The Local Cup is one of those lovely additions to a neighborhood that really helps define a culture and sense of place. It’s a pay-it-forward coffee shop, run by volunteers, that has really grown into a mainstay for the community it sits in. Given it’s rising popularity, and the 100 Ideas Project mantra of supporting existing capacity of communities, it raises the question of how build around this entity.
One idea is by supplementing the offering of the Local Cup with a pop-up farmers market. While a traditional farmers market model may not work, given the space constraints (limited available area with parking lot), a pop-up option would fit the existing way the space is managed and can introduce a new amenity to the neighborhood ecosystem.
Locally the Urban Garden Farmer’s Market is a great example of how this combats food deserts.
Some examples of pop-up farmers markets include:
- Alexander’s Highland Market
- TOMS in Venice California
- Community Food Works
- Chicago’s temporary version supported by Mercy Housing Lakefront
