If there's any silver lining in Tuesday's washout, it's that spring officially begins in just 12 days. As spring arrives, it brings with it one of Tulsa's most popular weekly events: The Cherry Street Farmers' Market.
While the 2016 season is still more than three weeks away, the Tulsa Farmers' Market administrator, Kris Hutto, is already busy responding to rumors of the Cherry Street market's potential move.
"People have been confused a little bit about where we were going to be and what the future of the market looks like, but we are on track to continue course as we have been for the last few years on Cherry Street," Hutto said.
The reason for the rumors is two-fold: The market sought a permanent indoor space, which ultimately didn't work out, and there is scheduled road work for East 15th Street in midtown.
According to Paul Zachary, City of Tulsa engineering services director, work on Cherry Street is slated for July.
It's a more than $3 million project that is a part of Improve Our Tulsa. Zachary says that with construction slated for areas around it, in addition to Riverside Drive already closed in midtown, the project likely won't begin during this season's market.
Should the work begin at any point during the 2016 market season, Hutto says there's a Plan B.
"Our Plan B, if there is road work, is Christ the King. The church there on Cherry Street is going to open its parking lot to us," Hutto said.
Christ the King is located near East 15th Street and South Quincy Avenue, feet away from where the market currently sits.
It's the same corner patrons can find Farrell Family Bread year after year.
"We probably will sell 500 loaves of bread, 400 loaves of bread out there over the day," said Rick Miller, manager at Farrell Family Bread.
Saturday is a big day for the local maker of breads, pastries, antipastos and dips.
"It's as big as our biggest day in the store here," he said. "There's so many people moving into town that have never heard of us. It's great advertising and outreach for us, too."
The market on Cherry Street opens Saturday, April 2 at 7 a.m.
Hutto says the Brookside market reopens April 20.
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