Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- The Main Street Market is touting its “new” parking lot. The lot for the market has new blacktop and fresh, striped parking. The Market opens at 7 a.m. and runs until noon every Saturday through the end of October.
“If you are planning to stop by the market Saturday please check out our newly blacktop and striped parking lot located east of the market,” Market Manager Victor Blackful said in an email blast. “Good Vibes Farm has a small selection of produce including greens, radishes, and kale. Pick up some beautiful flowers from Van Kalker Farms for your yard. Stop by and say hello to our vendors Herb Basket, Avon, and Patty Cake and then stay and have breakfast or lunch from our great food vendors. Don’t forget fresh produce arrives mid-June early July and we now have 30 vendors with some wonderful products. Please come by and say hello.”
Other vendors include:
- Singular Sweets: “Our newest vendor debut last week with a great selection of GLUTEN FREE Baked goods. I can say the LEMON CAKE was outstanding. Look for them in space #29.”
- Terrell’s BBQ: “You could smell the BBQ from blocks away. Stop by and place an order for some Ribs, Hot Links or a Turkey Drumstick. They accept cash as well as debit cards so come by and have lunch.”
- Flamin Hotties: “These two women you have to meet. Not only is their chili award winning but the women who fix it are just too much fun! This week the chili is Chicken and Turkey. Grab a cup or a bowl and don’t forget the cornbread.”
Also, look for Crafts With A Difference Space in space 18 and Miss Mary Butter Cookies Space in space 30.
The Market has been a steadfast amenity in Park Forest since it first opened as the “Farmers Market” in 1974. Mr. Blackful said last week there were 30 vendors, but there are more to come.
“I got much more on the way this summer,” Mr. Blackful said. “I am always there and I have my clicker in hand every Saturday. I track that data to show new vendors how our traffic is. Each car I count as 1.5 people the last 2 weeks we have been around 285 to 305 and that’s not including the walk-up traffic.”
Mr. Blackful said the count is up from May last year by “by almost 100.”
He said he also tries to track where people are coming from. Besides Park Forest, “Crete, Steger, and Matteson have been good this year,” Mr. Blackful said. “I want to get my University Park numbers up. Chicago Heights gets better when the produce comes in.”
Produce arrives at the end of June, beginning of July, “depending on Mother Nature,” Mr. Blackful said. “We have the senior coupon program and we accept LINK/SNAP benefits so that really helps.”
Main Street Market is located at 48 Main Street in Park Forest.
