New Adrian City Market at the Pavilion debuts in downtown Adrian

Brad Heineman, The Daily Telegram
·4 min read
Beverly Nickle, right, of Needle Lane Farms in Tipton, discusses some of her fresh plants and produce with customer Pam Wood of Adrian during Saturday's opening day of the Adrian City Market at the Pavilion. The weekly market will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 1 at the Toledo Street Pavilion in downtown Adrian.
Beverly Nickle, right, of Needle Lane Farms in Tipton, discusses some of her fresh plants and produce with customer Pam Wood of Adrian during Saturday's opening day of the Adrian City Market at the Pavilion. The weekly market will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 1 at the Toledo Street Pavilion in downtown Adrian.

ADRIAN — A little bout of rain showers, gusty winds and some lightning greeted the early morning portion Saturday of the grand opening of the new Adrian City Market at the Pavilion, which debuted for the summer farmers market season at the Toledo Street Pavilion in downtown Adrian.

Once the morning storms exited the area, vendors and the public were greeted by comfortable shopping conditions the remainder of the day.

The Adrian City Market is a weekly venture from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 1. In addition to its weekly Saturday events, the Adrian City Market will also be open at the Toledo Street Pavilion from 5 to 8 p.m. during downtown Adrian’s First Fridays from June-October.

Local crafter Elizabeth Gall, left, talks about her business, Elizabeth's Handmade Designs, and its offerings to Roxanne Cummings, right, and Cierra Corbin, 10, both of Adrian during Saturday's grand opening of the Adrian City Market at the Pavilion in downtown Adrian. Gall, of Morenci, said her fabric and clothing business is in its second year.
Local crafter Elizabeth Gall, left, talks about her business, Elizabeth's Handmade Designs, and its offerings to Roxanne Cummings, right, and Cierra Corbin, 10, both of Adrian during Saturday's grand opening of the Adrian City Market at the Pavilion in downtown Adrian. Gall, of Morenci, said her fabric and clothing business is in its second year.

The goal of the Adrian City Market, according to market master Jay Marks, is to be more of a weekly community gathering than simply a once-a-week outdoor market. Not only does the market feature local produce and goods vendors, but there will also be involvement from community organizations at each market event, including the Lenawee County Health Department, the Michigan State University Extension office and the Adrian District Library. Partnering with local organizations at the City Market, Marks said, will give the public the opportunity to engage with organizations and services available to them in the area.

Food trucks, live entertainment, visual arts, nutritional programs, cooking demonstrations, and participation from Adrian Public Schools and the Croswell Opera House are all expected in the coming weeks of the market season.

There was an attendance of 471 guests at the opening day of the Adrian City Market.

Margie Dennis, left, a youth services clerk with the Adrian District Library, conducted two storytime programs Saturday morning and afternoon during the grand opening of the new Adrian City Market at the Pavilion in downtown Adrian. Dennis read the children's story "Eddie's Garden and How to Make Things Grow" by Sarah Garland to groups of listeners during the market's opening day.

“Our initial goals set for the market season were to have between 500 and 700 guests at each event,” Marks said Monday. “Considering the weather we had (Saturday) morning, we are ecstatic about the turnout. And we are expecting that the number of guests to the market will continue to climb throughout the season.”

From conversations with vendors and guests Saturday, Marks said there was a number of positive comments about the City Market. Vendors said they, too, were pleased with attendance and turnout.

“Some vendors even told me this was the best market they have been involved with since the pavilion has been there (along Toledo Street),” Marks said.

Plants and hanging baskets, like those seen here, were among the locally grown items offered for sale at Saturday's grand opening of the Adrian City Market at the Pavilion in downtown Adrian. Vendors offered many goods at this weekend’s market including fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, honey, baked foods, sweets, and handmade crafts.
Plants and hanging baskets, like those seen here, were among the locally grown items offered for sale at Saturday's grand opening of the Adrian City Market at the Pavilion in downtown Adrian. Vendors offered many goods at this weekend’s market including fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, honey, baked foods, sweets, and handmade crafts.

At least 16 vendors were in attendance. A handful of vendors scheduled to be at the grand opening alerted Marks they would be unavailable to make it, citing various reasons. By mid-summer, Marks said, he is hoping to have as many as 28 vendors present.

“We’re looking for vendors to bring those unique things to the market,” he said. “We really want to showcase that variety and to see the creativity of our vendors. We are really hoping to build upon that entrepreneurial spirit.”

Vendors offered many goods at this weekend’s market including fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, honey, fresh flowers and plants, baked foods, sweets, and handmade crafts.

Blissfield residents Ryan Kremski and Carlee Wanless check out the jewelry and other crafts that were for sale by Annemarie Kallenbach, right, a local crafter specializing in pottery, jewelry, fiber and paper, during Saturday's grand opening of the Adrian City Market at the Pavilion in downtown Adrian. Kallenbach operates the small crafting business Come Home to Mamo.

Annemarie Kallenbach, a local crafter specializing in pottery, jewelry, fiber and paper, hosted a stand Saturday for her business, Come Home to Mamo. Kallenbach, who has offered her crafts during First Fridays events and works regularly with the Adrian Center for the Arts, referred to the Adrian City Market as an “outing” for the community to enjoy each Saturday.

“And so you know, it really is an outing, right? It's just a really nice outing,” she said. “And over the years, I've gotten to know a lot of other people in the market. It’s really nice for our local farmers, for instance, to meet with the community and actually help bring their food closer.”

A nurse practitioner, Kallenbach said she works with crafts and jewelry as a side hobby and as a “wonderful way to unwind from the world.”

Adrian Mayor Angie Sword Heath, center, cuts the ribbon Saturday morning to officially open the new Adrian City Market at the Pavilion. Assisting with the ribbon cutting is Adrian City Commissioner Mary Roberts, left, and market master Jay Marks, right. State Sen. Dale Zorn, R-Onsted, second from right, offered a state proclamation for the market's opening.

As the season continues, Marks said expansions will be seen in the number of food trucks as well as the live entertainment lineup.

State Sen. Dale Zorn, R-Onsted, was in attendance for the market’s opening and assisted Marks and Adrian Mayor Angie Sword Heath with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Zorn also presented a state proclamation and recognition to Marks.

The Adrian City Market is on both Facebook and Instagram. Marks can be contacted at adriancitymarket@gmail.com by those interested in being a part of the market.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Adrian City Market at the Pavilion debuts in downtown Adrian