Customers lined up in the moments before the first evening Arnold Farmers Market opened on a weekday.
And by the end of the Farm Fresh at Sunset market on Aug. 19, about 2,500 people perused and purchased items from 78 vendors and four food trucks, Arnold Parks and Recreation Department Director Dave Crutchley said.
“It was a really amazing turnout,” Mayor Bill Moritz said. “There was a big line of people waiting to get in here at 4:30. That was good. We were very pleased with the turnout.”
Arnold officials announced in July that the city would hold markets from 4:30-7 p.m. on the third Wednesdays in August, September and October. The city has held farmers markets on Saturday mornings since 2011.
The market is near the entrance of Arnold City Park at 1 Bradley Beach Road off Jeffco Boulevard near the Meramec River.
“We have this beautiful market that we use once a week, and we want to put it to use a little more,” Crutchley said. “It looked really good. We have two more this year, and if they are this popular, I could see us adding in night markets next year every month, if not more.”
The next two Farm Fresh at Sunset markets are on Sept. 16 and Oct. 21.
Apryl Ott of Julie’s Produce, which regularly sells produce during Arnold’s Saturday markets, said she was excited when the city announced plans to hold the evening market during the week.
“With the busy season of school starting, we thought the weekday markets would help people who cannot come on Saturdays,” she said. “We do quite a few evening markets. I think evening markets attract quite a few people.”
Aleisha Althage, 42, of Arnold attended the evening market with her husband, Bob, and the couple’s sons, Theo, 2, and Callum, 1.
She said she shops at the Arnold Farmers Market on Saturdays, and she enjoyed having a weekday option to attend the market.
“Sometimes it is hard to get the boys up in the mornings before everything is sold out,” Althage said. “This is a little easier for us time wise.”
Michael Kammer of Tilted Heads, which sells homemade dog treats and handmade dog bandanas, said weekday farmers markets will become more popular throughout the area.
“Over the five years that we have been doing this, I have seen farmers markets grow,” he said. “I believe people are paying more attention to how food is being treated, and they are coming to markets, so they will not get the chemicals. I believe that is why we get such great outcomes, even on a Wednesday night.”
Crutchley said he believes future weekday Arnold Farmers Markets will be as well attended as the first one that was held Aug. 19.
“Arnold really supports our events,” he said. “We have a great community. Everybody comes out.”