STEUBENVILLE - After 55 years running a furniture and appliance store, Jerry Barilla still believes in one key rule.
"It is an old rule but still a good one. The customer is always right," Barilla said as he surveyed the weekly Steubenville Farmers' Market on South Third Street.
So Barilla, president of the Steubenville Revitalization Group, continued to listen to the customers who were stopping by the weekly market in front of City Hall.
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MOVING THE MARKET — Paul Russell of Russell’s Produce of Wellsville, left, listens to Jerry Barilla of the Steubenville Revitalization Group explain why the Steubenville Farmers’ Market is moving next week to the former Grant School site. -- Dave Gossett
He also listened to the vendors who set up shop in the street.
And Barilla met with City Manager Cathy Davison and decided to move the weekly market back to the former Grant School site on South Third Street.
"The first week was slow but we saw some improvement the next two weeks. I have been out here every week just asking customers what they thought about this location, and the majority of people I talked to said they liked the Grant School site. We have listened to our customers and will move back to that location on Thursday morning," Barilla said.
"It's good to listen to our customers. We are here to accommodate the people who come to the farmers' market," said Barilla.
"We will take a closer look next year at our options. We may conduct a survey during the winter months. But first and foremost we want to be responsive to the public," Barilla stated.
"So the farmers' market will open at 8 a.m. Thursday on South Fourth Street. Parking will be available near the market. And I encourage everyone to visit the market and support our vendors," Barilla said.
Paul Russell of Russell's Produce in Wellsville said he is happy to return to the former Grant School site.
"I told Jerry I was willing to stay at the current site. But I prefer the Grant School site. And I would say 90 percent of our customers like the Grant School site because of the available parking. So we will be there Thursday and every week throughout the summer," Russell remarked.
