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By Sophia Kazmi, Contra Costa Times 07/29/2011   It's the mantra in real estate. It could also be the mantra of the San Ramon Farmers Market.The spring move of the Saturday market from its old location at Forest Home Farms to Bishop Ranch breathed new life into the 4-year-old market, with more patrons coming for the weekly market's fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, prepared foods and other items sold year-round.

Harv Singh, the market's founder, estimates 1,000 people shop the Saturday market -- open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.-- in the Bishop Ranch 2 parking lot, at Bollinger Canyon Road and Sunset Drive.

The market, across the street from a shopping center housing a Whole Foods Market and Target, is 
pulling nearly double the attendance the Forest Home Farms site averaged in the past four years, Singh said.

Vendors have seen the difference. Laura Welch of Livermore-based Gelateria Americana said sales of her gelato have doubled, which she directly attributes to the increased foot traffic of the new location. "I can't tell you how many times I've heard, 'I was going to Target and I noticed the market,' " Welch said. 

The market had a strong opening at Forest Home Farms, Singh said. About 1,500 packed the historic park opening day. The quaint location with its historic buildings, sheep and gardens was supposed to make the market distinctive and potentially become a regional draw. As time went on, however,attendance dwindled. The park on San Ramon Valley Boulevard was off the beaten path -- not near a freeway exit nor near other shops or restaurants -- and parking was an issue. 

"When the word got out in the vendor community that San Ramon was a slow market, we weren't able to attract vendors anymore. "... After that, we needed to make some changes," he said.

After completing surveys, organizers sought a new location -- a place with lots of parking, good access and visibility and a good partnership. Singh found all that at the Bishop Ranch business park, which also donated the space.
Joel Gonzalez of Edith's Gourmet Baking Co. has worked the market at Forest Home Farms and at 

Bishop Ranch. He said Forest Home was a nice location, but not many people were coming, which was not good for business. "It's a good place to hang out if you can find it," he said. 

In addition to the Saturday market, an Artisan Food Market that will run May through October opened in June. It is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays and is drawing about 500 people a week, Singh said. It is located in the south-side parking lot of Bishop Ranch 3, at Bishop Ranch Drive at Camino Ramon.

That market has an emphasis on prepared foods where shoppers can get their fill of empanadas, 
crepes, barbecue, and Afghan and Indian dishes -- and draws a different demographic -- workers from the businesses at Bishop Ranch.  "It's just an alternative time to shop," Singh said.

 

Saturday Farmers Market
When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday year-round
Where: Bishop Ranch 2 parking lot, Bollinger Canyon Road and Sunset Drive. 

 

Thursday Artisan Food Market
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, May through October
Where: Southside parking lot Bishop Ranch 3, Bishop Ranch Drive at Camino Ramon.

 

Details: Go to www.sanramonfarmersmarket.org

 

 

Posted by Andrea Landsberg-Reeder on 2 August 2011