Nelson’s popular Wednesday market has moved to Cottonwood Park for the summer season, a decision sparking significant concern among vendors who report drastic drops in sales. While Nelson Mayor Janice Morrison supports the city’s move to address downtown congestion, market vendors describe the relocation as ‘catastrophic’ for their businesses. This shift highlights the tension between urban planning goals and the immediate financial viability of local entrepreneurs.
Contents
Key Takeaways:
- Vendors report sales down 50-85% since the move to Cottonwood Park.
- City staff initiated the move citing downtown traffic congestion and construction.
- Mayor Janice Morrison supports staff’s decision as operational and well-reasoned.
- A reactivated Market Advisory Committee is evaluating the move’s effects, with a city staff report expected July 8.
- Vendors are urging the city to return the market downtown sooner than planned due to financial losses.
Why the Market Moved
The primary reason given by the city for relocating the Wednesday market from Baker Street to Cottonwood Park is to alleviate traffic congestion downtown. Several major construction projects are currently slowing traffic and reducing parking availability in the central business district.
City officials argued that Cottonwood Park offers a more accessible location for the market, situated outside the immediate traffic bottleneck area. Mayor Morrison echoed this sentiment, stating, “There’s very good reasons [for the move]. I support the staff decision. I think staff made a good decision.” She highlighted Cottonwood’s infrastructure as suitable for such events, noting its access, parking, water, washrooms, and potential for performances.
Vendors Report Steep Losses
For many vendors, the relocation has resulted in a significant downturn in business. Visits to the market at Cottonwood Park on June 18, the third week at the new location, revealed widespread vendor concerns. Out of ten vendors interviewed, six opposed the move, and all agreed customer numbers were down compared to the downtown location. Farm vendors specifically reported a 50 percent reduction in their type of business presence at the market.
Vendor Jenna Thiessen called the move “catastrophic,” estimating “tens of thousands of dollars in losses for so many of the businesses.” Thiessen, co-owner of You Silly Sausage, explained that the downtown Baker Street location benefited greatly from casual foot traffic – people already downtown for work, tourism, or other errands who would spontaneously visit the market. This demographic, she notes, has largely not followed the market to Cottonwood Park.
Vendor Josh Mateschitz serving a customer at the Nelson Wednesday Market in Cottonwood Park, where vendors report lower sales.
At a Market Advisory Committee meeting, vendors reported that sales were down by around 50 percent for the first two weeks at Cottonwood, worsening in the third week. Thiessen shared her own earnings were down a dramatic 85 percent compared to her usual Wednesday downtown sales. This decline is leading many vendors to consider cutting hours or laying off staff.
The Nelson Wednesday Market at Cottonwood Park showing vendor stalls but visibly fewer customers compared to previous downtown locations.
City Hall’s Stance and Process
Vendors expressed concern that the market relocation was an operational decision made by city staff rather than a policy decision voted on by council. Mayor Morrison defended this, stating, “That was an operational decision. The role of council is to set direction and set tone, and then that gets relayed to senior managers, and then senior managers do the work.”
At the June 3 council meeting, Councillor Leslie Payne introduced an agenda item challenging the move, asking council to reverse the decision. She argued the move undermined community trust and questioned Cottonwood’s accessibility compared to the downtown core, noting that downtown traffic congestion was also an issue the previous year. Payne cited vendor data suggesting 40 percent more foot traffic downtown and criticized the short notice given to vendors, who had already planned their crops and inventory months in advance based on the downtown location. She also described the move as “vehicle-centric” due to its focus on traffic flow.
As Payne’s concerns were presented as a discussion item, no vote was held. Instead, it was agreed that the recently reactivated Market Advisory Committee would evaluate the impacts of the move.
Evaluating the Impact and Next Steps
The Market Advisory Committee, which includes vendors, city staff, and council members, had been inactive but was reconvened in response to the market relocation issues. At a recent meeting, vendor representatives presented their concerns about plummeting sales and urged the city to consider moving the market back downtown immediately, emphasizing the urgent financial need.
However, as an advisory body, the committee has no decision-making power. Mayor Morrison stated that following the meeting, city staff would develop a method to evaluate the success of the Cottonwood location and explore ways to attract more customers. A staff report on the evaluation is anticipated for the next council meeting on July 8.
The short notice given for the move – about a week – remains a contentious issue. Vendors argue that more warning, especially if traffic was the reason, would have allowed them to adjust their business planning, such as planting less produce. The City of Nelson has acknowledged the communication lapse on its website, and Mayor Morrison admitted, “We realize that as a team, as a city, as city council, that the communication wasn’t as quality as it could be or should be.”
The Cottonwood Park relocation has created significant challenges for Nelson market vendors this summer. While the city aims to address downtown congestion, the immediate financial impact on small businesses is clear. The reactivated advisory committee and upcoming staff report mark the next steps in determining the future of the Wednesday market location. Readers can explore more about local business impacts and market news. For background on the initial decision, see Nelson’s Wednesday market to move to Cottonwood Park for 2025. To learn more about regional efforts to support local producers, read about B.C. agriculture minister touts farm market program bringing fresh food to hungry.
