Changes are cropping up at the farmers market
Plus — the news of the week: New CMS student assignment maps, CATS blame game escalates, legislature plans for restrictions on abortion and trans athletes, bats at Ardrey Kell
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New shift at the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market is geared toward vendors looking to up their daily retail game; Saturday-only vendors must move to an open-air building
BOUJEE BOUTIQUE, OR FARMERS MARKET STALL? The Charlotte Regional Farmers Market is changing its policies so only vendors who sell goods multiple days a week (like Coastal 980 skincare apothecary shown here) can set up shop in the popular Variety Shoppes building. The idea, market leaders say, is to make it more suited for vendors who want to create storefronts and keep goods in a locked place.
by Lindsey Banks
Change is in bloom at the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market, as leaders shift one of the market’s most popular buildings into a place where more farmers and vendors can have permanent retail spaces — and in some cases fancy display areas and even Instagrammable walls.
The change is getting mixed reviews with some smaller vendors who sell their wares at the market only one day a week. The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which runs the big farmers market on Yorkmont Road near Charlotte’s airport, sent a letter to vendors on April 1 in the market’s large Variety Shoppes building, informing them that their building will be offered only to farmers and vendors who sell multiple days a week. That means that all non-farmer vendors who sell only on Saturdays must move to the market’s open-air Greenery Shed, which some say gets less foot traffic than the large Variety Shoppes building.
The reasoning behind the change is this, says market manager Amie Newsome: The Variety Shoppes building can be locked at night, which makes it more suited for vendors who want to set up a retail store. The market’s main initiative is to help farmers grow their businesses, she added.
Cheese vendor cuts ties: Matthews-based Uno All Volta Cheese announced on Facebook last week that it would be leaving the farmers market following the announcement. The business has had a space at the farmers market for 10 years — seven of which were in the Variety Shoppes. It will now operate only from its store in Matthews.
“We are both stunned and saddened, but we don’t really have any recourse,” the Facebook post said. “From what I understand, the powers that be don’t see the value that a one-day vendor brings to [the Variety Shoppes], over a vendor who leaves their stuff there on a weekly basis.”
Although the Variety Shoppes change caused UAV Cheese to exit the market, not all vendors view the Greenery Shed as being put out to the pastures.
Vicki Hege of V.E. Creations has been a Saturday-only vendor at the farmers market for over 20 years. She says the flowers in the spring and the pumpkins in the fall in the Greenery Shed draw foot traffic, helping her sell hand-made items like stained-glass hangings, wooden checkerboards and hand-painted cards.
Non-farmer vendors who sell only on Saturdays at the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market have been notified that they’ll have to move from the high-traffic Variety Shoppes building to the open-air Greenery Shed. Market leaders say the change is designed to allow multi-day vendors to grow their businesses in the Variety Shoppes, which can be locked at night.
The Charlotte Regional Farmers Market opened on Halloween in 1984. Every year, both new and returning vendors have to interview for a space at the farmers market, which allows the farmers market to communicate new updates to its rules and guidelines.
Vendors “were all told back in November when they interviewed for the 2023 season that we are making some new changes to the market,” Newsome told The Ledger in an interview last week. “The changes are that we’re now open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and that there were going to be priorities in the Variety Shoppes.”
There are a total of 200 vendor spaces available throughout the market. The Variety Shoppes holds up to 44, and the Greenery Shed offers 56.
Building a retail space: Vendors in the Variety Shoppes can have permanent spots, which has allowed them to build displays and storefronts. Some vendors, like South Carolina-based Coastal 980 skincare apothecary and home goods store, have opted for attractive set-ups with greenery and neon lights.
Coastal 980 owner Joy Elias joined the farmers market in 2019. She spent her first two years in the Greenery Shed, but had to close due to the pandemic.
During Covid, Elias said Coastal 980’s website took off, and her business grew. She moved into the Variety Shoppes after Covid regulations lifted, and in January of this year, Coastal 980 opened its new booth that gives off more of a boutique vibe than a farmer’s market stall.
