Old Town Farmers' Market to Alter Hours of Operation

The nation’s oldest continually operating farmers market is in for some changes.

On Tuesday night, the Alexandria City Council moved to amend the hours of the .

Beginning in May, the market will open at 7 a.m. and close at noon. The Saturday market currently operates from 5:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Market Square in front of .

The change in hours comes several months after Councilwoman Alicia Hughes asked staff to look into extending the operating time of the market.

In the fall, staff surveyed customers, vendors and nearby businesses to collect feedback on preferences.

According to the results, 68 percent of customers surveyed supported starting the market later in the morning. Even more customers (73 percent) supported closing the market at noon or 1 p.m.

Of all the customers and venders surveyed, 58 percent preferred changing the hours.

Jeremy McPike, director of the city’s Department of General Services, said staff identified other areas for improvement while conducting the review of the Old Town market.

McPike said his staff planned on looking into the use of credit and debit cards at the market to increase access to purchases as well as standardize spaces allocated to vendors to reduce inequality among them.

McPike also said he would like to increase the marketing of all of the city’s farmers markets through the city’s website and better leverage social media to promote them. He mentioned highlighting special products or events at the city’s different markets.

Councilman Rob Krupicka said he thought the change in hours was a good idea, but wanted to make sure the city’s other farmers markets—which are primarily volunteer-driven and don’t have the access to city resources like the Old Town market—are promoted and supported.

“They look at this market and wonder ‘Are we going to get a helping hand at all?’” Krupicka said.

Councilwoman Del Pepper said the other markets “truly are struggling” and need help.

McPike said the markets are viewed as complementary and not competitive. The and Old Town markets operate on Saturdays, while the and West End markets operate on Sundays. The Upper King Street market runs on Wednesdays. 

“What we might want to consider is asking staff or requesting staff come back with a report—maybe it’s six months, maybe it’s less than that—that tells us what you plan to do to promote those other markets because it’s in everybody’s interest that all of the farmers markets succeed,” Vice Mayor Kerry Donley said.