Mike Strong, owner of Smokin Mike’s Sauce Co., shows a bottle of Sweet Carolina BBQ sauce Sunday, May 4, during opening weekend of the outside season for the Freight House Farmers Market in downtown Davenport. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
People in the Quad Cities love cinnamon rolls and cookies. And Rose Hagmeier couldn’t be happier. The owner of Rose Creations Bakery, in Silvis, sold hundreds of baked goodies at her table during the opening weekend of the Freight House Farmers Market’s outdoor season. “It was an impressive weekend. I had my strongest opening day, […]
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People in the Quad Cities love cinnamon rolls and cookies. And Rose Hagmeier couldn't be happier.The owner of Rose Creations Bakery, in Silvis, sold hundreds of baked goodies at her table during the opening weekend of the Freight House Farmers Market’s outdoor season.“It was an impressive weekend. I had my strongest opening day, for me, ever,” Ms. Hagmeier said about the Freight House event near the riverfront in downtown Davenport.
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Rose Hagmeier, owner of Rose Creations Bakery, holds a package of cinnamon rolls for sale at her table Sunday, May 4, during the outside season’s opening at the Freight House Farmers Market in downtown Davenport. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Angela Dilley holds one of the works of art in wood featured at her Dilley’s Woodcraft vendor booth Sunday, May 4, as the Freight House Farmers Market in downtown Davenport opens its outside season. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Shoppers look over some of the many items for sale during the opening weekend of outside season for the Freight House Farmers Market in downtown Davenport. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
A Sweet and Savory Crepes and More worker prepares a crepe Sunday, May 4, during what was outside season’s opening weekend at the Freight House Farmers Market in downtown Davenport. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Shoppers look over some of the many items for sale during the opening weekend of outside season for the Freight House Farmers Market in downtown Davenport. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Shoppers look over some of the many items for sale during the opening weekend of outside season for the Freight House Farmers Market in downtown Davenport. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Shoppers look over the Rose Creations Bakery table during the opening weekend of outside season for the Freight House Farmers Market in downtown Davenport. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
It was so strong that she sold all of her cinnamon rolls – nearly 150 boxes – in the opening hour Saturday, May 3. She went home Saturday night and baked more until 2 a.m. on Sunday so she would have a fresh inventory of rolls for the outdoor market’s second day. And Sunday was the same story – she quickly sold out of cinnamon rolls again. This time, selling almost 50 boxes of rolls.“I go to a lot of markets. The Freight House is my go-to market,” Ms. Hagmeier said on Sunday.Rose Creations Bakery was one of the dozens of vendor tables set up at the outdoor Freight House Farmers Market over the weekend. In addition to cinnamon rolls, the crowd of thousands of shoppers was in the mood for coffee and energy drinks, hot sauces, crepes, burgers from food trucks, loads of plants, jewelry, works of art carved in wood, pet bandanas, pet food and much more.“We are absolutely blown away by the response to (the) opening weekend of the outdoor market! Thank you to everyone who came down to support our vendors, live musicians, and our vibrant community,” market officials posted on the Freight House Facebook page.During the outdoor season, the market will be open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (until 2 p.m. indoors) and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.That outdoor market attracted thousands of people during opening day Saturday. Sunday also was a strong day. The market was crowded already with shoppers before 11 a.m. and many were in the mood for a breakfast of crepes. They found what they were looking for at the Sweet and Savory Crepes and More table. Those working at Sweet and Savory said they had trouble keeping up with demand during the weekend.“It was so busy here on Saturday, we couldn’t keep up. … Today, we’re just getting started, but it’s already a busy Sunday for us,” said Olga Jennings, one of the owners.Not too far away, Mike Strong was busy selling a variety of hot sauces to shoppers at his Smokin Mike’s Sauce Co. table. That table featured the company logo of a skull with red peppers positioned in a cross bones design. It also had many of Smokin Mike’s top products, such as Sweet Carolina BBQ sauce, Tart N’ Tangy BBQ sauce and many other products.“It’s been a very strong day. … We’re selling lots of barbeque sauce,” said Mr. Strong of Bettendorf.But the weekend market was more than hot sauces, crepes and cinnamon rolls. People were also shopping for hanging plants, jewelry, toys and food for their pets, and works of art.They found those works of art in wood at the Dilley’s Woodcraft table. The couple, David and Angela Dilley, of Fulton, Illinois, featured art, such as engraved boards, at their table.“This has been great. It’s been so busy. We’re seen a lot of old faces and new faces here today,” said Ms. Dilley.She added that some of the best-selling items during the weekend show included wooden boards with military emblems, and the painted boards that featured birds and other wildlife. Some of the other art included images of eagles, gold fish, flags, wolves, flowers and soldiers.In addition to buying artwork, Sunday shoppers also were in the mood to buy treats for their pets. The Joey’s Famous Dog Treats vendor table had what they were looking for with Peanut Butter Bacon Biscuits, Cheddar Cheese and Bacon Biscuits, Snickerdoodle Biscuits and much more.Melissa Morrissey of Muscatine, Iowa, was one of the shoppers at Joey’s. She said she enjoyed her day of visiting the many tables and buying lots of goodies.“I was just buying cookies from Rose (Creations Bakery) and now I’m here buying some dog treats for my dog. … It’s been a good day here,” said Ms. Morrissey.
