Farmers Market to Move to Office Depot Aug. 2

Despite having to switch locations, the Pikesville Farmers Market has experienced good business during the past two weeks at its temporary location in the  Church Center.

Although the location at 110 Sudbrook Lane is a good one, with more parking for customers and more space for vendors than at the original location at Boston Market, the market will again move to still another location on Aug. 2 because it is too close to .

Jayne Charles, of farmers market vendor McCleafs Orchard, said the move is occuring because school is opening soon.

"The kids play in the yard here. ... we want to make sure people aren’t driving cars in and out of the parking lot with kids around," Charles said.

Corey McCleaf said the farmers market is attracting customers but fewer attended the market at the church center last week because they were still unaware of its temporary location.

However, on Aug. 2, the market will be easier to find at its new, more visible location at 1630 Reisterstown Road, near the in Pikesville.

The Pikesville Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event, plans a grand reopening of the market on Aug. 9 at Office Depot, with a festive atmosphere to get the attention of Pikesville residents, said Jessica Normington, the chamber's executive director.

The market is held each Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., through Oct. 25. While signs at the market indicate a closing time of 3 p.m., those are incorrect and new signage is been made, Charles said.

The new location at Office Depot will give the market a chance to prosper, Normington said.

“Things are going really well," she said. "We had a great week last week and we're having an influx of traffic this week. But next week when we get to our new location, our hope is that the market will just grow from there."

On Tuesday, first-time vendors Marie and Anna Detwiler sold produce and flowers, all grown on their farm. "We call ourselves ‘Farm Girls Produce,’” Marie said. Flowers for sale include sunflowers.

"It’s going great," Marie said. "We’re having a lot of fun and if all else fails, we’re two sisters working together just having a great time.”

Normington said the chamber is still looking for new vendors, such as those that sell milk and eggs.

Charles said the new location at Office Depot will provide more parking and less walking distance for elderly customers than the original location in the parking lot of .

Boston Market asked the farmers market, sponsored by the , to move for corporate and liability reasons, Normington and a representative from Boston Market have said.

Editor Janet Metzner contributed to this report.