Mixed opinions on market

Photo: Contributed

A survey of downtown businesses has shown the majority do not participate in the Downtown Vernon Association Avenue Market on Friday evenings.

According to the survey, 73 per cent of businesses do not participate, nine per cent occasionally take part and 18 per cent always take part.

The information was to be presented to Vernon city council Monday.

Common themes among business that did not participate were:

Not appropriate for their business type (do not sell products)

Not enough staff to stay open / already work too many hours

Not open during the market hours

Personal choice

The market does not help their business. 

Stores that did participate believe the market brings people downtown and they wanted to promote knowledge of their businesses.

According to the report, the 3000 and 3200 blocks of 30th Avenue had the most businesses say the Avenue Market resulted in an economic benefit, while the 3300 block had the fewest.

Approximately 43 per cent of of businesses would like to see the market return next year.

Another 20 per cent want the market to return, but with a few changes such as holding the market on the weekend during the day instead of Friday evening and moving the market off 30th Avenue and/or use a parking lot in the downtown core.

Another 13 per cent said no to the market returning in 2016, blaming it for a loss of business and believing it only only helps a few businesses and vendors.