French Market to return to downtown Geneva

The Geneva French Market is likely to return this summer, but in a new location.

Geneva is considering signing another five-year lease with the company that runs it, Bensidoun USA. That company is a subsidiary of a company that runs similar markets throughout France.

"It benefits the downtown," said Carolyn Dellutri, the city's downtown development coordinator.

The market runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays from May through October.

Independent vendors sell produce, prepared foods, clothing, art and more.

If a new lease is agreed on, the market will move to a parking lot south of the Union Pacific railroad tracks. It was previously located in a parking lot north of the Metra station, west of Third Street.

That change came about at the request of Shodeen Inc., the developer of a Dodson Place building on the west side of Third at Crescent Place. Shodeen officials worried that the market would interfere with construction, and that once the building is open, it would crowd out parking for tenant stores' shoppers.

The Geneva French Market first opened in 2000, in a lot off North River Lane. It didn't operate for two years while the city and company tried to find a spot with better parking.

It returned in 2003, to the Third Street spot.

In a survey of 4,000 Geneva households, more than 50 percent of the respondents rated the French Market as important as the town's big festivals, such as Swedish Days, in getting them to come downtown.

Shops in the Dodson Place buildings on the east side of Third have decided to be open on Sunday because of the increased foot traffic.

"They're seeing that there are people here," Dellutri said.

She expects to bring a lease to the city council for approval in March.

One change she anticipates making is allowing the Bensidoun workers to set up the tables and tents later on Saturday night. They've been starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, and that has restricted parking in the lots they use. To reduce the number of towed vehicles, the police department is suggesting Bensidoun set up from 9:45 to 11:45 p.m.