their heart and talents on their sleeve,” she said.
This year is the market’s fourth year within the past few years it has been in Cleveland Magazine’s Best of the East, which is a huge honor, Jessica said.
“We have been working on trying to come up with more ideas,” she said, noting that during October, the market hosts pumpkin decorating for patrons, as well as a scavenger hunt kids can get involved in, and who receive a small prize at the end.
“We’re trying to evolve some of those ideas throughout the year,” Jessica said. “We will be having a giveaway at the first market, so we’re still trying to have that little extra something every week.”
Jessica has also observed people who have started out as vendors of the market and have since opened storefronts in Downtown Willoughby, including Michael’s Bakeshop and the Sweets Geek.
“They started out just in our little market, so that’s always super cool,” Jessica said. “Then, you have some people who have this hobby and just want to sell a few things.”