Chattanooga Market general manager Nick Jessen explains the rationale behind the decision to close the Chattanooga Market.
Q: Why are you making this announcement now?
A: With a projected opening of April 27, it is most important to give the vending base as much notice as possible. It is time for farms to start seeds in their greenhouses and to order seeds for spring planting. Artists are going on buying trips and planning their travel schedules for the upcoming seasons. Our philanthropic partners need as much time as possible to adjust to the potential loss of an event and subsequent funding. Many people have come to depend on the market for a variety of reasons, and it is not fair to delay the decision any longer.
Q: What was the deciding factor(s) that led to making the decision?
A: Ultimately we have just not been able to reach financial sustainability. Though it is operating in the black, it is not providing enough of a return to enable us to hire staff to ease the burden it takes to run it. It should be noted though that it has taken significant subsidies to even get it to this point. The last four years would not have been possible without the support of The Lyndhurst Foundation and the RiverCity Co.
Q: Would you like to see the market continue without you, and if so, have you talked to anyone or been approached about finding a way to continue the market without you?
A: Absolutely. We had some preliminary discussions with an interested party, but they were not able to make a commitment in the time frame needed to effect a transition prior to the 2008 season.
Q: Have you spoken with anyone from the city or county about continuing the market?
A: No, we have not directly spoken to city or county officials.
Q: Do you believe Chattanooga needs or wants a market? If yes, what do you think needs to happen to make it work?
A: We are not sure. Many more people visited the market than actually supported the vendors in any significant way. In order to make it work financially, more people need to make the commitment to buying locally made products in addition to locally grown produce. While we were able to bring a lot of people to the market and felt that we put quality products on the floor, we were not able to generate enough sales to make the market worthwhile. Anyone who is going to make it work is going to have to solve that issue.
Q: What are you most proud of regarding the market and where did you maybe come up short of your goal?
A: Obviously not getting the market to a point where it was sustainable is a shortfall. Otherwise, we consider every aspect to be a success. The market helped a lot of people and was enjoyed by a lot of people. In addition, many long-lasting friendships were formed. We would like to wish everyone that participated in the market over the last six years all the best.
