FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Mia Hylan
Communications Secretary, Mayfair Civic Association
mhylan@gmail.com, 215-888-1243
Inaugural Season of the
Mayfair Farmers Market & Exciting News from the Mayfair CDC
Cottman and Frankford Aves
(at Ryan Ave.)
Ribbon Cutting 9AM
April 21, 2013
Philadelphia, PA, April 3, 2013 – The Mayfair
Community Development Corporation is thrilled to announce that they are
partnering with Republic Bank and Allegheny Iron and Metal for the inaugural
season of the Mayfair Farmers Market. Additional partners in this endeavor are
the Mayfair Civic Association and the Mayfair Business Association to ensure
the participation of local MBA members. The Mayfair Farmers Market will hold a
ribbon-cutting and kick-off celebration on Sunday, April 21, 2013 at the
intersection of Cottman and Frankford Avenue (at Ryan Ave) where a portion of
Ryan Avenue will be closed off for the market days. The MFM will be held twice
a month until it's final scheduled day on Sunday, October 20, 2013. More
information, including a complete list of scheduled dates, the 2013
participating vendors, and musical entertainment can be found at the MFM
Facebook page dedicated to the market under "Mayfair Farmers Market".
"Based on the overwhelming success of the two preview days we
held in September and October of 2012, we decided to go forward with this
farmers market project." states Joe DeFelice, chairman of the Mayfair CDC
and president of the Mayfair Civic Association. “We kept hearing people talk
about all the different farmers markets they go to in the city and in the
suburbs and thought Mayfair should have its own. Why travel to a different part
of the city or a distant suburb when you can have the whole farmers market
experience right here in the Northeast?" Suzann St. Marie-Galliani,
Executive Director of the Mayfair CDC and one of the main Mayfair Farmers
Market organizers explains, "This Mayfair Farmers Market wouldn't be
happening without the assistance of Philadelphia councilman, Bobby Henon and
his staff, including Chris Creelman, Lisa Deeley and Courtney Voss who helped
with city legislation to make the MFM a reality." Added DeFelice, “We are
also ecstatic that Republic Bank, a Mayfair Business Association member and one
of our biggest neighborhood supporters along with Allegheny Iron and Metal, with
whom we recently partnered, to bring more funding to our organization for a ten
year commitment.”
The MFM at the intersection of Cottman and Frankford Ave (on Ryan
Ave.) will be hosting about 15-20 vendor stalls and approximately 3-4 food
truck members of the Philly Mobile Food Association providing a myriad of locally grown,
handmade, and locally sourced goods. "We've got 4 farmers from within a 75
mile radius of Mayfair providing farm-fresh produce, free-range eggs, pastured
chicken, local honey, homemade soap, baked goods and artisan breads and other specialty
foods. I don't think you're going to find anything fresher unless you actually
go to the farm and pick it yourself." states Mia Hylan, another of the MFM
organizers. "It's a tremendous asset not only to Mayfair, but to the
entire Northeast, which only has one or 2 other additional farmers markets at
the present time." In addition to
the regular vendors there will be several members of the Philly Mobile Food
Association providing freshly prepared gourmet fare; sandwiches, cheese curds,
homemade ice cream sandwiches and so much more. "This is a great
opportunity for neighbors to sample different types of food that may not be
available on Frankford Avenue and hopefully become regular customers."
says Hylan. "We're also including pre-approved neighboring businesses,
such as Shop N Bag who are current members of the Mayfair Business Association.
We see this as an incentive to our current MBA members to set up a table and
sell their goods."
“Ultimately, we want the Mayfair Farmers Market to incorporate as
many of our local Mayfair Business Association members to work in conjunction
with outside vendors. This not only highlights many of the great businesses
currently in Mayfair, but perhaps will attract some of these unique businesses
to the Mayfair Business Corridor,” states President of the Mayfair Business
Association and owner of The Grey Lodge Pub, Mike “Scoats” Scotese. DeFelice agrees, “We wanted to offer a
diverse selection of items that may not be widely available on the Avenue
already while being inclusive of local favorites.” Adds St. Marie-Galliani, “We
also want to provide some free entertainment during market days, whether it is
an acoustic band, a string quartet, a face-painter or balloon artist for the
kids. The participation of neighboring businesses, the central location, and
the live music will create a small but festive, street-fair atmosphere that can
only be beneficial to the neighborhood. Whether you're just coming to grab
coffee, a scone, and relax while listening to some live music; it's a great way
to spend a couple hours on a Sunday.”
Additionally, when Randy Wolfe, store manager of the Mayfair
Branch of Republic Bank and MBA member, heard last year of the possibility of a
Farmers Market essentially opening on their doorstep he encouraged Republic
Bank to step in as a corporate sponsor. St. Marie-Galliani stated, “In the past
year Randy and his staff at Republic Bank have been major contributors to
several Mayfair events including the Mayfair-Holmesburg Thanksgiving Parade,
events at the Mayfair Memorial Playground, The Mayfair Fallen Heroes Run and
the Mayfair May Fair. They truly care about this community.” Adds Katie
Michaleski, VP/Marketing Manager for Republic Bank, “Republic
Bank is committed to supporting the communities we serve. We are excited about
the Farmers Market coming to Mayfair and know it will be great addition for our
community”.
Representatives from Allegheny Iron and
Metal will also be hand to discuss their new partnership with the Mayfair CDC
and the Mayfair neighborhood as a whole.
DeFelice credits Vice-Chairman Tom Forkin with being able to pull
Allegheny into the fold by stating, “The City runs a program whereby, if
selected, they can get a company to send $85,000 worth of their Business Income
and Receipts Tax (BIRT), formerly known as Business Privilege Tax, to a City en
lieu of the City; our Vice-Chair had the vision to approach Allegheny Iron with
this opportunity and they graciously accepted. We will provide more details of this
partnership, at the ribbon cutting, which will act as a sparkplug for the
rebirth of the Mayfair CDC.”
DeFelice adds, “We are thrilled to partner with local community
leaders and business owners to open this new market in the heart of Mayfair.
It’s the first time we’ve ever operated a full season of a farmers market and
we know it's an asset to the neighborhood.
We welcome all residents of Philadelphia to join us in Mayfair for the
Mayfair Farmers Market and experience the types of activities and events that
make Mayfair a great place to live, work, and play."
*******************************************************************************************************
Dates of
this year’s markets: April 21, May 5,
May 19, June 2, June 23, July 14, July 28, Aug 11, Aug
25, Sept 8, Sept 22, Oct 6 and Oct 20.
Time: 9am – 1pm
Location: Cottman and
Frankford Aves (at Ryan Ave).
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