“People are just assured that we are here to stay,” Elias said. “We’re a permanent fixture, and we’re here to build that relationship with our customers. We have a whole website, but it's really hard to try a product or smell a product online, so it makes it nice for locals to be able to come out to see and smell what we have.”
Elias said Coastal 980 was one of the first businesses to step up its displays in the Variety Shoppes. Others have been following suit since January, she said, and some have even asked her husband and co-owner, Duane, to help them build a booth.
As to how vendors set up their booths, it’s completely up to them.
“Coastal 980’s booth is just one example of what vendors can do,” Newsome said. “A lot of our vendors are just starting out and may have to build up to that level.”
Lindsey Banks is a staff reporter for The Ledger. Reach her at lindsey@cltledger.com
Farmers market info:
Charlotte on the Cheap has details on 30+ local farmers markets
The Charlotte Observer has the scoop on 21 local farmers markets
Axios Charlotte has a round-up of 16 local farmers markets (including whether they are “dog-friendly”)
Today’s supporting sponsors are Landon A. Dunn, PA …
… and Charlotte Museum of History, which is hosting the Charlotte Gem Preservation Awards on May 11, honoring the people and organizations that are saving Charlotte’s history.
This week in Charlotte: New CMS boundary maps, CATS finger-pointing escalates, bats invade Ardrey Kell High, new Carowinds chaperone policy, Sears exits N.C.
On Saturdays, The Ledger sifts through the local news of the week and links to the top articles — even if they appeared somewhere else. We’ll help you get caught up. That’s what Saturdays are for.
Education
CMS releases new south Charlotte boundary draft maps: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials unveiled the latest draft plan to redraw boundaries or feeder patterns for 28 south Charlotte schools, and families voiced their feedback at meetings during the week. Our Cristina Bolling attended three meetings this week and looked in-depth at 5 contentious points under the new plan (🔒).
CMS narrows superintendent applicants: (Observer) The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board has narrowed down the search for a new superintendent to six candidates. Board members expect the new superintendent to start on or before July 1.
Politics
Abortion law consensus reached? (WRAL) N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore says Republicans in the General Assembly have reached a “consensus position” to ban abortion after about 12 weeks, with exceptions for rape, incest, fetal abnormalities and to protect the life of the mother. Republicans have a veto-proof majority and can change the law following last year’s Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Current law prohibits abortions after 20 weeks.
Transgender sports bills advance: (WRAL) The N.C. House and Senate passed bills that would prohibit biological males from playing on girls’ sports teams in middle and high schools. Current rules allow transgender athletes to compete based on their gender identification, subject to state approval.
Local news
CATS’ war of words: (Observer, subscriber-only; Axios Charlotte) In a pair of interviews, former CATS CEO John Lewis defended his tenure at the embattled transit agency, saying city procurement and hiring rules made it difficult for him to do his job: “Every time there’s another story, there’s just another blatant lie that comes out.” Council member Tariq Bokhari stuck up for the city on Twitter, saying Lewis is a “habitual liar” and advising, “Don’t fall for this BS.”
Bats at Ardrey Kell: (Ledger) An infestation of more than 20 bats forced the closure of Ardrey Kell High School on Wednesday and Thursday, as officials worked to remove the animals and test them for disease. None of the tested bats were found to be rabid, but one student who said she was scratched in a bathroom stall is undergoing rabies vaccines.
New chaperone policy at Carowinds: (Carowinds) Carowinds is reinstating a chaperone policy, requiring guests aged 15 and under to be accompanied by someone aged 21+ to be allowed in the park after 4 p.m. The park imposed a chaperone policy last fall, and The Ledger’s Cristina Bolling described her experience as a chaperone.
Business
Bank earnings: Wells Fargo and Bank of America exceeded analysts’ expectations for the 1Q, with higher revenues and profits. Truist also had higher revenues and profits but fell short of analyst expectations.
Wray Ward layoffs: (Biz Journal, subscriber-only) Charlotte ad agency Wray Ward laid off 11% of its staff, or about 20 workers, last month, which a spokeswoman said was “a result of the current economic environment.”
