New Wednesday night community farmers market set to open in downtown Youngstown
One of the founders of the Austintown Farmers Market is bringing her experience to start a new weekly summer growers’ and makers’ market to Penguin City Brewery in downtown Youngstown.
Bringing fresh produce to downtown Youngstown on Wednesdays
The East End Market is happening every Wednesday evening throughout the summer, providing a midweek destination for supporting small businesses and connecting with neighbors.
The new market starts June 18 at 5 - 7 p.m. at 460 E. Federal Street, according to organizer Shannon Lehn.
Interested vendors can fill out the application form online and follow the East End Market at Penguin City on Facebook for updates.
As a volunteer and Austintown resident, Lehn started the ongoing community farmers market in Austintown back in 2013.
“I just love the farmers market,” she said. “I went to the Austintown Trustees who saw it as such a community event and such a benefit that they were able to find funds to put me on salary, which was wonderful.”
Lehn was also co-founder and chairperson of the Mahoning Valley Irish Festival, which started in 2022 hosted at Penguin City Brewery in Youngstown.
“When we were looking to do the Irish festival, there was a bit of a problem with the financing where we were promised money that did not come,” Lehn said. “I made some phone calls; the wonderful Jack Kravitz had recommended Penguin City who’d had one event prior to us. We were the first major event that they did.”
She’s no longer affiliated with the Irish Festival, but it connected Lehn with Aspasia Lyras-Bernacki and Richie Bernacki, co-owners of Penguin City.
“This past year, I saw Aspasia at Penguin City for St. Patty’s Day, because obviously I’m Irish,” Lehn said. “I told her, ‘Let me know if there’s ever anything I can do to help you guys.’”
Lehn said Lyras-Bernacki pitched the idea for a community farmer’s market to Penguin City.
“I want to have a robust market. We’re gonna play it by ear, because when I did Austintown, it was a huge community event,” she said. “We had kids crafts, cooking demos and free yoga, all of that. But that was in a park setting, and this is going to be in a parking lot, so I want to really kind of feel it out, at least for our first year. Grow it organically to see what the community needs are.”
The new farmers market will be a separate event from the brewery’s current Thursday night markets, according to Lehn.
“We will have some artisans there,” she said. “It’s just gonna be a great time to come eat and get your produce. We’re not in competition with any other market. We want everyone to be able to be collaborative and work together.”
Lehn said she’s still looking for vendors to apply, as well as sponsorship, entertainment, community engagement opportunities and will connect with any organization that wants to be involved at the first market.
“It’s all about community, coming out and enjoying the spirit of downtown,” she said. “I love people that I’ve worked with. I love our community, and I just want to do whatever I can to benefit our community.”
