Bring your empty stomach to Grayslake

Paella, pizza and barbecue will be among the new offerings when the summer Grayslake farmers market returns next week.

Billed as Lake County's biggest and oldest evening market, the event is staged on Center and Slusser streets in downtown Grayslake west of Route 83. It will run 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays from June 11 through Oct. 1.

Market Vice President Wendy Petera said the event has expanded to about 50 vendors offering fresh vegetables, fruit, cheese, meats and baked goods.

Petera said organizers will try to tempt an average of nearly 1,000 weekly visitors to have their dinner at the market through the addition of restaurateurs offering pizza, paella and barbecue. Visitors will be able to nosh at picnic tables set up around the market.

"We find a lot of people come to the market and want to make an event of it," Petera said.

Some controversy about the market arose in January, when a few downtown business owners voiced concern that closing Center Street to accommodate the event costs them customers. The owners said they support the market, but hoped another parking configuration could be found.

Suzanne Rotman, owner of Sweet Susie's eatery on Center Street, said she'll "go with the flow" and hope for the best this year. She added she intends to create offerings to help Sweet Susie's stand out from the food vendors that participate in the farmers market.

"Farmers market or no farmers market, everybody's just trying to survive down here," Rotman said.

Petera said the summer market is a regional attraction drawing visitor from well beyond Grayslake. She said market representatives will seek ZIP codes from patrons in an effort to track their business.

Grayslake's farmers market began about 15 years ago. It has jumped from roughly 30 vendors in 2006 to 50 this year.

Petera said the event is meant to increase visibility of downtown Grayslake.