Lebanon City Council receives farmers market update ahead of voting meeting

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

The Lebanon Farmers Market’s new owner attended the Lebanon City Council’s Sept. 18 pre-council meeting to provide updates about the market.

The pre-council meeting is non-voting and happens before the monthly regular voting meeting.

Jared Mizrahi, owner of the PCI Auction Group in Manheim, bought the 33,000-square-foot property at 35 S. 8th St., Lebanon, at a Dec. 30 auction for $1.35 million. Since the purchase, customers have seen several vendors shutter their stands and others join the marketplace.

The market has also tried new ideas to get people through the doors, such as junior market days for young entrepreneurs and guest vendors as a low-commitment option for businesses.

Mizrahi told LebTown in January that he didn’t want to change the formula, and that the building would remain a market. Over nine months later, he said that it is still the case.

“I have heard so many wonderful things about what the market’s been in the past, and I’m trying my damnedest to get it back to where it was and really to use it as a community hub to revitalize it and make it as awesome as I heard that it once was,” Mizrahi told council. “In terms of the vendors, we have had turnover, and I think it’s been pretty positive because we are heading into the direction of really getting a lot of different food options, as well as a lot of handcrafted goods — trying to keep it away from being a flea market, we really want it to be a farmers market sort of vibe.”

He said he’s hired for new positions within the market, including a market manager, event coordinators, and cleaners for the market’s open hours.

One criticism of the market has been claims of uncleanliness. Mizrahi admitted cleanliness used to be an issue, but they have addressed it, “and will continue to do so.”

Kathi Wolff, new director of market events, also attended the meeting and said she was a big fan of the market even before she was hired. She said she’s working to make the Lebanon Farmers Market more of a community space with special events that can help bring people together.

“We want to make it a place where they come, where everybody knows each other, where they can find the things they’re looking for that aren’t for sale, like companionship,” Wolff said.

Events they’re considering include a book club, classes, and live music. She said they’d also like to support local school districts and nonprofits.

Mizrahi said the Lebanon Farmers Market is still looking for a permanent restaurant to move into the space.

“I really want it to be someone that is a seasoned restaurateur because I want them to stay, and I want them to really lock in with me, so I’m not just picking the first hand that’s raised,” he said. “I really want it to be a great thing for the community, for sure.”

In other business, council: 

• Reviewed an upcoming resolution that will be considered at tonight’s meeting that would approve the rules and regulations of the Police Civil Service Commission for the Bureau of Police. It would revise some of the physical agility requirements and make the passing score for the written exam 75% rather than the currently required 80%. Mayor Sherry Capello said this is better aligned with Lebanon’s sister cities and would allow the department to get more possible applicants when hiring.
• Covered 12 ordinances that are up for introduction. Most have small changes to bring existing legislation up to date. An ordinance on specialty tobacco and e-cigarette establishments and hookah establishments would ban minors from entering the stores, if approved, with fines for businesses allowing the minors inside.

Lebanon City Council’s next regular monthly meeting will be tonight at 6:30 p.m.

Pre-council and regular monthly meetings are open to the public and held in the City Hall multi-purpose room, 735 Cumberland St., first floor, Lebanon. Meetings are also streamed live on the Lebanon PA City Council YouTube page.