Farmers Market in Mechanicsville not what it used to be

[mitzi]

Last summer when I stopped in, it just seemed like a giant Buy My Chit sale.

I believe that, that's why I quit going.

 

[woogie]

When I lived in SOMD the Mechanicsville Farmers' Market used to have nice
produce, homemade pies and cakes and really neat Amish furniture and stuff.

Last time I came through, it was mostly looking like people cleaned out their
sheds and garages and were trying to sell a bunch of old junk. Didn't even clean
stuff off to make it presentable!

I did score some nice old tools, though.

I see where there are plans to do away with it, redevelop the land and relocate
the market elsewhere. Hope that will improve things. The old market is sort of
getting "long in the tooth" and the buildings old and dilapidated. Maybe new
facilities will attract better vendors? It is a nice and historic item for St. Mary's
and SOMD. Would be a shame to see it go away.

 

[SandieGarry]

I remember a Saturday back in the late 90's, all of a sudden, a bunch of vendors started closing up shop. This was before noon. Turns out, an undercover unit went through and figured out who was selling counterfeit stuff. They had come back with uniformed officers to round them up.

 

[woogie]

I remember a Saturday back in the late 90's, all of a sudden, a bunch of vendors started closing up shop. This was before noon. Turns out, an undercover unit went through and figured out who was selling counterfeit stuff. They had come back with uniformed officers to round them up.

Yeah. They used to do that quite a bit. The "gypsys" would set up and sell counterfeit
VHS tapes, CDs and stuff. And every so often the Po-Po would sweep through. But they
were back again the following week as usual.

One time back in the late 80s there was someone there actually passing counterfeit bills!
"The Man" made a couple of appearances and the baddies got rounded up.

 

[LightRoasted]

For your consideration ...

Be nice to have another large dedicated area like the Mile High Flea Market Colorado has. That place is acres and acres of nick-nacks and what-nots and mucho food vendors as well. The place is a venerable destination and a day trip visit in its own right. If you couldn't find what you wanted, you weren't looking hard enough.

 

[NorthBeachPerso]

For your consideration ...

Be nice to have another large dedicated area like the Mile High Flea Market Colorado has. That place is acres and acres of nick-nacks and what-nots and mucho food vendors as well. The place is a venerable destination and a day trip visit in its own right. If you couldn't find what you wanted, you weren't looking hard enough.

People would just bitch because the quality of the goods isn't what they expect at a flea market.

 

[ThatOneNerd]

Yeah. They used to do that quite a bit. The "gypsys" would set up and sell counterfeit
VHS tapes, CDs and stuff. And every so often the Po-Po would sweep through. But they
were back again the following week as usual.

One time back in the late 80s there was someone there actually passing counterfeit bills!
"The Man" made a couple of appearances and the baddies got rounded up.

Yeah they were under the pavilion, next to the strong smelling perfume table
The only strong memory I have of the market is in the mid 90s there was a huge hail storm and everyone piled up in the junk filled sheds to escape


I don't know if the farms will come back in full swing in the summer time

 

[SandieGarry]

I've gotten some good deals there on used tools. Bought an antique Stanley chisel for $3, worth close to $100. Bought an original, aluminum B&D Workmate for $15, guy even carried it to my car, resold it for $75 I think. Also, back in the mid 90's, I was a huge Hotwheels collector. We used to hang out there on Saturday mornings and talk about our finds. I was late one morning and everyone was talking about the 13 cases that were opened at the old Marlow Heights K Mart. Yeah, it was me.

 

[slowlane]

Not trying to be snarky but what produce is going to be local this time of year? As someone who usually went there every Saturday, it hasn't been what it used to be for years. I don't know what it's like now, I haven't gone in years (except for an occasional stop on Wednesdays for produce). The last time (years ago) there was so many people they were running into you, stepping on your feet and the smell of essential oils was sickening. It's still a shame to see it go though.

I'm confused. If you mean the Amish market on Mechanicsville Road, it's fairly new, so you couldnt have been there "years ago" as you say. It's fairly new. If you mean instead the market that's part of the gigantic flea market, then I would call that "Charlotte Hall" more than I would "Mechanicsville".

 

[mitzi]

I'm confused. If you mean the Amish market on Mechanicsville Road, it's fairly new, so you couldnt have been there "years ago" as you say. It's fairly new. If you mean instead the market that's part of the gigantic flea market, then I would call that "Charlotte Hall" more than I would "Mechanicsville".

I never called it the Mechanicsville market or the Amish market.

 

[Monello]

I believe that was the name. I went to the market with my new bride and best man shortly after I married and was dared by my best man to eat a whole hot pepper from a basket a local was trying to sell us. I ate it and turned beet red, ran to the café, and hurriedly ordered a tall glass of milk. It didn't help. Good times, good times.

I bet the next day wasn't any better.

 

[PrchJrkr]

I bet the next day wasn't any better.