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Politics & Government

Will There Be a French Market Next Year in Mokena?

Village officials say the rumors of the market's demise are just rumors as negotiations continue to keep the popular weekend event in town.

As residents gathered up their last fresh produce, pastries and cheese from the Mokena French Market on Saturday, Jana Ptackova of Little Europe Deli mentioned that the village’s contract is up this year with Bensidoun USA, the market license distributor.

In a matter of seconds, residents congregated in the midst of the canopy-covered vendor booths to question and complain about the news.

Mary Teperski, a frequent visitor of the French Market, said she wouldn’t know what to do if the market wasn’t there.

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“I buy all my fresh produce here, it’s a real shame when it comes time for it to end each year,” Teperski said, hands filled with bags of produce.

John and Linda Myerson said they visited the market once or twice a month during the season, and they especially love the Amish butter and pastries.

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“This market is a great addition to this town, they’d be crazy to take it away,” John Myerson said.

Fewer Vendors

Trustee Debbie Engler said Mokena is in the middle of negotiations for the future of the market.

“I’m sure there will be a market,” Engler said of next year. “Lots of vendors do very well here. The Amish vendors drive two-and-a-half hours to come here.”

Engler said the vendor numbers were down this year from past years. She blames the economy and the fact that many small businesses have gone out of business.

“We used to have a lot of vendors selling soaps, candles and things like that, but a lot of these small businesses just aren’t around anymore,” Engler said.

Assistant Village Administrator Kirk Zoellner said that on average, the French Market had 17 booths present each weekend.

Engler also said the customer base was about the same as past years, though there were no head counts taken this year.

“There will be a market”

Mayor Joe Werner echoed Engler’s optimism by declaring that there will be a market next year.

“Absolutely, I have no doubt one way or another, there will be a market,” Werner said.

According to him, it just depends on whether the village signs a new contract with Bensidoun USA. The contract doesn’t actually run out until May of 2012, so Werner said they will be negotiating over the winter.

“I’d say there is a strong possibility that Bensidoun USA will be back next year, as long as the contract is worked out to satisfy both sides,” Werner said. “We’ll take a look at our options and decide what’s best for the Village and the community.

“I’m so glad to see that it’s something people enjoy as much as they have, and it’s something we need to continue for the community,” he said.

Some Vendors Undecided

Jana Ptackova of Little Europe Deli was letting her customers know where to find her, in case there isn’t a market next year. If there is, however, she said she’d most likely be back.

Cady Walsch with Zeldenrust Farm Market wasn’t as sure. She said business had been down this year and was uncertain about the market's future.

Walsch helps out with her family farm and couldn’t answer for sure whether they’d come back for another Mokena market.

Engler said that the village is tossing around ideas on how to track more businesses and get more people interested in a future market, such as demonstrations or tastings.

“The market is more about having a social event and an amenity for the community than it is about generating revenue,” Werner said.

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