Promoters, vendors praise first season of Downtown Willmar Becker Market

By David Little

WILLMAR — Promoters and vendors say the first summer season of the Downtown Willmar Becker Market was a success and they hope the market repeats next year.

“I think for a lot of volunteer rookies who have never run a market we did an amazing job,’’ says Beverly Dougherty, project coordinator for the Willmar Design Center, which sponsored and organized the weekly market.

“They just kind of figured it out as they went. We added the entertainment as we went. We added vendors when we saw needs for it,’’ she said.

Market organizers received permission from the Willmar City Council to close Becker Avenue Southwest between Fourth and Fifth Streets where vendors set up booths and sold produce, ethnic crafts, food, artwork and other items every Thursday afternoon and early evening from June through September.

Becker Market committee member Nancy Johnson said the market was place for people to gather. Committee member Karen Daugherty said the market created a family atmosphere.

“We had music. It brought out children. It brought families together. They would come down there, they would shop. They would eat down there and it would be a full evening’s worth of activities,’’ said Daugherty.

“It was a very communal atmosphere. That was one of the things that we wanted to accomplish at this market and we’re really happy about the turnouts that we had,’’ she said.

Committee members said they were pleased with the public turnout, although tracking actual numbers was difficult because people could come and go as they wanted.

Design Center President Judy Wright said some people would “kind of cruise through’’ and pick up what they needed, while others would come right away and hang out for a couple of hours. The city provided picnic tables where people could eat food served by some of the vendors.

Dougherty said Design Center board member Lourdez Schwab played an instrumental role. Schwab is working to establish the Willmar Area Multicultural Market, and she got many entrepreneurs to participate in Becker Market who may also sell their wares at the proposed multicultural market.

“Becker Market was a blast,’’ said Schwab.

A total of 40 vendors participated; some more often than others.

Sue Stanley of Belle Acres of Lake Lillian said this was her first year in a market and she enjoyed selling lettuce and spinach mixtures, jams, jellies, bread and canned goods and sauces.

“Many people told me they just loved the market in general; that it was very European,’’ Stanley said. “It was a lot of fun. I think the music was a big draw, and I think having food vendors there was a big draw.’’

She said some vendors told her that they did just as well at the Becker Market as they did at the Saturday morning farmers market.

“I think there is a need for both because they’re different,’’ said Stanley. “ I think you’ve got a different clientele on Saturday than you do on Thursday. I don’t see where they would compete in any way and harm each other. I think it can only do better.’’

Nancy Mages of Olivia participated for the first time and sold canned products, baked goods and produce.

“I thought the entertainment every week was really fun. They always came up different,’’ she said.

Darwin Jacobson of Jerky by Jake of Willmar said he had many repeat customers for exotic big game jerky. The jerky is made from USDAinspected, farm-raised animals.

“I was probably as much a customer as I was a vendor,’’ he said.

Rev. Tom Mundahl said Bethel Lutheran Church provided volunteers, tables, chairs, water and restrooms.

“We just thought this would be another way that we could encourage people to gather downtown,’’ he said.

“What we’re really involved in, I think, is learning to know people from different cultures,’’ he said. “Ultimately, we’re sort of involved in peacemaking and reconciliation, growing together as a community.’’

Tribune photo by Ron Adams Steven Perez, 7, of Kerkhoven enjoys s’mores after roasting his marshmallow over a fire Sept 28 at Downtown Willmar Becker Market.

Tribune file photo by Bill Zimmer Jaime Gonzalez grills steak June 1at his booth called Los Mariachis at the grand opening of Downtown Willmar Becker Market.

Dougherty

Schwab