The weekly Barrie Farmers' Market shifted to the street on Saturday due to the Freedom of the City parade and ceremony, and the new site was a hit with shoppers.
"This is much better," said Sylvia Carson, a regular patron. "There's more room. You can stroll along without anyone bumping into you and you can really see what there is here. It's great."
Her friends agreed that the street provides easier access for parents with strollers, wagons.
"I think if feels more like an event or a destination like this," said Sara Sykes. "It's more fun and I think people will hang around longer."
Market vendors set up along both sides of Mulcaster Street, instead of the usual place around the Circle at the Centre outside city hall.
Comments weren't lost on City of Barrie councillor Rose Romita, who says she will bring the topic to city council for a discussion.
"This is much better," Romita said."It feels great. Everyone is happy with this location."
The roadblock could be the cost, however, because closing the street would cost $700 each week - a cost that would be billed to the city.
"We did pass a bylaw that said anyone requesting a road closure would have to pay the fee," Romita said. "Even the city.
The market runs throughout the year, moving into the city hall rotunda during winter months.
Barrie Farmers’ Market dates back to April 24, 1846, when a grant of land was awarded to the farmers of Simcoe District (now Simcoe County).
The grant, on the letterhead of the Province of Canada, awarded three and one half acres in the shape of a parallelogram roughly centred at Collier and Mulcaster Streets and stipulated that the land be used for the express purpose of a Market House and for market trading.
A wide variety of vendors participate each Saturday from 8 a.m to noon.
