The once endangered Century City Farmers Market has been given a new lease on life at its current location until 2016.
What will happen after is still undetermined, according to John Edwards, president of Raw Inspiration, the operators of the farmers market.
Located in the Plaza of the Topa building at 1800 Avenue of the Stars, the Century City Farmers Marker is open year-round on Thursdays from 11 am to 3 pm.
The Century City Farmers Market was endangered at the end of August when Topa warned that it had 60 days to close down operation on the property.
This notice spawned an online petition of impassioned pleas from professionals and residents who have relied on the weekday farmers market to get local and seasonal foods. The petition has garnered 453 signatures with 185 comments at press time.
Adding more fuel to their cause, Councilmember Paul Koretz wrote a letter to Jim Brooks, president of Topa Management Company, Nov. 6 in strong support of the market remaining at its current location, at least until the end of 2015.
“I have been a proud supporter of the Century City Farmer’s Market since taking office in 2009, and I continue to support their mission of providing healthy food to our daily diets,” Koretz wrote. “I understand that Century City is undergoing many changes and the Farmer’s Market has been an integral part of this community for several years and wishes to remain here.”
With approximately 30 vendors, including the near-famous and waiting-in-line-worthy Aloha Chicken, the Century City Farmers Market has enjoyed throngs of desk jockeys at the Topa location every Thursday since 2008. Before that, it was around Constellation Blvd.
Market Co-Manager James Suitonu has seen firsthand the impact the farmers market has given to Century City.
Suitonu, who also works at other famers markets around Los Angeles, said the popularity makes sense, given the area’s dearth of parking, grocery stores, and small businesses.
“What the farmers market gives them is an elevator ride down to the lobby, lunch, vegetables, fruits, and even some pre-packaged stuff,” he said. “For any reason this were to close down, there’s many other farmers markets throughout the city. But I think Century City’s unique with its people that someway or another with Raw Inspiration and the heads of Topa and the surrounding area, they’re going to make it happen.”
