Progress Is Slow At Liberty Street Market

A market that promised to bring fresh food and vegetables to one of Winston-Salem's “food deserts” isn't yet living up to its promise.

The Liberty Street Market opened to great fanfare in downtown last fall.

Triad City Beat senior editor Jordan Greene recently visited the market. He found few vendors or visitors. Also missing – anything destined for a fridge or pantry.

“There was no food," he says. "One of the tables – a lady was selling embroidered jackets. The other table I honestly didn't catch what the product was but it seemed to be flat brochures. But definitely no produce.”

Green says he also visited the Dixie Classic farmer's market for comparison, where he was able to find fresh produce including new potatoes, heirloom tomatoes along with fresh meat. He says vendors at the city's established markets may have an advantage because they've had time to develop a clientele.

Green says some things need to happen for the market to gain a following.

“You have to find a group of vendors who are committed to showing up consistently because the market has to operate with consistent hours, people have to have some kind of assurance that when they come they'll find something to buy. You need a critical mass of different kind of vendors," he says.

The Liberty Street Market was built with support from the City of Winston-Salem and the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem.