Here’s a reminder about an important meeting coming up next week. As we first reported last month, vendors at the Essex Street Market are poised to request a change in the management of the 75-year-old facility.
Two businesses, Brooklyn Taco and Heritage Meat Market, recently closed. A third, Essex Flowers, will be closing this month. All three cited a slump in foot traffic during the past year or two. The market is run by the city’s Economic Development Corp. On Tuesday evening, the Vendors Association will ask Community Board 3’s land use committee for its support.
In several interviews, merchants told us they would like to see stepped up marketing efforts – among other improvements. While the Essex Market will be moving into an expanded facility as part of the Essex Crossing project, there’s concern among some businesses about surviving in the interim. The association believes the time has come for the city agency to hand off day-to-day operations to another entity able to respond to their concerns. For its part, EDC officials have said they are taking steps to address vendors’ concerns and to fill vacancies in the market.
The meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m. at Seward Park Extension, 56 Essex St. Â Any members of the public wishing to speak about the market will be asked to sign up before the meeting begins.
