Tt propsed comment dec 27, 2015

http://toledotalk.com/cgi-bin/tt.pl/article/198397/27Dec2015/Public_Market

"It's disappointing that the Erie St market was the right idea, but the wrong time and executed poorly."

I disagree. The timing was fine, and it was executed well.

Around the year 2000, the market bay portion of the ESM was jam-packed with vendors, and it was very busy on Saturdays. Some of the vendors were open during the week.

I think that the ESM market bay worked so well that Toledo government decided to increase the lease rates, and that eventually killed it.

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actual comment

"Then I'd go solicit all of the farmers market vendors that bring pantry stuff. I'd also grab a a couple of really good ethnic butchers, and a cheese monger. I'd also look at a really good fish purveyor. I'd invite Actual Coffee, Flying Rhino, Maddie and Bella's. Bring Stanley's sausages, zavotskis. I'd also open a great beer/ wine shop."

The Market Bay portion of the ESM was close to your wish list back in 2000-2001. We enjoyed it. It was extremely busy on Saturdays or the weekends. Some of the vendors were open during the week. No room existed in the Market Bay for any more vendors. It was jammed.

By 2002, the Market Bay was already declining. Vendors were leaving.

You have to double-check, but I think that because the Market Bay was doing well, Toledo government dramatically increased the lease rates, and that may have drove away some vendors.

As more vendors left, we shopped at the Market Bay less often. Other shoppers may have done likewise, which probably caused the remaining vendors to leave.

But the thing to confirm is whether it's true that Toledo government jacked up the lease rates back around 2001.

Wrong time and wrong location? Not in my opinion.

Poorly executed? It didn't look that way about 15 years ago.

If Toledo government had a hand in its demise, then yes, that would be poor execution.