Market to crop up in new area

Thursday, May 28, 1998

Market to crop up in new area

WESTWOOD: Construction, central location factors in suggestion
of committee

By Rachel Munoz

Daily Bruin Staff

Next fall, the smell of sweet popcorn will be coming from a new
direction.

A special committee from the Westwood Village Community Alliance
last Thursday recommended that the Westwood Village Farmers’ Market
be moved to a different location. It will maintain its current
composition without the existence of prepared hot food.

The main reason for the move is the possibility of intense
construction that would occur in the market’s current location if
the Village Center Westwood project is built. Another main concern
is the centrality of the market to all of its consumers.

The board of directors of the Westwood Village Community
Alliance, which sponsors the market, has authorized the move on the
committee’s recommendation.

However, according to Judy Flax, the committee’s chair, there
has been no final decision on the move.

"This (location) is just a possibility. It’s not set by any
means," she said.

The committee is composed of six business representatives from
the Westwood Village Community Alliance and would like to move the
4-year-old market, which has resided on Weyburn Avenue between
Westwood Boulevard and Glendon Avenue, to Broxton Avenue between
Weyburn and Kinross. The recent revitalization of this area has
brought new landscaping, broad pedestrian sidewalks, benches and
historic street lamps, which amounts to a seemingly ideal setting
for the market.

Flax said they spoke with managers of other successful farmers’
markets in areas such as Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and Hollywood
to see what works for them. They also spoke with merchants in the
Village, consumers, a farmer and a non-farmer who participate in
the market regarding the market’s future course and
composition.

Other options for the market’s new home include an area on
Broxton Avenue between LeConte and Weyburn or on LeConte between
Broxton and Westwood Boulevard.

Before a location is chosen, the committee must survey the
businesses in the desired location for their approval, and they
must obtain many permits from the fire department, the police
department and the city.

If any one of these groups cannot issue a particular permit for
the desired location, then the committee must find another
location.

Traffic, parking and the actual space the market would fill are
additional considerations .

"We always knew the market was going to have to move," said
Patty Evans, operations manager of the Westwood Village Community
Alliance.

The main concern in moving the market is the possible
construction that the area would experience if the Village Center
Westwood is built.

In the long term, the market’s move will provide for a more
central location for its shoppers, consisting mainly of UCLA
students and staff, local homeowners and business people from
Wilshire Boulevard.

"Relocating the market to a more central location will enhance
its atmosphere, provide a wide diversity of nearby take-out eating
choices and strengthen the relationship between the market and the
existing retail and restaurant community," the committee
reported.

Until the market’s move, it will remain in operation as it has
for the past three months – without the on-site preparation of hot
food.

The committee has further recommended that the market continue
without the prepared hot food and instead focus on the existing
Village restaurants.

One idea is to start a "Chef of the Month" program which would
feature the food of one of the Village restaurants. The committee
also encouraged the Village restaurants to offer a Thursday
Farmers’ Market special that could be carried out and eaten at the
market.

Plans are already in motion to completely move the market by
November of 1998. "Everything is set to go," Evans said.

According to Evans, market manager Aaron Shapiro has expressed
that he would like no down time during the move. The location would
just simply change from one Thursday to the next. Shapiro was not
available for comment.

"We are confident that a new location and operational guidelines
for the market will create the foundation for a thriving market
place for vendors, customers and Village merchants alike," said
Robert Walsh, executive director of the Westwood Village Community
Alliance.

PATIL ARMENIAN

The Farmers’ Market in Westwood will move to a new location in
November.