Mt. Kisco Farmers Market May Move to Village Lot
The operator of the farmers market in Mount Kisco is seeking to move from the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester to a village-owed parking lot for the warm-weather months.
At the April 25 village board meeting, Mayor Michael Cindrich said he has been contacted by Community Markets, which has operated the market at the Boys & Girls Club at 361 Main St. since January 2010. Items are sold inside the club during the cold-weather months and outside on the club’s grounds during the warmer seasons.
Vendors at the weekly Saturday market have sold fruits, vegetables, meat, herbs, organic produce, breads, pastries and honey. One vendor, Merriweathers Inc. from Poughkeepsie, sells cosmetics.
During last week’s board meeting, Cindrich said Community Markets has requested to use space at the North Moger Avenue parking lot through the summer. Initially, Deputy Mayor George Griffin Jr. said he did not want the village to lease parking lot space because the market could take business away from local food stores.
But Trustee Jean Farber disagreed, saying those who shop at the weekly farmers market will go to the stores in the area. Griffin responded by saying Community Markets was “looking to pay next to nothing” to the village to lease the space.
“I think we have to support the people who are there all the time,” Griffin said, referring to the village’s merchants.
Trustee Joseph Morreale countered that a farmers market in the parking lot would be beneficial to existing businesses in the village.
“It brings a lot more people into town,” he said. “I think it would increase business.”
Trustee Anthony Markus said the village should allow Community Markets to use the lot on a trial basis.
“We should give it a try and see how it goes,” he said.
Cindrich said Community Markets wanted a more prominent space. The mayor mentioned that he had no problem with the move as long as the same format was maintained.
“I don’t want it to be a flea market,” which could offer jewelry, for example, and hurt local jewelers, Cindrich said. Morreale agreed, saying the parking lot should only feature items that should be found at a farmers market.
Griffin said most of the vendors represented at the Boys & Girls Club market were from upstate New York, not the local area. He also questioned the need for another market. “There are farmers markets all over the place,” Griffin said.
The board came to a consensus to instruct Village Manager James Palmer to speak with Community Markets about a potential lease agreement for the North Moger parking lot.
Griffin asked if the village would lose parking meter revenues on the Saturdays that the market was conducted. Palmer said Community Markets was just seeking to lease a small portion of the parking lot and revenue loss would be minimal.
Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Brian Skanes said in a telephone interview last week he was aware of Community Markets’ discussions. If Community Markets did come to an agreement with the village to use the parking lot during the warm-weather months, it would continue to operate it indoors at the club the remainder of the year, he said.
He has told village officials, including Cindrich, that the Mount Kisco sign regulations were making it difficult for the Boys & Girls Club to promote the farmers market.
Community Markets currently pays the Boys & Girls Club $8,000 annually. Should it pay the club less because of the move, “it’s not going to hurt us financially,” Skanes said.
Telephone messages left for Community Markets last week were not returned.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/