The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Farmers Market revamp includes 14 regional vendors
14 regional vendors will sell local produce, fresh food and craft items
A group of local investors that includes a downtown restaurateur, has purchased the Pottstown Farmers Market, 300 E. High St.
A “soft opening” of the new Pottstown Farmers Market is scheduled for Friday, April 27, as more than a dozen vendors join the market to sell fresh and gourmet food, local produce and craft items.
The market will be open Friday and Saturday this week from 12 to 7 p.m., with the same hours for Friday May 4 and Saturday May 5. Normal hours begin May 10, when the market will be open Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Work was still going on Wednesday as vendors started to bring their products and contractors continued their prep work.
Adam Burke is one of the Farmers Market’s new owners. He also owns Lily’s Grill, 115 E. High St. and will soon be opening the Pottstown United Brewing Co., 251 E. High St.
Burke said he had started doing some hydroponic farming in the market — growing plants without using soil — but wanted to see the space return to being a full market.
Burke said he was approached about buying the property, which he and his partners took over at the end of January.
“We have been pretty aggressive about getting things done. We wanted to be open as soon as possible,” he said.
The Pottstown Farmers Market will feature products sold by regional vendors recruited by Burke.
“I contacted farms I know and local boutique shops that sell the things I thought we needed the most in town. I wanted a cheese shop, I wanted to have a meat place, poultry, produce — all kinds of things,” Burke said.
Farmers Market fixtures Freeland Markets, Mosteller’s Seafood and Pottstown Florist will remain. The market will also feature prepared food from Heart Food Truck owner Michael Falcone, Beverly’s Pastry Shop and, in the near future, Tornetta’s Pizzeria.
The market will be open yearround, but Burke adds that not all of the produce will be available on the first day.
“A couple of the vendors have to wait a bit — it’s not their growing season yet. We tried to get as many on board as we can for now,” he said. “As spring goes on, other things will be coming in to the market. Customers will be able to get the best items they can for the season.”
Kristin Sirbak, owner of Beverly’s Pastry Shop will be selling quiches, pies and a chicken pot pie that will only be available at
the Farmers Market.
“I’m excited about what’s happening here,” she said Wednesday.
Burke has hired three employees to work in the Farmers Market, and there will be a centralized checkout system.
“It just makes it easier for the vendors. Some of them have minimal staff, and it would be hard for them to be here,” he said.
The interior of the market, previously owned by Freeland Markets, has been cleaned and painted with new lighting installed. Café tables are set up so that customers can take a break from shopping and enjoy the prepared foods.
Additional work was done in the foyer of the market, where a bar is located that will serve Kiki Vodkas of Hatfield. The space has been designed with a rustic feel – reclaimed barn wood on the bar, a tin wall behind the bar, a whitewashed brick wall and barn doors. The bar will be operated as a satellite location of Kiki Vodkas, and Burke said he expects the space will open in six to eight weeks.
Burke said he is interested in the revitalization of Pottstown’s downtown. His grandparents — Jay and Nancy Kobb — owned a business in Pottstown for about 30 years. Like many in the area, Burke has fond childhood memories of Pottstown’s downtown.
He opened Lily’s Grill four years ago in what was the former Positively Pasta.
He said that the dynamic for revitalization has changed in the time since he opened Lily’s Grill. In 2017, five new businesses opened in the downtown and six are planning to open in 2018, according to Pottstown Main Street Manager Sheila Dugan, speaking at Friday’s Pottstown Investors’ Conference at The Hill School.
Burke believes that within six months, there will be significant progress made in Pottstown’s revitalization.
“When I first opened the restaurant, there was a lot of talk about doing things, but no-one was really doing anything,” Burke said. “Now, there is both talk and doing – and that’s breathing new energy into Pottstown. Now, we’re doing it — it is happening.”
When the Pottstown Farmers Market opens Friday, food vendors will include:
• Why Not Farm, Glenmoore, selling grass-fed beef, steaks and other fresh meats
• Stony Hill Farm, Coventryville, selling duck, poultry, chicken, and rabbit, as well as eggs and fresh vegetables
• Freeland Markets, selling sausages
• Tine & Toil Farm, North Coventry, selling fresh produce
• Butter Valley Harvest, Bally, selling lettuce and herbs
• Kolb’s Dairy Farm, East Vincent, selling milk and cream
• Royersford Tomato Company, Linfield, selling catsups and hot sauces
• Grand Fromage, Skippack, selling gourmet cheeses, olive oils, balsamics and honey
• Beverly’s Pastry, Pottstown, selling pot pies, quiches and pastries
•Positively Pasta, Pottstown, selling fresh pastas
Craft boutiques will include:
• Rust and Sparkle of Royersford
• T-Squared, Pottstown
• K’s Cabin, selling natural soaps
• Nelipot Candle Co., Barto
For more information about the Pottstown Farmers Market visit www.facebook.com/pottstownfarmersmarket.