It’s the end of the season for the Syracuse Downtown Farmers Market—Tuesday marks the final day until the warm weather returns in late spring next year.
Market vendors are hoping for a large turnout to mark the last day. But some say the crowds were smaller than expected this season.
Christelle Ayoub and her husband run the Goodies Mediterranean Grill and Cuisine food stand at the market. She says they’ve been there for the last few years but saw a dip this season, which she thinks could still be linked to COVID-19 concerns.
“This whole street used to be filled with like you couldn’t even walk between the tents,” Ayoub said.
She said some people may have stayed away due to the fear of contracting COVID-19 at the farmer’s market.
Linda Holihan of Petit Nosh, a Syracuse-based food truck that serves brunch is at the market for the second year.
“It’s been a little slow (financially). I don’t know if people aren’t working downtown as much or if they don’t know that we’re here,” Holihan said.
Holihan said she really enjoys being at the market and would like to come back next year, but she wants to see the market how she remembers it being.
“It was packed all the time through the whole season,” Holihan said.
Lauren Brown from The Gritty Sisters Soapery in Constantia is also back at the market for the second year in a row. Brown suggests the lack of vendors may be a contributing factor to the smaller turnout at this year’s market.
“Maybe just a lack of vendors. Not as many vendors down here. Not as much of an attraction for people plus of course there’s not as many people downtown working, but it was the same situation last year, so I’m not sure,” Brown said.
To celebrate the end of the season, Downtown Committee of Syracuse staff and volunteers will be handing out donuts from Glazed & Confused. The market is open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.