MARFA — The Marfa Saturday Market, now in its 18th year, is slated to open this Saturday, May 4, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in its new location, the parking lot west of the Marfa Public Library on Oak Street. The market’s season typically runs from April to November.
Marfa City Council voted last week to approve the market’s use of the lot, which is city property. The lot includes the library’s Book Barn, two handicapped parking spaces, and covered parking utilized by Marfa Country Clinic, Prescription Shop Marfa, Big Sky Yoga and library patrons.
The market’s move from the U.S.O., or Marfa Visitor Center, pavilion to the parking lot comes after a conflict with the city over its venue rental policy at the facility, which last year caused the market to close three months early. Per city policy, if events are booked on Saturdays at the U.S.O., the market cannot utilize the space.
In a follow up interview with The Big Bend Sentinel, Roane said the U.S.O. was made available to the market with the understanding rental bookings would still occur, but they chose to go with the parking lot option instead. The city is currently working on adding outdoor bathrooms to the U.S.O. so that the pavilion can act as a standalone rental space, which would have alleviated some of the market conflict in cases when only the building was rented out.
Market vendor Bob Schwab, who also sits on the library’s board of advisors, expressed gratitude to the City Council and city administration for the use of the U.S.O. for several years. “We’re very grateful that we have had that, it’s a perfect space, but it’s not a great location. This is a less-than-perfect space but a great location,” Schwab said.
He publicly apologized to City Manager Mandy Roane for previous statements he had made to her regarding the U.S.O. rental policy. He said he told her he thought it was a mistake when he “should have said it was a decision that I disagreed with.”
Now the market will begin anew. Roane said the library board and staff were supportive of the initiative. Library Director Nicki Ittner expressed her support for the market’s move. “We think it would be good for the library because it would bring attention to us on Saturdays,” Ittner said. “We’re grateful for it.”
Schwab said market organizers were grateful for the many people in the community who offered up their space for the vendors, but it was important that the city be involved in the market, and its new location may help raise funds for the library via the Book Barn. He said the market will continue to remain a valuable resource for both locals and visitors.
“This is a wonderful Marfa event that brings together lots of people from all over,” Schwab said. “We have vendors that come from Valentine, Presidio, certainly Alpine, Fort Davis; they sell some great things.”
In a follow up interview with The Sentinel, Schwab said market organizers hope to clean up the parking lot, filling the enormous potholes under the covered parking area and more. The plan is to put up signs and rope off the lot on Fridays. He said because the Marfa Country Clinic and Prescription Shop are closed on Saturdays the market will not impact their clients. Big Sky Yoga does host morning exercise classes on Saturdays, but Schwab said he has been in contact with owner Monika Bernstein who supports the market, and they will work to communicate with her clients about where else to park.
The market is recommending people park on Oak Street or Highland Blvd. The market also recommends patrons bring cash, as many vendors do not accept credit cards, and that all dogs be friendly and on leashes.
Schwab told council members that market organizers have also been in contact with the city’s Parks and Recreation Board, which is exploring adding a structure to the east end of Sunset Park — across the street from the library — that the market may eventually be held in. “This moves us closer to what may be our final home,” Schwab said.
The Marfa Saturday Market is currently seeking vendors for this season. Vendors must live within 100 miles of Marfa and sell locally-made or homegrown goods. No booth fees are charged.
For more information or to sign up as a vendor, email marfasatmarket@gmail.com
