To the Phoenix Public Market Community:

As cooler weather arrives, our Wednesday night and Saturday morning Open Air Markets are bustling as the community enjoys the bounty of the Fall harvest from our local farmers. And I want to take a moment to let you know that the Phoenix Public Market is alive, thriving, growing and looking forward to 2013.

There’s no question this has been a challenging year for us. The closure of our Urban Grocery and Wine Bar was a difficult time for many members of our family, and one of the toughest decision any of us has ever had to make. We understand the frustration this caused in the community, and words cannot express how thankful we are for our friends and neighbors who stepped in with offers of help and support. The last few months have been filled with wrapping up the affairs of the store, including the daunting task of paying off debts. As of today, I’m glad to report that all of those outstanding issues have been resolved, and we are now 100% focused on the future of the Market.

So what is the future of the Market, you may wonder? You may not even realize the Market is still open! There were a lot of conflicting reports in the media at the time our indoor store closed.

The Phoenix Public Market is still open for business at our same location at the corner of Pierce and Central in Downtown Phoenix, where you can find open air markets every Wednesday (4 pm to 8 pm) and Saturday (8 am to 1 pm). Year round, rain or shine. Food Truck Fridays are also still taking place each week from 11 am to 1:30 pm.

What also hasn’t changed is our mission as a non-profit organization: To be the spot where community revitalization, economic development and a showcase for local small-scale agriculture and local artists and crafters intersect in the Heart of the City. To that end, we’ve added some great new vendors to our family in the last couple months – at both the Wednesday and Saturday markets. Those new vendor products include micro-greens, baked goods, salsa, Italian food and Mexican cream pops, among others, in addition to the farmers, crafters and artisans you are already familiar with who have been with us for years.

Over the summer, we conducted a survey asking for your feedback, and we are so appreciative of the several hundred people who took the time to respond with their ideas, thoughts and concerns. Much of that feedback has been incorporated into our planning for the future, and we look forward to continuing to work with the community to make YOUR market the best it can be.

We are also excited to be coordinating with Aaron Chamberlin who will open a new restaurant in the space previously occupied by Urban Grocery. Construction is underway and he hopes to be operational during the first quarter of 2013. We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with Aaron and his team.

I also want to take a moment to thank our landlord, Kurt Schneider. Without his generosity and support, the Phoenix Public Market would not exist.

I’m always open to your feedback – via email or in person at the Market. In the meantime, thank you for continuing to support Community Food Connections and the Phoenix Public Market and I hope to see you at one of our open air markets soon.

Sincerely,
Dan Klocke
Volunteer Board Member