Market Thursdays on the Plaza
MONTAVILLA FARMERS MARKET ADDS THURSDAY EVENING MARKET FOR THE SUMMER
This mini or “bite-sized” farmers market opens on July 7 and will run for 13 weeks through September as part of PBOT’s Public Street Plaza Program.
Press Contact: Lisa Hall (she/her) | manager@montavillamarket.org | 503-902-4858
Portland, Ore. – June 21, 2022. Montavilla Farmers Market (MFM) in collaboration with Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association (METBA) will offer a weeknight farmers market on Thursday evenings this summer, in addition to its weekly market on Sundays. This mid-week market is possible through a Vibrant Spaces Community Events Activation Fund grant from the City of Portland, in conjunction with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) Public Street Plaza Program.
This new weekday market, “Thursdays on the Plaza”, will open on July 7 on SE 79th at SE Stark Street. Thursdays on the Plaza will operate from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm and will include 5 farm and food vendors (e.g. Moorish Roots, Kulfi, Sebastiano’s), a beer garden (Threshold Brewing), and live music weekly through September 29. Families, dogs and outside food are welcome.
“We’ve been wanting to expand our Market to provide additional opportunities for our farmers and vendors, as well as to better serve community members who can’t make it to the Market on Sundays — or those just needing to restock mid-week,” says Lisa Hall, market manager, Montavilla Farmers Market. “The Public Street Plaza Program is an opportunity for us to pilot and fast-track this goal.”
This weekday summer market offering aligns with feedback from the community. In a survey conducted at the Market in early June, market-goers expressed support for a Thursday evening farmers market, with the majority of morning shoppers stating that they would attend “every week” or “regularly”.
Here for Montavilla
This is an expansion of Montavilla’s successful Public Street Plaza in 2021, where the street was blocked to traffic on SE 79th Avenue between SE Stark and SE Pine Street.
“We are here for the summer and we are here for Montavilla,” says Neil Mattson, president, Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association. “Last year showed us that when we take back the street and we use it as a place for coming together, that it does build community. With the City of Portland’s support, we are turning it up a notch this year and expect to serve even more community members and see additional benefits to our small businesses near this weekday farmers market and Public Street Plaza.”
When: Thursdays 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm; July 7- September 29, 2022
Where: SE 79th and SE Stark Street (on the street to the south of Threshold Brewing)
What: A “bite-sized” Montavilla Farmers Market, Beer Garden, Live Music; the Market will include 5 vendors and farmers
“We invite the community to come hangout on a summer evening, and pick-up fresh fruit and veggies mid-week to bridge the gap to the main Market on Sundays,” continues Hall. “We are thrilled to be working with METBA and PBOT on this.”
SNAP and EBT Cash Benefits Accepted
Shoppers with SNAP and EBT Cash benefits will be able to use and match these funds at this mini market. The Market’s EBT-match program matches benefits up to $20 at every market. The matching currency can be used to buy fresh fruits and veggies from our local farms.
About Montavilla Farmers Market
The Market was founded by a grassroots collection of neighbors who were inspired by visions of a fresh, local, food market in a shared community space (7700 SE Stark St.) within the growing SE Stark Street business district. The tireless energy of these unpaid visionaries and countless other volunteers allowed MFM to open its first market on Sunday, July 22, 2007 with 17 vendors and over 2000 visitors. This market has grown to run year-round as of October 2020, supporting over 80 vendors throughout the season while serving the Montavilla community and anyone else that wants to visit. The Market is open on Sundays 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
Connect with Montavilla Farmers Market online or via social media: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
