ARTS & LIFE Supporting STL’s Local Artists at Tower Grove Farmers Market

GABBY CHIODO Managing Editor

On April 8, local St. Louisans flocked to Tower Grove Park and attended the highly anticipated opening day of Tower Grove Farmers Market. One of the largest in the STL region, Tower Grove Farmers Market is home to sweet treats, unique art and fresh produce.

The market was founded 17 years ago after Partick Horine and his wife Jennifer Ryan moved from San Francisco to the Tower Grove area. Since then, it’s grown tremendously from 500 weekly visitors to over 4,500. The market seeks to help farmers and artisans market their products and boost the local economy

Additionally, Horine and Ryan have taken steps to ensure that local products are available and accessible to all. They began offering government food subsidies, known as EBT, and accepting matching EBT amounts several seasons ago.

Not only is this community the perfect place for consumers of different backgrounds to shop locally, but it holds a special place in the hearts of its over 130 vendors. Victoria Sheldon, owner and creator of Relish Herbal Care, has been selling her handmade beeswax candles, self care products, and other provisions for the past three years at the market. t.

“I do both the Tuesday and Saturday markets and it’s just such an amazing community,” Sheldon said.

The Tower Grove Farmers Market offers many artists and creators the opportunity to transition from simply creating their work to selling it as well. Many STL favorites got their start at the market, including Kakao Chocolate, Urban Buds & City Grown Flowers and Three Rivers Community Farm. Sheldon got her start here and credits much of her success to the space the market has given her.

“Honestly, it was the first market that I did and it’s been great ever since,” Sheldon said.

The market is a great place for SLU students to see cute puppies, grab a bite to eat and purchase the perfect apartment plant.

Outside of this, it offers the opportunity to leave the campus atmosphere and immerse oneself in STL culture.

Makenzie Bauer, a junior studying Medical Science at SLU, frequents the market and took her parents this past weekend to show them all it had to offer. As an incoming freshman during COVID, the market offered a chance for Bauer to bond with other students at a safe distance.

“I started going to Tower Grove as a safe activity to do outside during COVID. It felt good to be around people at a distance while supporting local businesses after the pandemic,” Bauer said.

Bauer also echoes the sentiment that the market also allows students to branch outside of their campus comfort zone and connect with the city SLU occupies.

“As a SLU student, it can be really easy to stay in the bubble around campus. Going to the Tower Grove Farmers Market makes me feel connected to the Saint Louis community beyond campus,” Bauer said.

The market is located in the heart of Tower Grove Park at 4256 Magnolia Ave from 8:00 am - 12:30. While Saturday markets are the most popular, there are also offshoot markets at The Boulevard in Richmond Heights on Sundays, Francis Park on Thursday nights and a “sip and shop” style night market at Tower Grove on Tuesdays throughout the summer. From food trucks to a dropin yoga class, there is truly something for all SLU students to enjoy as they learn and support the local STL economy.