Sears exits N.C.: (Winston-Salem Journal) Sears is closing its final North Carolina store, in Greensboro. The company filed for bankruptcy and went from 700 stores to fewer than two dozen in the last four years.
Sports
Outdoor hockey: (Biz Journal, subscriber-only) The Charlotte Checkers will play outdoors, at the Charlotte Knights’ Truist Field, in a game on Jan. 13, 2024. It is believed to be the city’s first outdoor hockey game.
Men’s national soccer team: (Observer) The U.S. men’s national team will play in Charlotte for the first time when it battles Nicaragua for the Gold Cup on July 2 at Bank of America Stadium.
Good reads
Behind Tricia Cotham’s party switch: (The Assembly) N.C. Rep. Tricia Cotham’s switch to become a Republican delighted the GOP but confounded longtime Democratic allies. Veteran political reporter Jim Morrill examines the change and Cotham’s political history and says some Democrats had seen warning signs.
The drug dealer from ‘Outer Banks’: (NC Rabbit Hole, subscriber-only) Jeremy Markovich breaks down the issues with Netflix’s “Outer Banks” series and the one thing the show did right: a drug dealer named Barry — “the best and most authentically North Carolina character” in the ridiculous hit show.
From the Ledger family of newsletters
Charlotte courtroom sketch artist: Jerry McJunkins has brought the Carolinas’ most famous court cases to life for more than three decades as a courtroom sketch artist.
Charity spotlight: Mecklenburg County’s only child advocacy center, Pat’s Place, serves more than 700 children every year who have experienced abuse.
Wednesday (🔒)
Slow quarter for new Charlotte construction: Developers held off on new construction of apartment complexes, office buildings and retail spaces during the first three months of the year, waiting for better economic times and more favorable financing.
Charlotte gymnast wins 3rd NCAA championship: Charlotte native Allie Stern closed out her gymnastics career on Saturday with her third NCAA Championship title, competing as a vaulter with the University of Oklahoma.
Ending health insurance subsidies for retirees’ dependents: Mecklenburg County’s retirees received a letter from the county earlier this month saying that starting June 1, they — and not the county — will foot the bill for their dependents’ insurance premiums.
Friday (🔒)
Illegal beer purchases uncovered at strip club: This month’s Ledger dive into N.C. ABC Commission files takes us inside an inspection of the Gold Club on Old Pineville Road, where alcoholic beverage control agents uncovered that Bud Light and Michelob Ultra had been purchased from Food Lion. The strip club’s owners settled the matter by paying an $800 fine.
A roadblock for big Piper Glen rezoning: Neighborhood residents and city staff are opposing a developer’s plan to build 1,100 townhomes, apartments and nursing home units between Rea Road and Elm Lane.
Ways of Life (🔒)
For 37 years, Edward Eugene Kelly prepared his students at Charlotte Country Day School for the future. Kelly passed away on March 13 at age 77.
Questions to get CATS back on track: After CATS’ skipped required maintenance and inspections came to light last month (among other shortcomings), CATS needs to answer a few questions before it can move forward, WFAE’s Ely Portillo writes.
Controversy at goalkeeper? With Charlotte FC looking for its first home win this weekend, coach Christian Lattanzio will soon need to decide who should start at goalkeeper: young standout George Marks or returning veteran Kristijan Kahlina.
Loves me some internet: Shirtless man trashes gate at CLT’s C Concourse
From travel blog View from the Wing on Tuesday:
It’s important to secure the seat you want before your flight, or else you may wind up disappointed like this American Airlines passenger in Charlotte. He was heading to Fort Lauderdale and didn’t get the window seat he wanted. And he just could not handle it.
Another passenger shot video of the man, now shirtless and with pants hanging down below the top of his underwear, as he paced back and forth to the boarding door and began trashing the gate area. He toppled the sign where people line up in group numbers to board.
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Contributing editor: Tim Whitmire, CXN Advisory; Contributing photographer/videographer: Kevin Young, The 5 and 2 Project