(rshsdepot) Fort Worth, TX

[Bernie Wagenblast <brwagenblast_@_comcast.net>]

Link:
http://www.fortworthpublicmarket.com/  (information & photos)

Fort Worth's downtown market opens
Fort Worth planners have devised another reason for people to head downtown:
a market they say is like no other in the state.

The Fort Worth Rail Market, which officials are plugging as the first truly
public market in Texas, opened May 25 next door to the Intermodal
Transportation Center, the Trinity Railway Express' first stop in Cowtown.

Stocked with products ranging from all-natural emu oil to fresh fish,
flowers and produce, the indoor-outdoor market is one piece of a plan to
revitalize the warehouse area southeast of downtown Fort Worth's popular
Sundance Square.

"Downtown Fort Worth is one of the greatest renaissance stories in the
country," Fort Worth Mayor Kenneth Barr said. "It is very exciting to see
the visions and drawings on paper turn into reality."

Fort Worth officials also plan to complete the $70 million expansion and
renovation of the city's aging Convention Center, refurbish the Fort Worth
Water Gardens and turn Lancaster Avenue into a tree-lined,
pedestrian-friendly street.

The market, in the historic Santa Fe Building, was born of a public-private
partnership between Fort Worth, the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, the
Downtown Tax Increment Financing District and Downtown Fort Worth Inc.

David Pettit, director of downtown development for Downtown Fort Worth Inc.,
said merchants have been contacting him nonstop since he sent out a notice
about the $2.3 million project. Less than five months since construction
started, the indoor facility is almost completely leased up, he said.

Merchants including Coffee Haus, Lone Star Wines, Seafoodville and Hot Damn,
Tamales are open. Spiral Diner & Bakery, a vegan restaurant, plans to open
in July.

When complete, the 40,000-square-foot building will feature 15 to 20
merchants downstairs and a demonstration kitchen, restaurant with patio
dining, office suites and a public meeting room upstairs.

The farmers market is under canopies between the market and transit center.

Several merchants said the location near Interstate 35E and Interstate 30
prompted them to sign a lease with the center.

Studies found that about 1 million people live within a 20-minute drive of
the market, and that 8,000 pass through the transit center daily.

"I think that business here is going to be phenomenal," said Joy Harris of
Frost Bites, an Italian ice and custard shop. "People are really curious
about this side of downtown."

That curiosity drew thousands, including Fort Worth residents Cindy and Paul
Leonard.

"This is kind of the Central Market of downtown," Paul Leonard said, adding
that the area has been neglected for too long.

Several farmers agreed.

Stacy Finley of Finley's Produce said she drove in from Palo Pinto County,
her pickup loaded with green beans, tomatoes, squash, red potatoes and
berries.

"We're hoping it does well," she said. "Downtown's really picked up, and a
lot of people are living down here, so I'm hoping they'll travel down here
to get most of their groceries."

Bernie Wagenblast
Transportation Communications Newsletter
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications/




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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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