NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) – Spring is the season of fresh produce and farmers’ markets, but the annual Dogtown Farmers' Market in North Little Rock will not be open this year.
Vendors with the farmers’ market have nowhere to set up this year because of the amount of construction going on in the Argenta District. New buildings and apartment complexes are going up left and right.
"Progress. We've got huge progress going on,” Chris Kent said.
Kent is with the Argenta Downtown Council. He said the construction leaves vendors nowhere to go on Main Street where they normally set up.
“You can see the apartments going up behind us. [There will be] 164 units. A new plaza. Three new buildings planned for this site,” Kent said.
Kent said this also forced vendors to find new places to set up for the spring and summer.
"They plan their year around these things and it's an important part of their profit strain. And we're limited on grocery stores in downtown, so farmers markets are very important,” he said.
Darrell Adams grew up in Argenta, but he's worried Main Street will lose some of its culture with the new development.
"It's got a little bit of a culture that's kind of odd, weird, maybe even eclectic. It's just going to be changing for a bit,” Adams said.
Hearing about the closing of the farmers’ market was disappointing for him.
"The farmers' market been here for quite some time. There was an art walk on the side walk for a number of years. It is kind of sad. There doesn't seem to be much interest in doing those things anymore,” Adams said.
But the Dogtown Farmers’ Market isn't gone for good, as it is expected to return next spring.
"I think people are really excited about some of the things we're talking about with the new farmers’ market. More music, more culinary events,” Kent said.
Kent said the market will most likely open next April or May. It will be located at the new Argenta Plaza, a $4 million project that is currently in the works.