Hot peppers from Arlington Crest Farms at the Indoor market at the West Lake Forest Metra station.
Photography by Joel Lerner/JWC Media
LAKE FOREST — After drawing more than 500 people to the North Shore Artisan Food Market November 6 at the Lake Forest west train station, organizers of the event are working with the Lake Forest officials to assure they can continue to operate through May.
Organizers were told a more complicated process with the city than anticipated was necessary during a Lake Forest City Council meeting November 7 at City Hall though City Manager Robert Kiely, Jr. expressed support for what the entrepreneurs are doing.
After Lake Forest resident Brian Martin asked the city to expedite the process during public comment at the meeting, Kiely said the proper paperwork was received November 3 and the city was starting its review process.
“This is a good idea and I like what you are doing,” said Kiely during the meeting about what is essentially an indoor farmer’s market. “There was no license issued. There are issues we have to work out.”
Melissa Norton, one of the organizers, said her group got permission to run a pilot program in February. After its success, they planned to operate the market the first and third Sunday of each month November through May except for January. In January, the second and fourth Sundays were planned.
“We had verbal permission the first time,” said Adam Paronto, another organizer who operated Reprise Coffee Roasters at the station during the week and on Saturdays. “We thought that was all we had to do.”
Since the group was moving from a one or two time event to semimonthly markets for seven months, they were actually seeking a special use, according to Mike Strong, the Lake Forest’s assistant to the city manager.
“This is a whole string of events,” said Strong. “This is a continued use of public space. There is a different level of approval for that kind of program.”
Strong said the city has to take a look to make sure proper insurance is in place for both Lake Forest and the vendors, provisions for collection of sales tax have been made and all legal protections for everyone concerned are resolved. Despite the process, he too said he likes what the organizers are doing.
“We want to support entrepreneurial efforts,” said Strong. “We like what they are trying to do.”
Anna Claire 10, and Aniela Giese, 7 of Lake Forest get help out of their giant balloon animal from their dad, Andrew.
Anna Claire 10, and Aniela Giese, 7 of Lake Forest wear their giant balloon animal.
Though there is a market planned with city approval from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. December 4, Norton and Paronto want to operate on November 20 and December 18 as well. Martin said those dates are critical because of the holiday season.
“I ask the City Council to either encourage and support fast track approval of the corrected permit that is currently in process or to support and approve specifically the use of the space for the aforementioned Sundays—notably November 20 and December 18—under the auspices of the previously acquired permission,” said Martin.
Strong said the city has started the review process but it is too early to tell whether it can be completed to allow the market to operate November 20 or December 18.
The scene at the Indoor market at the West Lake Forest Metra station.
Photography by Joel Lerner/JWC Media
ackie Zureikat of Lake Forest smells some of the Waterfall Glen Soap Company’s product.
River Valley Baby Bella mushrooms
Monika Caleb and Laniel Razdolsky of the Lake Forest Dental Associates enjoy themselves at the Indoor market