Do Big Farmers Market Events Hurt Local Business?

The Royal Oak Rib Fest is among the events Ultimate Fun Productions puts on at the Royal Oak Farmers Market. (Photo via Facebook)

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Royal Oak leaders are wrestling with a question about whether local bars and restaurants are placed at a competitive disadvantage when the Royal Oak Farmers Market is used for events like the Rib Fest and others featuring food and drink.

City Manager Don Johnson told The Daily Tribune that he’s heard some complaints from members of the Royal Oak Restaurant Association that the events lure customers who otherwise would be spending money at local businesses.

Johnson said he doesn’t think that’s the case. Instead, he thinks local businesses benefit from increased Farmers Market traffic. As the sole operator of the 90-year-old Farmers Market, the city is responsible for ensuring the Farmers Market is sustainable and the budget can handle repairs and upgrades. Big events help do that, Johnson said.

About 120 events a year are held at the market. Most are private events like weddings and family gatherings that keep the market financially sustainable, market manager Shelly Mazur said.

Among those who utilize the space is Matt Flynn, whose Ultimate Fun Productions is behind events like the annual Beer Fest, Rib Fest, Burger Bash and others featuring whiskey and wine.

“A lot of people visit and want to come back,” Flynn told the newspaper. “I could easily pull all of these events out of Royal Oak, and it would only hurt Royal Oak and the Farmers Market.

Two city commissioners, Kyle DuBuc and Michael Fournier, said that while they appreciate what Flynn’s events do for charities, they questioned whether renting the Farmers Market to a for-profit business is fair to local businesses and whether the city is subsidizing a business by making its assets — the Farmers Market facilities — available to events like those sponsored by Ultimate Fun Productions.

When he rents the market facilities, Flynn is “essentially running a brick-and-mortar business without running any of the risks” that local businesses juggle,” Fournier said.

Flynn said that when his business rents the Farmers Market, it isn’t substantially different from other businesses that also rent space.

The Royal Oak Restaurant Association hasn’t taken an official position on the matter.

Carrie O’Neill, the group’s resident and manager of the Rock on Third bar and restaurant, said that most local establishments’ main competition comes from businesses in other cities, that “the Farmers Market is a draw for businesses in our area.”

Tell Us

• Do you think locally owned bars and restaurants face unfair competition from big events at the Royal Oak Farmers Market?