Farmers Market, Keller Farmstands Both Returning

Two Plainfield favorites -- the weekly downtown farmers market and Keller Farmstand markets -- will be returning this summer.

The Plainfield Village Board OK'd plans Monday that will allow the farmers market to be open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 25 through Sept. 25 and for Keller to set up produce stands from noon to 6 p.m. daily from mid-July through Labor Day.

The market is located at Lockport Street and Route 59, its home for the last four years. The farmstands are on U.S. 30 near Interstate 55 and on Route 59 north of 127th Street.

Although the board was generally enthusiastic about the farmers market, some questions were raised about the low number of produce vendors last year and the increasing number of non-produce stands. In particular, trustees cited groups selling candles and T-shirts and sharpening knives.

"My concern is that it may be moving into stuff bordering on a flea market effect," Trustee Margie Bonucci said. "To me, it's somewhat competition for the businesses downtown."

Susie Bostanche, who oversees the market with Dale Lewis, said she anticipated there would be up to six produce vendors this year.

"More than six would be overkill," Bostanche said, because they are selling many of the same types of fruits and vegetables and items must be sold that day because they are perishable.

Beyond that, however, she said she has been able to bring in more food vendors for this year's market, including outlets selling bacon, baked goods, bread and cheese.

Bostanche, who owns Sunnyside Antiques on Illinois Street, said her aim is to have a market that lures cars off of Route 59 and gets "bodies on the street." That means offering a good variety of options that keeps the market busy, with the hope that visitors then patronize downtown stores, she said.

Trustee Jim Racich said he believed that ambition was being achieved.

"Believe it or not, we are getting bodies to go downtown (because of the market) and that was our goal," he said. "I support the total concept of what you're trying to do."

Village Planner Michael Garrigan also mentioned to the board that after this year, it may be time to consider relocating the market to a different location, possibly in Riverfront Park along the DuPage River.