Between January and June, foot traffic was up 7.5% compared to the same time period last year. It’s a “pretty significant” increase, Douglas said, adding that vendors are also reporting strong sales numbers.
Part of the uptick in visitors is probably attributable to the new Overlook Walk that opened last fall, Douglas said, but much of it seems to be driven by the new car policy that opened the streets and created a calmer environment for walkers.
“When you walk down the street, there’s a different energy to it,” Douglas said. “It’s really special.”
Feedback from vendors has been mostly positive, she said, but a “very small group” are still having a hard time adjusting. Some have raised concerns that the car ban makes it harder for “generational shoppers” (longtime regular customers) to access the Market.
The Market is taking that feedback seriously, Douglas said, and has already made changes to accommodate vendors’ concerns.
When the pilot launched, the vehicle restriction was in effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. But after hearing that some locals like to do their shopping quickly in the morning, Douglas said the Market decided to move the start time back to 10 a.m. The end of the vehicle restriction was changed from 6 p.m. to 4 p.m. (The hours when cars are restricted will be extended during holidays and other special events.)
“That was one piece of feedback we heard, so we jumped on that right away,” Douglas said. “We really wanted to make sure this is a locals’ market, and we really want to cater to locals.”
Douglas said feedback from visitors has been overwhelmingly supportive. She said she regularly hears people wondering why cars were ever allowed in the first place.