01/22/2024
Bittersweet post here, so buckle yourself in…
It’s with a sad heart that I’m here to inform you that the market will be ceasing. A shift in focus and family prioritization is calling me home and it’s my duty to answer.
This thing was built on big dreams and I commend everyone who ever supported it… For our vendors, this wasn’t simply a one day event. It took some of us days, if not weeks, to prepare for each Saturday of the season. So if you ever shopped with us, please know that your dollars stretched beyond the hours of 8:00 and 12:00 and you impacted us all significantly.
We have never been a city-run program/organization. We’ve been 100% volunteer managed since the inception of this market in 2017. With that being said, I couldn’t make this post without tipping a big hat to Trae and Ashley Reed, who essentially brought forth this entire market and idea into existence. They poured blood, sweat, and tears into making this dream a reality for Lonoke and it’s been a blast to walk the line they set for us.
Just because the market is coming to a close doesn’t mean our vendors are stopping anytime soon… I encourage you all to continue your support of them and shop with them directly! Wholesalers and corporations are unapologetically destroying our small businesses, so I hope you’ll reconsider your shopping habits and give your locals a fighting chance.
Signing off with a “See ya later”, because we don’t do goodbyes. Love you big, guys! 🫶🏻
-Megan Rudder
