Breath of Fresh Air : Weekly market uplifting for entrepreneurs, guests
ZELIENOPLE — Creativity continues to be the theme for local townships and boroughs struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Zelienople, that creativity comes in the form of its Spring Street Beer Garden and Zelienople Open Air Market each Thursday.
A joint effort between the borough, the Zelienople Area Business Association, and local restaurants and businesses, the market encourages shops and eateries to bring their business onto the street once a week. From 4 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, local businesses host sidewalk stands and invite area vendors and artists to set up on Main Street.
Whether it's 5-year-old entrepreneur Maddox Rice and his weekly lemonade stand, or a joint venture between restaurants in the form of a shared beer tent, it has been a community-focused effort, said Matthew Edwards from the business association.
“I think the response has been pretty overwhelming,” Edwards said. “We didn't expect the response we got. It's definitely great.“It goes to show you the camaraderie and the amount of working together,” he said. “It's really cool to see.”The impact on business is apparent. Eva Bryn Shoetique owner Kelly Carney said she's able to sell in two hours what she might ordinarily sell in an entire day.“It's been phenomenal,” she said. “It's helped us so much. I'm so grateful as a business owner.”The focus clearly is local. Visitors won't find any non-local food carts or vendors. That was the intent.“It's not a new idea, but it's certainly been redesigned to fit circumstances,” borough manager Don Pepe said.While there aren't the typical festival food carts, there are local restaurants such as the Kaufman Tavern with booths on Main Street and its own food options, beer and wine.As part of an effort to aid restaurants, the borough and business association also have assisted with additional outdoor seating seven days a week at three locations along Main Street.
Organizers continue to emphasize safety and social distancing with signs reminding guests to wear masks when appropriate.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines are followed.For new Zelienople resident Jessica Faust and her son, Hunter, 4, it's a chance to stretch their legs and be a part of the community.“I think this is awesome,” Faust said. “I like that we're getting out of the house.”Her son has been a loyal patron of Rice's lemonade stand every week since the market started in July.The borough and the business association are anticipating hosting the event every Thursday into October.
