Beginning Saturday, May 31, shoppers of the QC Farmers Market will find the growing market move to the heart of downtown Rock Island.
The homegrown, food-focused market, which has been operating at the city’s Schwiebert Riverfront Park since 2021, will now be moving to the newly renovated 1800 block of 2nd Avenue on what leaders are calling “festival street.”
The move was given the green light by the Rock Island City Council at its meeting Monday, May 19, which approved a weekly use permit, the Rock Island Downtown Alliance announced in a news release this week.
Fifth Ward Alderman Dylan Parker said the move marks a major milestone for the City’s Rebuild Downtown Rock Island Project and ongoing revitalization efforts.
“This once-in-a-generation investment by the city has revitalized our downtown infrastructure and public spaces, and the arrival of the farmers’ market will inject even more vibrancy and energy into this renewed area,” said Mr. Parker, who doubles as the community representative on the QC Farmers Market Board of Directors. “It’s a fantastic synergy that will bring increased foot traffic, benefiting our local businesses and making the market more accessible.”
The market, whose roster includes some 20 vendors and counting, features an array of products all based within a 50-mile radius of Downtown Rock Island.
The market is slated to run from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday from May 31 to Oct. 25 on the new “festival street.” That stretch of 2nd Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic during the market’s operation.
The street is just a portion of the $8.7 million in infrastructure and street improvements made to the city’s core through Rebuild Downtown Rock Island. The new pedestrian-oriented, event-friendly street now boasts improvements such as curbless 28-foot-wide sidewalks; pop-up bollards for seamless routine road closures; decorative lighting and landscaping; public art; bench seating; and uniform patio areas for adjacent businesses.
“We are thrilled to partner with the City and Downtown Alliance to make this move into Downtown Rock Island, in the beautifully renovated space on 2nd Avenue,” said Ian Forslund, the founder and board chair of the QC Farmer’s Market.
Collectively, the market’s vendors grow and prepare a full gamut of fresh foods, including produce, meat, eggs, dairy, honey, flowers, garden plants, baked goods and more. Many vendors also already supply food for downtown restaurants, including NEST Café and QC Coffee and Pancake House.
Healthy Harvest Urban Farms, a longtime leader in establishing a local sustainable food system, also applauded the market’s move to 2nd Avenue – just two blocks from the organic grocery store and vegan café at 1616 2nd Ave. Owner Chad Summers is pleased to see the progress after working for four years advocating for a “true growers’ market” in Downtown Rock Island. His store plans to sell hot breakfast items at the market.
The Downtown Alliance said that the market’s relocation also is inspiring other downtown businesses to envision new offerings and partnerships.
“Multiple opportunities arise for the farmers, downtown, market visitors and businesses on and close to 2nd Avenue,” said Jon Keim, the owner of Huckleberry’s Great Pizza and Calzones at 223 18th St. “We are looking forward to purchasing from the farmers, creating meals from the locally grown products and growing our business alongside the QC Farmers’ Market.”
Market patrons and visitors to the new location may enjoy additional seating and yard games on the new green lawn right next to the festival street as well as free parking throughout downtown.
Also making its debut this summer will be Second Saturdays on 2nd Avenue. Once a month from June through October, the Downtown Alliance will host the event on 2nd Avenue during market hours, featuring free live music and family-friendly activities.
“This is exactly the type of consistent program and activity we planned for when dreaming up this new shared space for the community,” Jack Cullen, the Downtown Alliance’s executive director, said in the release. “We are eager to offer more reasons for people to explore downtown and all it has to offer on a regular basis, and we hope this partnership with the QC Farmers’ Market motivates people to make us part of their weekend ritual.”
The final pieces of the Rebuild Downtown Project, led by Rock Island-based contractor Valley Construction, include installation of the sidewalk patios outside of five restaurants and reconstruction of the 3rd Avenue and 19th Street intersection, which is expected to be completed in June.
More plans and details for Second Saturdays on 2nd, including the monthly lineup of musicians and family-friendly activities, will be announced soon.
