Publication:West Central Tribune; Date:Oct 11, 2006; Section:Local/Region; Page Number:A3

Becker Market continues indoors monthly for the next three months

By David Little davidl@wctrib.com

WILLMAR — The Downtown Becker Market, which was held weekly this past summer, will continue with a monthly version this fall, according to market organizers.

The market will be held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and on the second Thursday of November and December in Heritage Center Mall, located on Fourth Street Southwest between Becker Avenue and Litchfield Avenue in downtown Willmar.

Becker Market began as an afternoon and early evening outdoor market June 1 and ran through Sept. 28. It was held on Becker Avenue Southwest from Fourth Street and Fifth Street. The Willmar City Council allowed the street to be blocked to let vendors set up booths and sell their wares.

A total of 40 vendors participated — some more often than others — and they offered a variety of locally grown and produced food and local crafts, art and other products.

The market was the idea of members of the Willmar Design Center. Design Center Project Coordinator Beverly Dougherty said the vendors had a successful summer and requested the market be continued during the fall and winter.

“I think maybe the most positive thing that happened is the vendors themselves who asked us to continue the market through the winter,’’ said Dougherty. She said market organizers had not considered the possibility of continuing the market through the winter.

“We brought it up to the other vendors and they said ‘sure we’d love to do it,’’’ said Dougherty.

Tribune file photo by Bill Zimmer Willmar residents Tarrah Cornelia, center, and her daughters Jade, left, and Jasmine, both 9, look over items June 1 during the grand opening of Downtown Becker Market in Willmar. The market will continue indoors for the next three months, beginning Thursday.