There's only one Saturday left for the May Lincoln University Farmers' Market at the downtown Jefferson City location, but the market isn't leaving downtown just yet.
The market, which usually operates on Chestnut Street from April to September, began a temporary May market on Madison Street every Saturday morning this month. Starting in June, the market will move back to its Chestnut Street location for the Saturday market, but will continue to set up on Madison Street every Thursday night starting this week and continuing through June.
Stephanie Bell, president of the Downtown Association, said the market originally moved to the downtown location during May because of events hosted at Lincoln University that would have made the market unable to operate for several Saturdays.
"I think everyone's really pleased with the reaction the market's gotten in downtown," Bell said.
Bell said market representatives recently reached out to the association about temporarily moving its Thursday night market to downtown, in an effort to "get closer to people," especially state employees getting off work or those heading downtown to enjoy Thursday Night Live activities.
Bell said the market will remain on Madison Street, but move to other side of Capitol Avenue, in front of the Governor's Mansion for the Thursday night markets and the last Saturday market this month, though that is primarily because of KidsFest, which will be held downtown the same day.
Maggie Hopper, with the Lincoln University Farmers' Market, said she believes the May market has been a great success, bringing more people out than the regular shoppers who attend almost each Saturday at the Chestnut Street location.
"We've seen a lot of new faces ... we've seen a lot of new people and a lot of younger families, which is really nice," Hopper said. "I think the May market is great."
Hopper said she's seeing attendance rates on par with what is normally seen in June or July, which is the peak time for the market.
Bell also said the market has been a great success downtown, and she'd love to see it return in future years. Bell said she's heard that many downtown retailers are pleased with the number of people being drawn downtown by the market.
"It seems right now, people are really positive about everything having to do with the market," Bell said. "The fact of the matter is they're not just shopping at the market, then they're taking a stroll down High Street and seeing what else is open."
Bell said the Downtown Association will discuss the market at its board meeting in June to see how things went and if they'd like to try and have the market return next year, though that really depends on whether the market wants to return.
"The May market was a trial basis," Bell said.
Hopper said in May, with graduation and other events at Lincoln University, it gets difficult to continue the market, and the downtown location has provided a great alternative.
"It's really hard to have a market and that just meant that people lose ... thousands of dollars are lost in possible sales," Hopper said of when the market has to close because of other Lincoln events.
But, she said, it is still the Lincoln University Farmers' Market, and they like being on campus, as does the university.
"For May, it's great. But there's some things we miss about being in our own spot, too," Hopper said.
Plus, she said, they don't want to continually block access to businesses on Madison Street, and she is sure some business owners wouldn't want to see the market be there every Saturday of the season.
The market will be open on Madison Street from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday and from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, and every Thursday through June.