Despite heat, vendors turn out for Market on Main

BY BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

Despite the drastic heat and humidity that kicked off an all-around warm weekend, vendors at the Market on Main, in Mt. Pleasant, had largely positive thoughts about the second-time event that took over Mt. Pleasant?s downtown square.

With roughly 15 to 20 vendors present, from local produce farmers to craftsman and local businesses, the Mt. Pleasant square was alive with energy and activities for the whole family to take part in. Possibly the most represented on Friday night, however, was Henry County Health Center, with several different booths showcasing a variety of departments and services the local health center offers.

?We do have staff that go to different health fairs and other events around the area, but this has been very, very good for us,? said HCHC employee Travis Johnson, who also took the opportunity to bring his own kids out to enjoy the evening?s festivities. ?Being able to do something this local and have all of us in one place like this is great.?

HCHC?s various booths provided a wealth of healthy living information for those who attended, while also providing fun and educational games for children. Healthy Henry County Communities, an entity that operates within HCHC, also turned out for the event with healthy food for sampling.

Operating at a much smaller scale than HCHC was local artist and businesswoman, Libby Loescher, of Mt. Pleasant, who also set up shop for the event to showcase her inventory. Loescher owns and operates The Looking Glass, a small business in which she designs and sells stained and fused glass art.

?I think the fact that this (Market on Main) is up and going is great,? said Loescher, who said she also set up a booth at the last Market on Main as well, and was impressed by the overall experience then. ?For me, I love the exposure this gives me. Just being able to have a place where I can display what I have and for people to see that I am local is great. I wish it was a little cooler, but it doesn?t seem to be effecting the turn out that much at all.?

Paula and Kevin Hoenig, who were manning a produce booth for MoGo Farms, of Mt. Pleasant, also had similar sentiments, saying getting prepared for the event in the uncomfortable heat took some doing, but was worth the work.

?We have gone to close to 20 area farmers markets this year,? said Paula. ?And overall, I?d say business at the markets has been good. Tonight, we?ve already had some customers and we?ve only been here about an hour.?

For Main Street Mt. Pleasant and the Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce, events like Market on Main will hopefully become a regular event. In fact, according to Mt. Pleasant Chamber Small Business Growth Coordinator, Melissa Flowers, the event?s original purpose seems to be catching on.

?I think the real purpose behind it (Market on Main) was to draw people into the Main Street district,? said Flowers. ?This is the second one we?ve done this year and so far, I think it?s been a really good thing for businesses and it just gives people something new and nearby to do on a Friday night.?

Visit the Mt. Pleasant Chamber?s website at www.mountpleasantiowa.org for more information about future Market on Main events.