ABOVE: Fairmont Farmer’s Market Coordinator Doug Abel (right) talks to his wife Joan Abel and Vendors Diane Wolff and Rachel Tenney (L-R) about Bomgaars as an option during their walkthrough Saturday. The members of the Farmer’s Market took a vote, and chose the Bomgaars parking lot over Live Fit’s as the next home of the market.

FAIRMONT – To decide where to set up shop this summer, Fairmont Farmers’ Market vendors visited both Bomgaars and Live Fit on Saturday morning to compare and contrast before making a decision.

Vendor Doug Abel, who worked on the process, said the market had been in the Five Lakes Centre mall parking lot as far back as he can remember.

“It changed owners, and the new owner has decided not to let the farmers market back in,” he said. “We were kind of forced to pick a different place.”

Initially, Abel said he was disappointed to hear of this final decision.

“For the very fact it was established,” he said. “People knew where to go, and now we all have to get the message out, so they know where to find us. It’s disappointing, but at the same time, life goes on, you have to deal with whatever throws you anyway.”

He and Vendor Bob VonHoldt then started reaching out to other prospective locations, and both Bomgaars and Live Fit were receptive to the farmers market moving to their parking lot.

“Get everybody together, see what we’ve got, make up our mind where we want to be,” Abel said.

They did so Saturday morning, starting at Bomgaars. VonHoldt said neither location would charge them any rent, they could go out to near where the access road is, and the farmers’ market could place their signs all along the boulevard.

“Long and short, we know we can make it work,” Abel said. “I just want to make sure everybody gets a view of both places and what we have, so that we’re gonna discuss it and bring it to a vote.”

At the Live Fit parking lot, Abel said they had some open opportunities if they used the far back area of the parking lot.

“It would be nice for everybody if they could have some parking on this side, some parking on that side and some parking on this side,” he said. “It would give everybody a place to park wherever they wanted.”

Bathrooms were a topic of discussion for both places. VonHolt said he would discuss this with the management of Bomgaars and Tractor Supply to see if either of them were okay with vendors coming in to use their restrooms. The vendors knew prior to the tours that they would not be able to use bathrooms in Live Fit, so they’d have to go across the parking lot to Tractor Supply.

A cold and rainy day kept the group’s tours brief. Abel said they both were viable options with all the necessities.

“They both have an access road next to them,” he said. “Both have nice, big parking lots. They’re both next to the main road, Highway 15. I’m okay with either place. Whatever the group as a unit wants, that’s what we’ll go with.”

After further discussion among members, a vote was taken and Bomgaars won out as the new location. Abel confirmed Monday that Bomgaars will allow the vendors to use their restrooms during the farmers market. Overall, he said it was a tight decision that could’ve gone either way.

They will set up in the southwest corner of the parking lot. Throughout the tours of both locations, Abel said they would be able to hammer out more details when a location was decided on. Now, they will be able to do so.

Through this process, Abel said they learned there was still plenty of enthusiasm for keeping the farmers market in Fairmont.

“[People were] very receptive,” he said. “The two main places we contacted were very positive about us coming in.”

The Fairmont Farmers Market will open Saturday, June 13, time TBD. Their Tuesday version will start Tuesday, July 7, time TBD. For more information, visit facebook.com/fairmontMNfarmersmarket/.