Changes coming to Redlands Downtown Morning Market

REDLANDS, Calif. — The Redlands City Council voted Tuesday, May 19 to shift the operating hours of the downtown morning market and begin exploring alternative locations and third-party management options for the weekly event.

Why it matters: The discussion centered on concerns from downtown businesses about parking availability, city staffing costs and whether the market still aligns with its original mission of promoting local agriculture.

Details: Under the council’s direction, the market’s hours will shift from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. to 7 a.m.–11 a.m., with parking lot closures limited to no more than one hour before and after the event. City staff said the change will likely take effect in about two weeks to allow vendors time to adjust.

The council also directed staff to solicit proposals for a third-party operator to manage the weekly farmers market beginning in fall 2026.

Mayor Pro Tem Marc Shaw, who requested the item be placed on the agenda, said he wanted to address complaints about parking impacts tied to the market’s current location in the parking lot adjacent to Ed Hales Park.

“That parking lot is tied up basically from early in the morning until about 2:00 in the afternoon,” Shaw said.

Shaw said the city currently has about 24 vendors regularly participating in the market, but none are based in Redlands. Vendors come from communities including Mentone and Highland, with others traveling from farther areas, including Los Angeles County, Shaw noted.

He also raised concerns about city costs associated with operating the market, specifically that recreation staff and employees responsible for setting up and removing protective barricades work overtime each Saturday.

The market costs the city roughly $93,000 annually, with about $70,000 subsidized by the city.

“I think it’s gotten away from its kind of core mission or kind of core idea of really trying to promote local agriculture, local farming, fruits and vegetables,” Mayor Mario Saucedo said.

Still, council members acknowledged the market’s role in bringing visitors downtown and supporting nearby businesses.

Councilmember Denise Davis said she had heard mixed feedback from business owners but noted the market creates activity downtown.

“I think that there’s definitely benefit to keeping it downtown,” Davis said.

Several council members expressed support for turning management over to a third party, including the Redlands Chamber of Commerce, which spoke during public comment.

Patrick Roskam, president of the chamber’s board, said the organization would be interested in submitting a proposal to operate the market, citing other chambers that manage similar events, including Claremont.

Roskam said the chamber would be open to considering both the current site and alternative locations and would aim to bring more local growers and farmers into the event.

Council members also floated possible relocation sites, including city-owned property behind Hatfield Buick between Seventh and Ninth streets, areas near the downtown parking structure and even Industrial Parkway.

City Manager Charles Duggan said staff could return with several viable location options and proposals from interested operators within a few months.

Duggan added that the city’s goal would be to reduce or eliminate staffing demands and potentially generate revenue by leasing city property to an outside operator.

“We provide the piece of property,” Duggan said. “We’re essentially renting it to someone to put on a farmers market and they handle everything else.”

The council ultimately approved the motion unanimously in a 5-0 vote.