By Laura Katauskas | Staff Reporter
Looking to build upon the idea of a farmer’s market concept, the village of Romeoville is creating a new outdoor marketplace in Uptown Square.
The Romeoville Open Air Market (ROAM) will operate from 11 am to 7 pm every Wednesday during the summer (except July 4) and will debut June 6. The begin date was originally slated for May 23, but was pushed back to allow for more vendors to sign up.
Park and recreation officials say they are excited about the endeavor and are encouraging those interested in becoming a vendor to contact the village.
What is considered Romeoville’s “downtown” area, Uptown Square, will offer the space in front of the Edward Hospital Athletic and Event Center for any kind of vendor to set up shop in an outdoor marketplace similar to that of a farmer’s market.
“Farmers markets have become wildly popular,” pointed out Mayor John Noak, “so we decided to create our own version and open it up to non-food vendors as well.”
Uptown Square already features car shows in the summer and contains the newly constructed buildings housing Fat Ricky’s, Franconi’s Italian Grocer, Romeoville Dental, Subway, Mity Nails, T-Mobile, and BMO Harris Bank.
The summer schedule is expected to allow the community to come out and do a little shopping in the warm weather and offer a unique opportunity for the village.
Applications are now being accepted for vendors, so be sure your favorite business gets their submission in. Applications can be downloaded at romeoville.org. The 10-foot-by-17-foot spaces equate to one parking stall. Electrical access is available.