Main St. stores impacted by Farmers' Mkt.

To the Editor:

Regarding "the killing of Main Street":

Congratulations to the City of Santa Monica and its Department of Economic Development for creating an extremely successful Certified Farmers' Market over the past year on Main Street on Sunday.

Regretfully, the popularity of this weekly event is purely at the expense of the small business owners on Main Street.

With the introduction of an increased number of fast food vendors, non-Main Street merchandise retailers, and entertainment, the congestion of people created by this event has robbed the merchants of Main Street of the convenience parking that is available to its customers.

With the inception of casual food service vendors and non-Main Street retailers, unfair competition has been created that robs Main Street merchants of the opportunity for sales dollars on traditionally the busiest day of the week.

False fear has been created by certain parties, directly pitting the local community against Main Street merchants.

Empathy for the small business merchants on Main Street is the correct energy that should be coming from the community.

If Main Street is to remain a unique small-business-oriented district, it is imperative that its ability to do business as normal on Sunday is respected.

Otherwise, we speculate that unique shop owners will be unable to meet their financial obligations in what is an expensive neighborhood to do business.

At no other farmers' market location in Santa Monica are these casual fast food vendors and retailers allowed to proliferate.

So far, no one from the city has given us a reasonable response as to why this is so.

The Farmers' Market on Sunday is now a destination in itself, serving both the dining and entertainment needs of its visitors.

There is no encouragement to visit or support the small merchants on Main Street.

There are certainly several fine restaurants on Main Street that are not nearly as full as they used to be before this proliferation at the Farmers' Market was created.

And, traditionally, the restaurants on this street have aided the small retailers in attracting customers.

We have tried to resolve this issue since the beginning of the year with the City of Santa Monica Department of Economic Development and through the Main Street Merchants Association and have met with inaction and apathy and no recognition of the economic impact.

We cannot understand why these two organizations have failed to investigate the negative impact of this carnival-like change to the Main Street Farmers' Market on the business district of Main Street.

We would like to see the Farmers' Market return to its original form as "green" market and an available showcase for the merchants of Main Street only.

We do not believe that it is necessary that casual food serv-ice vendors and retailers be allowed to jeopardize the success of those committed to Main Street.

It is the responsibility of the Department of Economic Development to preserve the opportunity for Main Street merchants to be successful in this business district.

And it is the responsibility of the Main Street Merchants Association to protect and fully represent the needs of its merchants within the district.

Too much talk; no action — and with full knowledge that damage has already been done.

Robert Hausenbauer

Teresa Hausenbauer

Ocean Park Omelette Parlor

Santa Monica