TheBurg News - Greater Harrisburg's Community Magazine
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/548742
24 | The Burg | 08.15 I f someone showed you a time lapse of the city of Harrisburg—what would you see? e growth of the steel industry; Camp Curtin housing hundreds of thousands of Union soldiers during the Civil War; the 1897 fire at the Capitol; the first Pennsylvania Farm Show; the race riots of 1969; the 1996 collapse of the Walnut Street Bridge; and the addition of Restaurant Row and changes to City Island. During all of these events, the Broad Street Market, founded in 1860 with the stone building opening in 1863, has stood proud. Now, thanks to dedicated community leaders, ambitious business owners and improved market management, the Broad Street Market itself is stirring back to life. WeLCoMINg To ALL When Ashlee Dugan expanded her role from board member to interim marketing manager in 2014, she had a vision of what the market could be. "Coming in, I knew that it was important to diversify the food options that were at the market and to increase the density of products that we have," said Dugan, who, late last month, announced she would leave her role to take a job with the state. "So, the first goal was to fill up all the empty spaces with new and already existing businesses so that the customers would have as many options as possible." Inspired by markets around the state and across the country, she started making a list of what she felt the Broad Street Market needed. Not only did she think of what would be popular items, but she also focused on creating a place that could fill the needs of a customer's Saturday grocery list. en, the outreach and recruiting process began. Now, the market boasts about a dozen new businesses since Jan. 1, with more on the horizon. With the changes, Dugan stressed that she wanted to maintain the market as welcoming to all. "With the diversity of the products, I really have tried to keep in mind the price point options. So, for example, we maintained an expanded produce stand, but also increased organic and local options that tend to be more expensive. All of our produce vendors accept SNAP and EBT cards, so we're hopeful that that range of options and variety of price points are helpful to everyone." A DoughNuT, A DreAM Dugan's focus on the market as a community hub reminded one of the new vendors, Eva Burchfield of Evanilla, of the bazaars in her home country of Iraq. "e bazaar is actually more chaotic," she laughed. "But sometimes, the [Broad Street Market] vendors talk to each other over the stands, and I always think to myself, 'is is like the bazaar.'" Burchield's favorite treat, doughnuts, weren't available in the Iraqi bazaar, so she began to make them at home in her kitchen. Five years ago, she moved to the states and began learning the art of baking and pastry-making. After she completed a program at HACC and did a yearlong internship, she decided it was time to start her own business. BuSINeSS ere's a new vibe in Midtown as vendors pour into the Broad Street Market. By AShLeIgh PoLLArT Market Upswing Popped Culture