A small outdoor market in downtown Silver Spring may be forced to close if a deal can’t be struck with Montgomery County, which wants to make more money off the county-owned space the market occupies. The county wants the Fenton Street Market to pay at least $60 an hour — $600 a week — for using Veterans Plaza every Saturday from April 30 to Nov. 12.
Founder and Director Hannah McCann said the market only clears about $35 profit a week, making the county’s demands unrealistic, and dooming the venture.
But after McCann announced the market’s closing a few weeks ago, supporters flooded county officials with letters and emails urging them to save the market, prompting the county to rethink its demands.
Earlier this month, the county issued a formal request for a “family-friendly open air market” that brings a “festive community event” to downtown Silver Spring. The county said it was looking for a group that could, at minimum, pay the wages of a security officer and facilities worker, which cost $35 an hour and $25 an hour respectively. The market should also provide at least one portable toilet during market hours and be willing to vacate the space on short notice if the county wants the space for a one-time event.
Some of the county’s requests were not only too much for the small Fenton Street Market, said McCann. Some of them didn’t make sense.
Now, county officials have assured McCann that they will also consider changing their requests based on McCann’s concerns.
“The county will give on some points,” said Councilman Hans Riemer, D-at large, who has been facilitating conversations between McCann and the county’s Department of General Services Director David Dise. “They are recognizing the serious barrier that some of those requirements represent.”
Dise could not be reached for comment.
The request may see multiple changes, but at least one will clarify the amount of notice given before the market needs to give up the space, according to county executive branch spokesman Patrick Lacefield.
“We have to wait to see what the amendments look like and then we’ll be submitting a proposal — the most competitive one we can — but we are a small shoestring organization,” said McCann. She said the county’s willingness to work with her has made her hopeful.
The market, which currently pays only a $48 administrative fee for using the space, will likely see some sort of price increase, said Riemer. But the exact amount depends on what bids other market operators put in for the space.
The county has not yet received any bids, according to Lacefield, though groups have expressed interest in the space. Proposals are due Nov. 4.
Officials insist that they don’t want the market to close, but they have to give other groups a fair chance to use the space.
“I think the market should be there. I would love to have it there,” said County Executive Ike Leggett. “We just can’t give it away for free.”
