Largo Open Air Market Is Closing

City officials decided to close the Open Air Market, held every Saturday at the Largo Community Center, effective after the March 23 event, due to low attendance and poor vendor participation.

Talk of the market’s potential demise had been rumored for weeks; speculation among vendors quickly became reality following the recent resignation of the center’s recreation program manager, Warren Ankerberg. 

New acting program manager Craig Dolan told Patch by phone that the decision was based on poor turnout. 

“Due to declining customers and low vendor participation, we have decided to close the market for the season,” he said. 

When asked if that meant the market could open again at a later date, Dolan was noncommittal. 

“I can’t say what the future will hold without knowing about budgetary restraints, so I can’t say for sure if it will return or not.” 

While walking the market last week, we spoke with a number of vendors and patrons who expressed regret that the city pulled the plug on the market. 

“I’ve been here since the beginning, and it used to be very busy,” Pam Snyder, owner of Seasonal Sensations said. “Then the crowds started to die down, the vendors started getting discouraged and stopped coming. It was like a snowball effect.” 

“I think they should’ve waited until the end of the season,” Ken Radtke said from his Fresh Baked Cookie Company tent. “It’s not fair to us vendors.” 

Depending on whom you speak to, reasons for the market’s failure vary. But three causes are consistently mentioned when discussing the situation with vendors – location, lack of advertising and poor management. 

“They didn’t advertise properly and get a lot of support, so a lot of vendors dropped out,” Paul Oliver, Sr. of Paulie O's Italian Gourmet said. “If it was advertised better it could’ve been a success.” 

“People don’t know we’re back here,” Radtke said of the Community Center’s location, which is north of East Bay Drive on lightly traveled Alternate Keene Road.

“It wasn’t advertised very well, either, he added. “I think it boils down to poor management.” 

According to Dolan, the main reason for closing the market had to do with, well, the current marketplace. 

“There are five new markets in the surrounding area, plus existing markets like the one in St. Pete,” he said. “With so many markets in the area, you’re not going to travel to go to one farther away.”

Dolan said it’s possible city might consider reopening the market in another location, such as its original home at Ulmer Park. 

But right now nothing is certain, leaving Largo Open Air Market patrons and vendors in limbo. 

“I live nearby and have come here every week since it opened and I’m very upset it’s closing,” Cindy Barr said. “There just wasn’t enough publicity for it. It’s a shame.”

Note: An earlier version of this story said the market would be closing immediately. Mr. Dolan has stated that it will actually close after the March 23 festival. We appreciate the correction and apologize for any inconvenience.

Largo residents, what are your thoughts on the closing of the Open Air Market? Let us know in the comments section.

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