Herald Square-Collinsville holds first farmers market as construction nears completion
Thursday evening was the inaugural farmers market for Herald Square in Collinsville. (Yes, even though Herald Square is not quite finished yet. It’s close!)
I had an email from Old Herald Brewery & Distillery owner Derik Reiser on Thursday morning, giving me the heads-up about the event.
So, naturally, I went.
Market organizers and vendors arrived early to set up the market before the 5 p.m. start.
I arrived at Herald Square about 20 minutes before the market’s official start. Vendors were already in place and ready to sell their wares.
Anne Matthews, an organizer for the market, said they were conservative in scheduling the vendors for this event.
She said they “could’ve added three more, but I was nervous.”
Things were going well and a lot of people were in attendance.
Matthews wished she did add three more vendors.
At one point during our brief conversation, she abruptly left me to head off a couple of patrons who wandered onto the grass.
The sod was just laid on Wednesday, so the market was set up with the vendor tents on the sod, along the inside of the concrete walkway that circles Herald Square. The purpose was to keep the patrons off the sod, which was heavily watered, according to Matthews.
Old Herald is working with the Maryville Farmers Market, of which Matthews is president and founder, to hold the market at Herald Square. The market location will alternate between Herald Square and Firemen’s Park in Maryville.
I walked around the market, making notes on who was there.
Vendors in attendance included:
Jx4 Soaps
Jypsy Hill Flowers
Little Bear’s Kitchen
The Family Garden
D&M Farms
Washington Kettle Corn Co.
Koenigs Blooms & Buds
Missing Meadows Mushroom Farm
Maverick (jewelry)
Stubborn Flower Designs
This is the Bath Bomb
Everything’s Shiny Creations (I spent some money here. No regrets.)
Rising Stars
Yardzee!
Skitopel
KWL Science
Mayhew Honey
“It was a fun night,” said Reiser, when I called him the following morning.
He said that you never know what to expect when you have a first-time event. Because it went well, he’s optimistic that the bi-monthly event will continue to do so.
The farmers market will take place at Herald Square the second and fourth Thursday of the month. The next Herald Square Farmers Market will be held 5-7 p.m. Thursday, July 14.
Info about the market can be found on the Herald Square Facebook page.
Reiser was on the scene Thursday and busy, busy, busy, what with the market going on while Old Herald was getting into a dinner rush.
We did have a chance to say hello at the Old Herald tent, just off their dining patio.
He asked me, “You need a beer?”
Oh, if only. I love the Printer’s Ink at Old Herald. But not while I’m on the clock. (I save my shenanigans for after work. Mostly.)
As I continued checking out the market situation, I also looked at the progress of Herald Square’s development.
The entertainment pavilion is nearly finished. The roofing is on the stage and ready to be installed.
During my post-market call to Reiser, he said the pavilion roofing would be finished Friday and “should be pretty much good to go next week.”
The new restroom, made from a shipping crate, is up and running.
The other shipping crate on the property was intended to be the location for Uptown Scoops, a new frozen custard shop.
Reiser informed me that there’s been a change in plans. Collinsville City Council member and Uptown Scoops owner Donna Green decided to move her new business venture to another location. (A story for another day – stay tuned.)
Now Reiser plans to open “Cold Herald” Ice Creamery, Gelato and Tasty Treats.
They will have treats that include Old Herald’s Bavarian pretzel, as well as house-made ice cream and gelato (a nod to the city’s Italian heritage) and other ice cream brands.
The ice cream shop is still under construction and may be ready next week.
“It’s coming along well,” said Reiser of the Herald Square development. It’s “a great vibe for Collinsville.”
Herald Square is located at 119 E. Clay St. in Collinsville. For information about the venue, call 618-855-8027 or visit facebook.com/HeraldSquareCollinsville.
