The Park Ridge Farmers Market opened May 23 on a morning that was cool, not cold, drizzly, not rainy, but overall just right enough to keep it busy, not crowded.
This is the first year without the AT&T parking lot at 36 S. Prairie Avenue and while there were a few grumbles about the big, empty lot sitting right there in the midst of everything — seemingly a perfect space for events or parking — the change didn’t seem to bother the vendors or other guests who found plenty of parking around the perimeter of the event.
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After a debate that lasted a couple of years and included talk about moving the market altogether after AT&T announced it wanted its lot back, this year’s market felt very familiar, save for the empty parking lot in the middle of things.
This year’s market edged westward toward Garden, adjacent to Cumberland Park, where visitors could sit at picnic tables, hear live music, and enjoy prepared food from nearby vendors.
“I’m selling hot dogs, and it’s 8 in the morning, so it’s pretty good,” laughed Nick Cataudella, chef and owner of Nicky C’s Red Hots hot dog cart. He’s been a vendor for six years, and he said he didn’t mind the new location. An hour into the market, behind his cart, in the park, picnic tables were full, and lines for food snaked down Garden.
Mostly, it is the same vendors, year after year. Organizers said anywhere from three to six change up every year — some get brick and mortar stores and don’t have the time anymore — and this year really shouldn’t be much of a different experience. Market co-master Karen Grunschel said she was just happy to be back after the annual winter break.
“We’re really excited,” she said. “It’s good weather. It’s not too hot, not too cold, and it’s not raining. We’ll take it.”
Her partner in market affairs, the other market master, Stephanie Goodrich, said the market will be making small changes, too, as the year goes on, based on feedback and the needs of the vendors and the community.
“It’s never the same market,” she said. “We’re always changing.”
Plus, as the year goes on and as growing seasons change, the vegetable vendors will add more and different produce. This week, many longtime vegetable vendors were selling potted herbs or cut flowers, while later favorites like berries and beans are still to come.
But not Tidey Farms. One of the longest vendors at the market—they’ve been selling Park Ridge for 35 years and the market is in its 36th year—they’re also one of the most all-season farms, relying on greenhouses to bring in the tomatoes and a few other veggies well in advance of the competition.
Even so, farmer Kathy Tidey said the coming warmer months will bring more strawberries, blueberries, green beans, radishes, and more summer favorites.
Tidey said the new setup doesn’t bother her, and she’ll be returning to Park Ridge for years to come. She’s from the area, and while she married a Michigan farmer, her family still lives in the Park Ridge area, and, with her adult daughter in tow, the market is something of a family tradition.
And anyone, she said, her stall is busy as ever.
“We still have a good number of customers,” Tidey said.
One customer, Meg Rickman, a Chicago woman, didn’t even notice the lack of parking lot. She said she’s been coming for years and always finds a spot when she drives.
“I usually bike here,” she said. “Today I chose to drive, and I found a space right away; it wasn’t a problem.”
Jesse Wright is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.