By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Improvement to downtown St. Joseph has been a continuous effort from the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce.
And one project being explored by the Chamber is bringing to life the Felix Street Market.
President Natalie Hawn says markets like these are much more than just a food haul, but in order for it to succeed, it would have to be intentional in its programming.
"It would have to be very linked in with the arts community and doing things like an international market the first Saturday of every month where people can come in and sell their wares,” Hawn tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. “But it needs to be things the community would like to see and that they would take part in.”
Hawn says locations like what are being proposed with this project help provide a central gathering location for people and businesses
"Helping people be able to showcase products that maybe they wouldn’t get to do in other ways,” Hawn explains. “So, it’s very much an incubator for restaurants and retail.”
Hawn says for example maybe someone makes really good Thai food but doesn't have the avenue to open their own restaurant.
"This gives you an opportunity to try a concept in a smaller space with a lot of resources to help you kind of be successful like mentors,” Hawn says.
Hawn says the goal behind the project would be having a few anchor tenants, but also space for pop ups, and also community programs in the space.
Hawn says one common thing they hear from people at the Chamber is asking what kind of gathering places there are around downtown.
And additionally, Hawn says when a new potential business comes to St. Joe, they want to see downtown, because often they want to see the local flavor
"Yes, you have to have national retail, yes you have to have amenities, folks have expectations of a Target and different things that they want, but your flavor or your heart or your grit comes from your local businesses, and a lot of the times that’s downtown.”
Hawn says the Chamber is currently exploring the Felix Street Market project downtown in order to help bring more population downtown as part of downtown improvement efforts.
Hawn says currently they are seeking community input on the project and will put out a survey after the Labor Day weekend.