J.B. Kelly’s new stand in the Broad Street Market’s stone building
Depending on what you like to eat, there’s either good news—or not such good news—from the Broad Street Market’s vendor community.
On the positive side, long-time vendor J.B. Kelly Seafood Connection has opened a small stand inside the stone building. The original, circa-1860s market building was not affected by the fire that devastated the market’s larger, brick building last July, displacing about two dozen vendors.
Since the fire, owner John Kelly and his team had been operating from a makeshift location in the open courtyard, but, a few weeks ago, got permission to install a large glass case just inside the west-facing door of the stone building.
“We’re happy to have a spot,” said Jenny Weiss, manager of the Broad Street Market location. “We’re happy to be inside.”
Like many displaced vendors, J.B. Kelly had been waiting months for space inside the market’s temporary building, a tent-like structure being built directly across Verbeke Street. However, that project has been repeatedly delayed, including, recently, by an inability to get electricians and plumbers to bid on work, according to the city. So, a planned opening has been pushed into next year.
Weiss said that, while the display case is much smaller than the stand’s former footprint, customers need to be able to view their offerings, which, on Friday, included beautifully colored, fresh-looking salmon, tuna and scallops. They couldn’t do that in the open courtyard.
“People couldn’t see what they were buying,” Weiss said.
While seafood-eaters can rejoice, candy-lovers have reason for despair. On Thursday, Jess Kost, owner of Sweet 717, announced that she would leave the market at the end of the year.
Like J.B. Kelly, the fire displaced the small-batch, craft candy-maker from the brick building, and Kost later took much smaller space inside the stone building. However, she’s decided to end her eight-year run in the market, “halt production,” and sell out her remaining inventory.
“Business has been suffering dramatically since the July fire,” she wrote on her business’ Facebook page. “This is my official announcement that my retail shop at the market will be out of business by the end of the year.”
Another popular, long-time vendor, Lil’s Pretzels, also recently re-opened in tight quarters inside the stone building, waiting for the temporary market building to open. There, you again can purchase their signature soft pretzels and other products.
In addition, mead purveyor Goblin Alchemy has set up in the stone building, in the former space of vegan food vendor Ward of Health, which left the market and is re-opening in a brick-and-mortar location in downtown Harrisburg.
To help spur business, the Broad Street Market announced on Friday that it would hold “Christmas at the Market” next weekend, on Dec. 15 and 16. According to market, the event will consist of various activities, including a community tree lighting, a choir and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
For now, the J.B. Kelly team is taking it one day at a time and will make a decision on whether to move again once the temporary market building is operational, Weiss said.
“We’re grateful to be here, inside, and to be with our market family until we find out what the future holds for us,” she said.
Likewise, Kost ended her Facebook post on a hopeful note.
“I will look forward to seeing you all again (if/when) the brick building is back up and running,” she wrote.
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