Mobile Bay Maker’s Market Seeks New Location

For the past three years, many residents have come to enjoy the every-other-Sunday festival-flair of vendors, live music and food trucks at South Beach Park near the Fairhope Pier. Now, these events and others may be on pause for the foreseeable future.

Let’s Go! Fairhope made an inquiry to organizers after a social media post mentioned taking time off related to finding a new location:

According to Amanda Webb, founder of the Mobile Bay Maker’s Market and owner of Wild Magnolia Kombucha, the Mobile Bay Maker’s Market is currently on hold while organizers search Fairhope for a suitable space to relocate. As of the writing of this newsletter, it has not yet been a fruitful or quick task.

“Most successful up-and-coming small cities have a successful market. I didn’t expect it to become as large as it did, but makes me proud to see everyone there and work so well together,” said Webb. Amanda explained that most vendors are full-time entrepreneurs who are contributing to the Fairhope economy.

Webb said the concept was “Modeled after the Palafox Market in downtown Pensacola which has been going strong for 17 years.” The Mobile Bay Maker’s Market has strict requirements for their vendors. “To participate, you must “make, create or grow 80% of what you are selling, and vendors must have an active annual business license with the City of Fairhope,” said Webb.

Regarding the number of vendors, Amanda said the market, which runs March through December, is known to start at around 120 vendors and end with approximately 67 entrepreneurs, some dropping-off related to the heat, weather, rain and storms.

Why not stay at the Fairhope Pier?

Amanda explained, “After the water spouts and tornado that came through, the [City of Fairhope] Parks and Recreation Department said they are shutting down the park.” Webb added, “We knew they received a grant towards revitalization since 2021, so we knew it was coming. We sat down with the City to come up with an alternative as all of our vendors have a City of Fairhope business license, but so far we have not been able to procure anything through the City. There is not a lot of green space, not for the size of what we want to do.” 

• Can you relocate to Henry George Park on the Bluff? Webb said the location is not conducive to the market’s food trucks. Also, parking is an issue, plus many nearby residents dislike the idea of every-other-Sunday markets at that location.

• Fairhope Civic Center? Amanda said the group requested to rent the parking lot for their outdoor market activities, but discovered they would need to rent the entire facility, out-pricing the group of small-business entrepreneurs.

• What about North Beach Park? Webb explained the per-car fee that is charged for non-residents cancels this option for the group.

• Coastal Campus? The market is not a non-profit organization as of yet, so according to Webb this isn’t allowed per the venue rules.

• Would the Hope Community be a possibility? Amanda said the Mobile Maker’s Market teamed up with the Hope Community for a 5K race, and perhaps this might be a future possibility, but for now “They still have things to work out,” regarding location logistics.

• American Legion? The market usually finishes up around 3 PM, and many American Legion events begin by 4 PM, so the window is too short, indicated Webb. Parking may also be an issue at that location.

• Pelican Point / Mullet Point? Webb is concerned vendors and shoppers won’t want to drive that far.

According to Webb, Mobile Bay Maker’s Market is working on a non-profit status and this past week she “reached out to the school system, Fairhope Elementary East, wondering if there might be some green space available similar to the Stapleton Market which utilizes Stapleton Elementary on Saturdays.”

She added that the market is “truly a group effort” and they are “committed to finding a new location,” hopefully without too much disruption to the routine that many vendors and community members have grown to depend on.

When asked what vision the group has for the market, Webb said, “The Mobile Bay Makers Market hopes to continue to be an asset for the community. We want to be out there to showcase our local growers and makers, and we are still trying to find the best fit location inside the City limits of Fairhope.”