Published: May 10, 2008 10:06 pm      

Downtown Saturday Market debuts

Chad White brought 180 cupcakes to the Downtown Dalton Market Saturday.

By 1 p.m., the cupcakes were gone.

“We have been pleasantly surprised,” White said of the crowds. “They came very early, even before 10 a.m.”

“I’m very happy about it,” Veronica French, communications and marketing director for the Downtown Dalton Development Authority, said about the turnout. She estimated between 500 and 600 people had attended the market by 1 p.m.

More than 20 vendors sold their wares at Dalton’s inaugural event.

White, whose wife owns Cup a Dee Cakes, sold cupcakes and baked goods.

Hollie Cope of Relive Spa gave massages.

Other vendors sold children’s clothing, jewelry, soaps and other crafts.

What was missing from the market was fruits and vegetables.

“The produce isn’t producing right now,” French said, noting that farmers are planting and not harvesting right now. She said she expects to have local growers later in the year. The Southeast High School Agricultural Department already is scheduled to be at the market, French said.

The market will be every second and fourth Saturday of the month on King Street between Selvidge and Pentz streets through Oct. 25. The market is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.