Outdoor Market in the Works for Southampton

Organizers are hoping to begin a project this spring with three goals: raising money to restore the SEPTA train station, increasing pedestrian traffic in the area of the station and promoting local goods.

Cathie Forman, of Bryn Gweled, told the Board of Supervisors this week about plans for a twice-monthly Village Market at Southampton Station on Second Street Pike.

“Hopefully we can bring life back to an underutilized area,” she said.

In addition, she explained, some proceeds will go to the Southampton Railroad Station Society's (SRRSS) efforts to restore the station.

Forman said she and fellow coordinator Denise Jervis first tried the outdoor market on a cold Sunday this past November.

“It was freezing cold,and we had lot of glitches, but having said that, all of our vendors made money. We were able to donate over $200 to the train restoration group,” she said in a phone interview this week. “We did well enough to think this could be a viable event.”

The tentative plan is to begin operating the market in April, on the second and fourth Saturdays, with vendors from the local area selling food, wool products and crafts.

“We've already got commitments from 15 vendors, artisans, farmer and bakers,” she said this week. “We would like that to go up to a maximum of 20.”

Amberland Farm will be an “anchor,” according to Forman.

Tables for vendors will be rented for between $5 and $20 each, with all of those proceeds going to the train station restoration group, Forman said.

“We're also going to recommend that each artisan, on their own, donate a certain percentage to SRRSS. We're going to recommend 10 percent,” said Forman. “We have vendors who are already very comfortable with that.”

She added, “We're probably going to develop more of a working relationship with the train station restoration group.”

Jon Frey of the SRRSS – which is the leaseholder on the land and is granting access for the market -- expressed excitement about it.

“The twice monthly market will help raise funds for the restoration project, and make the site a living, active site for township residents to enjoy,” he said. “This is the beginning of making the Southampton Train station part of the town center again and restoring the small town character to Upper Southampton.”

At last Tuesday's board of supervisors meeting, supervisors were nothing but supportive of the idea.

“I support it 100 percent,” said Supervisor Walter Stevens, who suggested the organizers submit a schedule to the township so it can deal with any potential traffic issues.

Supervisor Marguerite Genesio said the project is in perfect accord with the township's comprehensive plan and the idea of having a pedestrian village.

Chairwoman Lola Biuckians said the organizers may even be able to advertise on the township website and in the Parks and Recreation newsletter.

Supervisor Keith Froggatt asked if the market would be running through the fall, and Forman said that hasn't been decided.

“I think some of it is going to be 'let's see how it goes,'” she said.

For more information on the brunch or the market project, Forman suggested sending an e-mail to southamptonvillagemarket@gmail.com.