Market Management
- Implement the Eastern Market Management and Regulation Law as enacted including the establishment of a sole purpose, not-for-profit entity to manage the Market with a thirteen member governing board that reflects the cultural and economic diversity of Capitol Hill.
- Provide long-term leases to current Eastern Market merchants as soon as possible.
- Develop clear mission and goals for the Market through a public process.
- Increase the number of fresh food farmers and decrease the number of crafts people if necessary to accommodate more farmers.
- Expand vendor selection guidance to ensure authenticity, quality, and creativity for arts, crafts people and antique vendors.
- Carefully vet farmers, crafts folks, and artists and other vendors to ensure that the meet the prescribed criteria.
- Open the streets around the Market and relocate Flea Market vendors to the 700 block of C Street.
- Increase economic and cultural diversity among merchants, vendors, and shoppers, through special events. Intentionally appeal to a racially and economically diverse group.
Budget
- Consolidate the Eastern Market budget into one category.
- Submit a capital improvement budget for the next fiscal year and subsequent years.
- Reimburse the Enterprise Fund for monies that were transferred for non-Eastern Market purposes.
Improvements
- Capital design improvements to increase usable space including repurposing the North Hall.
- Repair the physical plant by among other things Doors should be sealed, ventilation, and heating and cooling systems repaired, and platforms should not be fixed and should be easily removed to facilitate proper sanitizing.
- Increase food aromas for a more inviting environment such as grinding coffee beans, fresh tortillas, spices,
- Install hoods to vent unwelcome smells.
- Work with nearby parking garages to provide special Market rates for merchants, vendors, and shoppers and encourage merchants and vendors to use these garages to free up parking spaces for shoppers.
- Hire an expert consultant in public market display to provide regular workshops to Market merchants. Also, offer training in bookkeeping, affordable guerilla marketing, customer relations, and other important elements of public market sales and management.
Publicity
- Develop a plan to effectively compete with various supermarkets in the area by offering vibrant and fun activities while maintaining the Market’s authenticity as primarily a fresh food market. (e.g. Develop special events, colorful wall hangings, allow juried street musicians. Make every day of the week special. Develop targeted programs for special populations – ethnic food festivals with tastings, ‘senior days” with 10% off on Wednesdays, etc.)
- Professionally develop an annual program promoting the Market merchants that incorporates all four components of promotion: advertising, special events, public relations and signage. Costs to be underwritten by the merchants.
- Develop an annual calendar of special events and educational activities geared toward educating and attracting customers.
- Locate all outside prepared food to the Natatorium Plaza and strive to have the offerings represent as many ethnic cuisines as possible. Encourage ethnic food festivals focused on a particular ethnic group as a way to expand the customer base of the overall Market.