Dayton’s 2nd Street Market closes but community can still support local vendors

The 2nd Street Market — a popular downtown venue for lunch, fresh vegetables, baked goods and more — has closed due to coronavirus concerns. But some of its vendors will be offering ways to get their products to the community.

The market, 600 E. Second St.,  is housed in a historic freight house and has an open-air feel on warm days when the huge garage-like doors are open allowing the sun and fresh air inside.

But the market’s narrow aisles and crowds of visitors cannot assure social distancing of six feet or more.

“We can have thousands of people in here at any given time with bumper to bumper in our small aisles,” Lynda Suda, manager of the market said. “It was just too close and not worth the risk.”

The market, normally open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, houses more than 50 vendors who not only sell food but flowers, fresh milk and hand-crafted items.

Suda said when the vendors were informed the market would close they realized it was the right thing to do.

Many of the vendors are working on food delivery services and ideas to get their products to the community.

The public can check the 2nd Street Market Facebook page for ongoing news from the vendors.

Tea Hills Farms, a regular Saturday vendor from Loudonville, posted it will ship orders and Freshstart Farm will sell milk at Beyer’s Melon Farm Market, 9555 W. Third St.

The 2nd Street Market is encouraging the community to check its social media and website to continue supporting the local vendors.

Contact information for the vendors can be found: https://www.metroparks.org/places-to-go/2nd-street-market/

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