Indoor farmers market with food court opening in Hershey
An indoor farmers market with a food court and fresh foods is joining the attractions in downtown Hershey.
Graystone Fresh Market will open as early as October at the old Hershey Post Office building near Hershey Towne Square along West Chocolate Avenue. Commercial developer RVG Management & Development, based in Wormleysburg, is behind the project.
RVG spokesman Steve Dayton said the market will fill a niche in the vein of other regional markets including the West Shore Farmers Market in Lemoyne, Broad Street Market in Harrisburg and Lancaster Central Market in Lancaster.
“There’s a plethora of markets around but nothing here [in Hershey],” Dayton said. “It’s like a pinpoint that is missed.”
At least two outdoor seasonal markets operate in Hershey, including Market on Chocolate on Saturdays and the Farmers Market in Hershey on Thursdays.
Graystone will fill two floors of the 4-story building, which is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation. The remaining two floors will be dedicated to commercial space. Dayton said a food court will be created on the first floor with an emphasis on prepared foods.
“So we are looking for prepared food vendors, different ethnic flavors whether it be Italian, Greek or Asian. There are 18 stands as designed but we’ll probably end up with 20-22 vendors in that space,” he said.
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The ground floor will be reserved for a traditional farmers market with vendors selling meats and produce to artisan products such as soaps and herbal teas. The market is looking for vendors who locally grow and produce their own foods and items, Dayton said.
RVG purchased the property in October of 2016 for $3.8 million after a failed attempt from the previous owner to develop what was called the Hershey Downtown Center. The project had been stalled for almost three years.
RVG developed the street scape Hershey Towne Square, where more than a half dozen restaurants operate including First Watch, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant and Primanti Bros. A two-story parking garage was also constructed at the site.
The former Post Office was built in about 1936 and previously operated as a slaughterhouse. Dayton said they are preserving the building’s history and visitors will get to see the bones of the building once the project is complete.
“We think we’ve created a tremendous walking environment and we think [the market] is the next step in the evolution,” he said.
Graystone will operate from about 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday through Saturdays.