KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – While the Winter Market at the Kalamazoo Farmers Market will continue with its current management through April 25, Gamsho Group, LLC, the owners of the Park Street Market and Midtown Fresh Market grocery stores, will take over after that for the next three years.
They are replacing the People’s Food Co-Op, which has operated the Farmers Market for the past 13 years.
The two were the only bidders on the management contract Request for Proposal last month, with the City of Kalamazoo’s Parks and Recreation Department selecting Gamsho. The Farmers Market is located on Bank Street in the Edison Neighborhood.
The contract would pay 15% of gross revenue annually to the city.
In a Facebook post, officials with People’s Food Co-Op earlier this week said, “Congratulations are in order as we wish Gamsho Group all the best as they take on this role as stewards of one of Kalamazoo’s most important facilities. The Kalamazoo Farmers market has never just been a job or a contract to us—it has been a labor of love, a place we’ve poured our energy, passion, and care into every single week for over a decade. We’ve built relationships with farmers who trusted us with their livelihoods, vendors who grew their businesses alongside the market, and customers who became familiar faces, friends, and part of our extended community.”
PFC has had internal turmoil recently, with the board of directors firing its general manager in January and appointing a board member to be interim general manager. A number of employees reportedly were fired or quit, and multiple board members have resigned. An outside firm has been brought in to review its finances and operations.
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