For 26 years, the C-Street City Market has provided Springfield with fresh produce, hand-crafted artisan goods, and so much more.

History

Located on historic Commercial Street between Jefferson and Robberson Avenues, the City Market began as an effort to enhance Commercial Street’s reputation. As businesses began to open, entrepreneurs wanted to draw attention to the improvements being made in the area and bring in more foot traffic. The first decade or so only saw four dedicated vendors; today, the market boasts between 20-25 on average, sometimes as high as 30 or more. The strategy worked, as today it is estimated between 100 and 300 people visit the market every day.

There are a huge variety of vendors, from meat vendors to fresh produce, baked goods to local coffee. There are also many handmade goods, such as jewelry and pottery.

Suzy’s Bees

Susan Bingham has been a part of the City Market family since 2013. She began beekeeping after seeing a story on PBS saying that beekeeping can raise your garden yield. For her birthday her family surprised her with a beehive, bee suit, and a book on beekeeping, and the next spring she was in business. The rest is history.

“I had tears in my eyes when I was handed my first batch of bees,” Bingham said. “After just a couple of days I knew: this is what I was meant to do.”

Suzy’s Bees offers a variety of honey, from original to flavors such as lemon-zest and vanilla bean. They also sell products such as soap, all made with honey or beeswax.

Elizabeth Dotson

For eight years, Elizabeth Dotson has been selling hand-made bags, pillows, and stuffed animals at the City Market. Her story begins after two of her paychecks bounced, spiking her interest in starting her own business. All of her products are crafted from recycled fabric.

“I have a big family, so I get a lot of used clothes,” Dotson explained. “I have people donate things, some people even donate old pillows to stuff the stuffed animals with.”

Dotson estimates that up to 100 people stop by her stand each day. Her whimsical and unique creations are sure to attract attention even on the busiest days.

Hickory Lane Plants

If you’re looking for a splash of life and color to brighten your home, look no further than Tasha Adams’s traveling stall, Hickory Lane Plants.

Hickory Lane Plants (Photo via Forest Swisher)

“I was working at Chase… and I was walking through the cubicles on my breaks and started noticing everyone’s plants. I started asking questions and discovered my love for… houseplants,” Adams said. “So I quit my job to be a stay-at-home mom with my three kids and now I grow and sell houseplants.”

The stand is a relatively new addition to the City Market, which opened in March of this year. Adams had been selling plants for five years, but Hickory Lane Plants was her first foray into market vending.

“Some days you get dozens of people, other days maybe three or four people who just spot the stand and want to stop and say hi,” Adams said. “It’s very eye-catching, not something you see every day.”

Hickory Lane Plants is certainly one-in-a-million and offers plants for anyone of any level of experience.

Become a vendor

The City Market is open Thursdays from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The season runs from the first Saturday in April until the end of October. To open a stall, fees are $10 for a Thursday evening, $15 for a Saturday. There are also full season passes available: all Thursdays cost $65, all Saturdays cost $175, and every day is discounted even more at $225. For more information regarding being a vendor, visit www.historiccstreet.com/vendor-information.

Written by Forest Swisher.