Plan B i) It should be a local market rather than a flea market for two reasons. First, flea markets tend to attract vendors that offer junk. Second, Buffalo already has a variety of outlets for second-hand stuff, such as Buffalo ReUse, Habitat, Horsefeathers, etc. The market should be composed of local producers/artisans of food and other goods.
ii) It should be located on Main street downtown so as to concentrate efforts to establish a retail center downtown. It would also provide an opportunity to create both an indoor and outdoor space that can be used to help create a desirable destination or public space downtown. The indoor space can contain artisans, craftsmen and food processors such as butchers, dairy and prepared foods while the outdoor space is ideal for seasonal produce.
iii) Concentrate resources by working with or a sharing a space with the existing County Market farmers market downtown, currently operated by Buffalo Place. A joint marketing effort should be established amongst all of Buffalo's markets (Downtown, Bidwell, Clinton-Bailey, Broadway) to help promote the system as a whole.
iv) Plan events and ongoing outdoor activities at the market during both the summer and winter. A special holiday market should be planned during the holiday season. Ice skating all winter.
v) Create an online portal as part of a joint marketing effort to promote Buffalo public markets and to establish an online marketplace as an alternate sales avenue for sellers.
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