Market vendors upset after rent is nearly doubled
Vendors at Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market on Tuesday were informed their rents would essentially be doubled this year, a move that drew criticism from vendors who said they were blindsided by the decision.The rent hike is the latest fallout from a fire in July that gutted the historic venue’s Brick Building and displaced vendors responsible for 70 percent of the organization’s revenue. In the letter to vendors operating in the market’s Stone building, the market’s executive director, Tanis Monroy, wrote that a quorum of active members of the board of directors unanimously made the decision to raise the cost of monthly rent from $2.67 per square foot to $5.25 per square foot. “We understand the impact of the fire and this change may have on your business, but the Board must make a decision based on the short and long term of the Market. Based on the budget projections this increase will provide solvency to operations to maintain a thriving farmers market in the City of Harrisburg,” he said.Monroy said the decision was made in part because efforts by the city, which owns but does not operate the market, to construct and complete a temporary tent structure to house vendors during a rebuild of the damaged building have been mired for months in red tape.On Wednesday, vendors met to discuss a collective response and voiced their frustration to reporters about what they said was an unfair rent hike that followed weeks and months of problems with communications from the market’s management and board of directors.Hannah Ison, head brewer with Zeroday Brewing Company, which operates its Outpost at the Broad Street Market, said news of the rent increase was troubling because many businesses in the Stone building have already suffered significant sales since the fire over the summer.”It’s already been a hard time lately, but when you’re running a business that lean and your rent doubles … it’s scary,” she said. Nadine Graham, who runs the Porter’s House Jamaican cuisine stand at the market, said she and other vendors have not felt supported by the market’s leadership and that communication from management about operations have not been transparent.”Of course, we need new management — period, point blank … I mean, what can I say?” she saidIson also said figures used in comparisons between rental costs at the Broad Street Market and similar regional venues that were to be presented to the board to justify the rent increase are inflated or inaccurate.In an interview, Monroy said he believed the numbers to be accurate based on research he helped perform. But he also said the reality is that the organization needs to move on from a “break-even” philosophy and offset monthly operational losses of $8,000 to $10,000.”We are sinking financially, and we wanted to continue having a market and make sure that vendors still have a space to continue their business instead of not having a space at all,” he said.Growing frustration from vendors has been mirrored in recent months by Broad Street Market customers and Harrisburg residents who have said the Broad Street Market Alliance, which operates the city-owned venue, has not been transparent or effectively communicating about its operations.Travis DiNicola, a Harrisburg resident, has been among a number of people who have been openly critical on social media of the market’s leadership and board, particularly after a town hall meeting on the status of the reconstructing the damaged market building and building out the temporary tent.”We want to be able to talk to the board and staff and ask some questions and talk with them. In their latest board minutes, they say, ‘oh, all the questions have been answered on our webpage,’ and it’s like, ‘no, they haven’t been.’ and that’s the frustrating part,” he said.”That’s the thing. People want to know what they can do to help and what progress is being made.Monroy acknowledged there was room to improve on communication but also hoped vendors would remain with the market, despite the rent increase.”Change is never easy, but I hope we can get through this together,” he said.Ison said many vendors want to see increased representation on the board, especially in light of only four of seven active board members and a vendor being present for the vote to raise rents.”We’re calling for competent leadership,” she said.
HARRISBURG, Pa. —
Vendors at Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market on Tuesday were informed their rents would essentially be doubled this year, a move that drew criticism from vendors who said they were blindsided by the decision.
The rent hike is the latest fallout from a fire in July that gutted the historic venue’s Brick Building and displaced vendors responsible for 70 percent of the organization’s revenue.
In the letter to vendors operating in the market’s Stone building, the market’s executive director, Tanis Monroy, wrote that a quorum of active members of the board of directors unanimously made the decision to raise the cost of monthly rent from $2.67 per square foot to $5.25 per square foot.
“We understand the impact of the fire and this change may have on your business, but the Board must make a decision based on the short and long term of the Market. Based on the budget projections this increase will provide solvency to operations to maintain a thriving farmers market in the City of Harrisburg,” he said.
Monroy said the decision was made in part because efforts by the city, which owns but does not operate the market, to construct and complete a temporary tent structure to house vendors during a rebuild of the damaged building have been mired for months in red tape.
On Wednesday, vendors met to discuss a collective response and voiced their frustration to reporters about what they said was an unfair rent hike that followed weeks and months of problems with communications from the market’s management and board of directors.
Hannah Ison, head brewer with Zeroday Brewing Company, which operates its Outpost at the Broad Street Market, said news of the rent increase was troubling because many businesses in the Stone building have already suffered significant sales since the fire over the summer.
“It’s already been a hard time lately, but when you’re running a business that lean and your rent doubles … it’s scary,” she said.
Nadine Graham, who runs the Porter’s House Jamaican cuisine stand at the market, said she and other vendors have not felt supported by the market’s leadership and that communication from management about operations have not been transparent.
“Of course, we need new management — period, point blank … I mean, what can I say?” she said
Ison also said figures used in comparisons between rental costs at the Broad Street Market and similar regional venues that were to be presented to the board to justify the rent increase are inflated or inaccurate.
In an interview, Monroy said he believed the numbers to be accurate based on research he helped perform. But he also said the reality is that the organization needs to move on from a “break-even” philosophy and offset monthly operational losses of $8,000 to $10,000.
“We are sinking financially, and we wanted to continue having a market and make sure that vendors still have a space to continue their business instead of not having a space at all,” he said.
Growing frustration from vendors has been mirrored in recent months by Broad Street Market customers and Harrisburg residents who have said the Broad Street Market Alliance, which operates the city-owned venue, has not been transparent or effectively communicating about its operations.
Travis DiNicola, a Harrisburg resident, has been among a number of people who have been openly critical on social media of the market’s leadership and board, particularly after a town hall meeting on the status of the reconstructing the damaged market building and building out the temporary tent.
“We want to be able to talk to the board and staff and ask some questions and talk with them. In their latest board minutes, they say, ‘oh, all the questions have been answered on our webpage,’ and it’s like, ‘no, they haven’t been.’ and that’s the frustrating part,” he said.
“That’s the thing. People want to know what they can do to help and what progress is being made.
Monroy acknowledged there was room to improve on communication but also hoped vendors would remain with the market, despite the rent increase.
“Change is never easy, but I hope we can get through this together,” he said.
Ison said many vendors want to see increased representation on the board, especially in light of only four of seven active board members and a vendor being present for the vote to raise rents.
“We’re calling for competent leadership,” she said.
