Downtown Houston getting workday farmers market
Brookfield Properties unveiled plans for a farmers market at the central gathering areas of its two largest downtown Houston campuses in a move that provides a new option for office workers, downtown residents and visitors.
The market, organized with Casey Barbles, curator of the Rice Village and Heights Mercantile farmers markets, is set to open March 1 and continue through 2023, according to Brookfield.
The market, which will offer locally sourced produce, baked goods and other products, will be held on alternate Wednesdays at the Acre at Allen Center in southern downtown and the Central Plaza at Houston Center, a few blocks from Discovery Green. Sponsored by Activated by Brookfield Properties, the company’s tenant engagement platform, the events are part of an effort to build a sense of community, while providing experiences for employees.
The markets come as fewer employees go to the office with the rise of remote work, and landlords and companies are creating places and programs that give people more reasons to show up. About 58 percent of workers had returned to the office in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with pre-pandemic levels, according to Central Houston, a downtown economic development organization.
Wednesday was chosen as the day for the market because it’s the highest occupancy day across Brookfield’s campuses, is the midway point in the week for restocking essentials and groceries, and works well with farmers’ weekly production schedules, according to a Brookfield spokesperson.
The Smith Street Farmers Market at Allen Center, 1200 Smith St., will be held on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. The market kicks off
March 1, then returns March 15. The McKinney Street Farmers Market, 1221 McKinney St., will be held on the second and fourth Wednesdays, March 8 and March 22. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to
1:30 p.m. On months with a fifth Wednesday, there will be no market that day.
In time for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the inaugural markets will have a custom hat-making booth from Magnolia Mercantile. Other vendors include Wood Duck Farmers, Cranky Carrot Juice Co, Sadie’s Select, Reishi & Health, Grammy’s Cookie Jar, Erbe Ranch, La Lydia, ABJ Farms, Jani’s Waffles, Lather and Co, and Migaloo Chocolatier.