By SAMANTHA SARACINO
6 News Reporter
FARRAGUT (WATE) - The Turkey Creek Public Market was booming when it opened in August, but traffic seems to be slowing.
"The successful vendors are growing and the unsuccessful vendors are leaving. So we've probably thinned out from opening, which is probably pretty normal," said John Turley, a partner at the market.
But some vendors think otherwise. Cynthia Tipton had a booth with her sister and friend since September, but recently pulled out due to lack of sales.
"I don't think we ever had a busy day. There were some days that were more busy than others. We broke even usually, but we weren't really getting anywhere with it," Tipton explained.
She says she was expecting a high-end market with a focused clientele, not a flea market.
"I expected it to be a little more higher-end, maybe a little more handmade. There are several booths out there that have handmade items. They make beautiful products, but I don't think the advertising is reaching that crowd," Tipton said.
She isn't the only vendor backing out. Cities Cupcake Boutique also left.
"We've had to close our Turkey Creek Public Market location. Sorry we will miss all you loyal fans from that side of town. We had hoped that the market would be able to pull in more business than it did. See you at the bakery," the cupcake boutique said in its newsletter.
But while some are moving out of the market, others are moving in to give it a try.
"I thought it would be a good place to open up a gallery. I have a store right across the street, so it's handy, too," Dayton Hanford said.
As vendors come and go, only time will tell what the public market will become and if it will turn into the success people were hoping it would be.
The Turkey Creek Public Market is open year round on Friday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It's also open Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The public market was booming when it first opened, but traffic seems to be slowing.
