Moving the Market
Written by Smriti Reddy Pannala. Graphics by Smriti Reddy Pannala.
Once a year, the Forsyth Farmers’ Market moves to Bull Street between Park Avenue and Henry Street to make way for the SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival, which takes place on the walkways of Forsyth Park. Conveniently, Bull Street is just across from the market’s usual location.
Curious about how the move would affect the farmers, I took a stroll down the narrow street teeming with stalls, booths and trailers on April 26 to experience it myself. One of the best things about the market is the vendors, friendly, cheerful and passionate about their work. Contrary to popular belief, not one of them was bothered by the move. In fact, all of them carried on as if nothing had changed.
To get a better sense of things from the vendors’ perspective, I stopped by several stalls to ask a few questions many shoppers likely had: Did the move affect business? Was it a positive change? Which location did they prefer?
The sun was shining bright, and so were the juice bottles at a stall called My Witchy Apothecafe. There I found my first interviewee, dressed in full witch attire, a nice touch. According to the owner, customer turnout was consistent with other weekends; only the venue had changed. She, along with many other vendors I spoke with, said Forsyth Park was a prettier, more scenic location to set up shop. The beauty of the park, they said, outweighs the convenience of not having to carry their goods by hand to the usual stalls under the live oaks.
Vendors from family-owned farms, including Bootleg Farms and Whippoorwill Farms, said they were used to the change, having been part of the Forsyth Farmers’ Market since its founding.
Much like Savannah’s weather, the market economy fluctuates. Some Saturdays bring hundreds of tourists; others feel relatively empty. The Sidewalk Arts Festival, held during SCAD’s family and alumni weekend, led to the latter. As visitors walk through Forsyth Park, admiring the vibrant, chalk-covered pathways, many eventually reach the end of the park and look up to find a bustling street market just across the way. This benefits vendors and offers spring break tourists a glimpse into Savannah’s local culture. Still, some vendors worry that potential customers may circle back toward Forsyth Park rather than cross Bull Street.
At the end of the day, you’d think selling out would be enough, right?
Some vendors agreed. Others, however, noted that Savannah’s humid coastal climate makes standing outside from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. a weekly challenge. The lush canopy of Forsyth Park, originally named Hodgson Park when the land was donated in 1841, offers shade that Bull Street lacks. The family behind the Popcorn Geeks stall said they had to arrive at 5:30 a.m. to set up. The young boy helping his mom was not a fan. I sympathized.
As a frequent customer, I’m used to the crowds. But the shift in location created noticeable congestion on the narrower Bull Street. Even so, the experience remained positive. Most shoppers felt the same, many of them loyal regulars returning for their Saturday grocery haul.
I met several confused tourists who accidentally wandered into the Sidewalk Arts Festival while searching for the farmers’ market. Eventually, though, they found their way.
All’s well that ends well.
