I was at the market this past Saturday and it was first day Crossing Vineyards, the wine place, was open. They've got a counter set up where you can sample the wines before you buy. Prices are around $15 per bottle.

I hope it does well. They're based in Bucks County.
http://www.crossingvineyards.com

So I stopped by for the third time this weekend. Always end up going on a Saturday it seems. Got there at 10:00 in the morning and the produce place, the Amish Baked Goods, the butcher and the prepared food place right inside the door were the only places open/staffed. What's up with that?

Would have loved to pick up some pasta, some stuff from the Head Nut, tried the vineyard and gotten some flowers, but those stalls were all closed up. I would think that you'd do at least 1/2 of your business on a Saturday.....

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I was so looking forward to having a good market in East Falls, but iy looks like the Marketplace will go under. And of course there's a snowballing effect, so the less that is open, the fewer people will come, etc, etc. I love Mona Lisa and their products, but I also thought Yoshi McCoy had terrific stuff. Unfortunately the latter closed. Also unfortunately, the produce place was never up to snuff (they had to take some losses but have fresh produce, and high end stuff that you can't get at the supermarket (why else bother to shop there?). Also, the limited stuff at the meat market, and its packaging the way one would at the supermarket, counted strongly against it. Again, why would one go there if one only gets the same stuff one can get at a supermarket? The owners have to remember: parking at ANY supermarket is better than the disastrous parking lot at the Marketplace; at a supermarket one can also pick up staples. So: if the products available at the Marketplace are more limited, and the parking is more difficult, why in the world would one bother to go to the Marketplace?
It saddnes me to say this, because I had so much hope that this would be a wonderful place, but unfortunately, it's a total disaster. It also didn't help that Jeff, the owner of the Marketplace and of the produce stand, has awful customer manners which would turn off even the most loyal customers. All I canhope for at this time is that the Marketplace will be taken over by some other entity that can make it a viable and even thriving concern.

So sad!

we stopped by this weekend to check it out and it was very sparsely populated. the pasta guy was very friendly but pushy, trying to get us to buy something. I agree that the meat counter was very disappointing as well - I was hoping for something like the Italian market where they sell meat packages with various cuts at discount rates. Or at least sell organic beef or somesuch.

sigh - yet another local business seemingly doomed to failure.

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No matter where you go, there you are. (b.banzai)

How is it a total disaster? Are the vendors cursing you as you walk in the door? Do they spit in your food when they see you pull out a credit card, not cash?

Did something happen to you personally? You are calling it a total disaster, dissing the owner and predicting its demise (and even hoping for a better operator) - seems a bit over the top.

I agree that the headcounts of customers are low, but I feel that the quality is excellent. Everyone is hoping that when students and vacationers get back in September things will liven up. I love the produce, I think the butcher has excellent meats, I love the Mediterranean place, and I like the wines, also.

Good concept, wrong neighborhood.

Just not enough population density in EF to sustain this type of venture. I was hoping it would draw heavily from other neighborhoods but sounds like that isn't happening.

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"Life's tough, and it's a lot tougher if you're stupid." My Dad

Probably the draw would be better if the access was better. You really can't get into that place making a left and when you make a right, it's a pretty sharp turn, especially if someone is coming out of it. You'd think they'd have tried to get some street re-trafficing to increase accessibility.

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No matter where you go, there you are. (b.banzai)

I totally agree about the access. For non-driving residents of East Falls it's a pain to get a bus down Ridge Avenue and then walk across that section of Ridge Ave (if the Route 61 even has a stop on Ridge at the Marketplace).

I was talking with my grandmother and she suggested an East Falls shuttle service during the day for seniors/residents who don't drive going to the Marketplace. I find the East Falls seniors are always willing to patronize neighborhood venues if they have a way to get there.

I think it's a great suggestion and maybe it's something to bring up at a E.F.C.C. meeting.

This market would be packed to the rafters if it were located in the Masonic bldg at Ridge & Midvale. The location is terrible - I go up there to support them, but this place would make way more sense in the heart of East Falls.