RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
aka: "Get Your Retail Businesses Off Our Sidewalks!!!"
Via email:
Dear Pearl Market Vendor:
I am sorry to report that we may need to eliminate your booth at the Pearl Market unless the City reverses a decision between now and Monday afternoon. Late last week, the Columbus License Section notified the Pearl Market that it would not permit retail sales to continue on City sidewalks. Although we can fit some more vendors in Pearl Alley between Broad and Gay Street, we cannot accommodate everyone who has submitted payment for booth fees.
For the past week, we have explored a number of options to accommodate everyone, and we have met with City officials to ask for regulatory help that would permit the Pearl Market to continue using its current layout. At issue are City code provisions that permit food carts, but not retail sales, on sidewalks. The License Section is not willing to pursue code changes to allow Pearl Market sidewalk sales because of a concern about the number of pedestrians the Pearl Market draws on Broad Street and Gay Street sidewalks and the precedent such a code change would create.
We suggested a code change during the off season, but were asked to work administratively rather than with Council. Prior to the opening of the Market, we felt--apparently mistakenly--that the issue had been resolved.
Pearl Market Staff will continue to identify additional vending locations in Pearl Alley and Lynn Alley with a goal to keep as many people in the Market as possible. If we cannot accommodate you, we will refund the balance of your July rent and any additional rent that has been prepaid.
Please contact me with any questions or comments you have. I will do my best to be available via email and market cell phone (614-230-3542) over the weekend. I will email you again on Monday with final word on your participation.
Thank You,
Adam Schroeder
Pearl Market & Columbus Commons Market, Market Manager
Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District
23 North Fourth St.
Columbus, OH 43215
614-645-5061
aeschroeder@sidservices.com
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus.