Grande Market Place in Pequannock for food, antiques and gatherings
When Heidi Robak first set out to launch a farmers market in the Pequannock area several years ago, she envisioned a market in “grand style.”
As the then-coordinator for the township department of parks and recreation, the Pequannock resident ultimately succeeded in coordinating a market in 2013, but a combination of parking issues and construction activity proved difficult challenges for the fledgling initiative.
So Robak responded by launching a brand new and even bigger game plan this past March — an independent business entity known as The Grande Market Place held on the grounds of Gro-Rite Greenhouse & Garden Center in Pequannock on Saturdays in the fall.
And with its range of food, antiques and crafts vendors, along with live music, local organizations, children’s activities, and more, the market isn’t just a source of fresh produce but a community attraction and gathering place as well.
Gathering place
“I’d always wanted to create a market that included everything — from the sale of fresh, local produce to a place for Girl Scouts to meet, for seniors to hold events, and for local businesses to be able to promote themselves,” said Robak, who has run children’s arts and crafts sessions, “fairy camps,” cooking classes and nature-based events for numerous Morris and Bergen county towns since 2007. “I envisioned a standard farmers market but also a gathering place for the community and an opportunity for people to come together and network.”
Currently held under a series of tents in the Gro-Rite parking lot, the Grande Market Place now features more than a dozen food vendors, from Gro-Rite’s own local produce to gluten-free baked goods from Meredith Bakery in upstate New York, hummus and prepackaged meals from Silver Birch Kitchens in Long Valley and homemade dog biscuits from Furry Babies.
Other vendors include The Empanada Lady, Verona-based Live Love Granola, Corbett’s Cookie Bar Kitchen, Picklelicious, Bloomingdale-based Bubala’s Gourmet Spreads, Springhouse Creamery, Jersey Fresh Peach Cider and Fonterosa’s Italian Gourmet.
In addition to food, “each week we have a different theme,” Robak said of the other activities offered. “We recently hosted a rummage sale and featured a variety of antique dealers, with proceeds going to the local ‘Adopt’ animal shelter, and we celebrated the theme of ‘School Spirit’ over Labor Day weekend and welcomed local Home & School Associations to promote their merchandise and events.”
“Once a month we have a special Crafter’s Weekend with up to several dozen handcrafters of everything from candles and wine taps to birdhouses and clothing,” she said. “We also offer petting zoos and other kid’s activities and host Senior Day events, local business meetings, and Boy and Girl Scout troop meetings; we offer them all free space to encourage them to get together on our premises.”
“This is about community,” Robak explained of her approach to the market, which offers more than other food-focused weekend markets around the state..
“In today’s busy, fast-paced society, there’s less social interaction and people are losing those skills; there’s a lack of communication as well as space. But I love seeing kids playing and people of all ages coming together,” she said. “My mother works at this market with me, and my daughter helps out selling dog biscuits and produce, too. We want everyone to be involved.”
A great fit
Robyn Samra, owner of the 23-year-old Picklelicious, a Teaneck-based, family-owned company known for its tasty range of pickles, olives and olive spreads, hummus, sun-dried tomatoes and marinated mushrooms, is among the many vendors who are participating in this new venture.
“We started with Heidi at the Pequannock farmers market two years ago and moved with her to the Gro-Rite location this year,” Samra said. “It’s a farmers market but also a great place for kids and different groups to congregate.”
“We feel that Picklelicious is a great fit there, because people really want fresh and sustainable produce, specialty items and unique on-the-spot prepared goods made in small batches,” said Samra. “The Grande Market Place has a homey feeling that’s all about personal relationships and we look forward to seeing this market continue to grow and succeed.”
The team from the 42-year-old Gro-Rite Greenhouse & Garden Center, which hosts the outdoor market in a quarter-acre section of its front parking lot, wholeheartedly agrees.
“As a family-owned business since 1973, we thought it would be new and exciting to offer The Grande Market Place on our property,” said Gro-Rite president Dan Vande Vrede. “It attracts people of all ages based on the different vendors and events going on and also brings more people to our garden center, so we saw it as a great fit. We hope to see the market continue to add vendors and gain momentum.”
Robak said The Gro-Rite family has been wonderful to work with — “graciously allowing us to use their greenhouses from October to December so that we can hold the market indoors in the colder months.
“We hope to see the market grow, too, because it has everything I love — food, antiques, crafters, music and people.”
With free admission and a variety of upcoming special events — including a food pantry drive in November and a “shop and drop” coat and toy drive on Dec. 5 with New Jersey Cares for the benefit of township families — “it’s about spreading the word and making connections,” Robak said. “I love to see people buying and selling, meeting each other and enjoying themselves.”
Do you have a favorite market in Morris County? Email EAbreu@GannettNJ.com
If You Go
The Grande Market Place
Where:
On the grounds of Gro-Rite Garden Center at 30 Hillview Road, Pequannock
Phone:
973-907-2662
Web:
Hours:
10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturdays; to Dec. 19 (reopens in June 2016).
Market held indoors Oct. 15 to Dec. 19.
Admission: Free