By HAYLEY HARMON
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - A West Knox County market that opened a year ago with much promotion and expectation will close next weekend.
Virginia Adams, a spokesperson for developer John Turley, told 6 News Turkey Creek Public Market will officially close July 29.
Vendors said they were notified of the closure after they arrived Sunday morning. They were given a letter stating all booths must be empty and cleaned out by August 5.
The West Knox County market, which opened in August 2011, boasted a variety of vendors, "mostly from East Tennessee small businesses," according to their website.
Turkey Creek Public Market is housed in a 160,000-square foot facility with room for 600 different vendors offering a variety of products and services, as well as four restaurants.
Developers hoped to attract a million visitors in the public market's first year.
Vendors began to withdraw from the site in late 2011 when shopper traffic did not meet expectations.
When it first opened, the developer promoted the location as a high-end market with a focused clientele, not a flea market.
Later, as the mix of vendors shifted and traffic dwindled, promotion was changed to claim Turkey Creek Public Market was the state's largest flea market.
Turkey Creek Public Market will close July 29.
