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. Unlike most market where you<br />
shop, get your produce and leave, here people know<br />
they are going to get something to eat and the result<br />
of that is that they spend over an hour here. And the<br />
result of that is that you know you’re going to run<br />
into friends!<br />
BB: How do you choose your vendors?<br />
MJ: To vend here is kind of like applying to be on the<br />
grocery store shelf. It’s all about the mix of products.<br />
If you want to be a jewelry vendor well, I have 200<br />
applicants for that. But if you’re selling art or a food<br />
product that you can’t buy from a specialty store, I’m<br />
all over it. But you’ve got to be good, unusual,<br />
execute well - because this is the best vending spot<br />
in Central Florida and the hardest place to get in in<br />
Central Florida.<br />
BB: Let’s talk more about the music…. Every<br />
Saturday I can come here and listen to a new<br />
band?<br />
MJ: Oh, absolutely! I have over a dozen bands that<br />
I’ve carefully vetted and they have filled out the<br />
calendar! Furthermore, when the bands take their 15<br />
minute break – on any given Saturday - I might have<br />
another band perform, like the St. Pete Opera.<br />
BB: You move the festival to Williams Park in the<br />
summer… what can you share about that?<br />
MJ: It’s about 50 vendors and a thousand customers.<br />
There isn’t live music though. The whole point of the<br />
summer market is to stay alive and to stay true to<br />
our customers.<br />
Send comments on this story to<br />
comments@baybuzz.org<br />
BUZZ Magazine May-June <strong>2017</strong> 23
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