The Freret Market’s self-proclaimed mission is to act as “a place for neighbors to meet, a place to relax and find a unique item, and an important part of the renaissance on Freret Street” (The Freret Market. http://freretmarket.org/index.php)
A few of the tents in the Market. Photo by Infrogmation of New Orleans via Flickr, used with permission under the Creative Commons.
History and Development
The Freret Market was started in September 2007. The idea of the Freret Market came from the people of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit the city. The whole community was in need. The city of New Orleans provided a $10,000 loan to help with start-up costs of the Freret outdoor market. It was mainly opened to try and recreate the Freret Business corridor by bringing the community of New Orleans together (The Time Picayune. http://www.nola.com/timespic/stories/index.ssf?/base/news4/1189234703248700.xml&coll=1). The Freret Market does this by playing live music, setting up booths, selling art, and encouraging the people of New Orleans to go and meet new people (Freret Market).
Activities and Programs
A band performs for the Market’s crowd. Photo by Infrogmation of New Orleans via Flickr, used with permission under the Creative Commons.
The Freret Market is open the first Saturday of every month except July and August. It is located at intersection of Freret Street and Napoleon Avenue (New Orleans Online. http://www.neworleansonline.com/directory/location.php?locationID=2311). It is open form 12am-5pm. Each time vendors are allowed to sign up and set up a 10×10 booth with the products of their choice available to the public. The market plays live music, and anyone is welcome. The market is split into three categories: food, art, and flea (Freret Market). There are 90 vendors each market. Pet adoptions are available (Nola.com.http://www.nola.com/pets/index.ssf/2009/10/take_home_a_new_pup_from_the_f.html). The music played through out the day is from local bands. Each band has a certain amount of time on stage before the next band replaces them. Cash is not a necessity at Freret Market. Currency consists of poker chips that can be exchanged for items at the market. Another activity the Freret Market has to offer is the festival and block party every April with live music (Nola.com. “Nola Traditions on Freret Street”. http://www.nola.com/nolavie/index.ssf/2012/04/nola_traditions_freret_street.html).
Economic and Cultural Impact
The Freret Market is a place where members of the community can come together and share unique items. There are 90 vendors each selling different items (The Freret Market). The economic impact of this organization is keeping money within the city. Each vendor is helping other vendors be successful so it is possible for the Freret Market to keep producing products and get products in exchange. There is live music, which allows the atmosphere in the city to be alive (Nola.com. “Free Concerts Enrich Life”. http://www.nola.com/nolavie/index.ssf/2012/01/free_concerts_enrich_life_for.html). There is food which is now called the “dining hot spot”. (Nola.com. Dining. http://www.nola.com/dining/index.ssf/2011/11/new_orleans_restaurants_have_t.html). Bringing in food makes the market more enjoyable and gives it a splash of culture. The Freret Market draws in an array of cultures and ethnicities. The main goal culturally of this non-profit organization is to reconnect the community and help rebuild the city of New Orleans after the damage of Katrina.
Similar Organizations
1. Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans (http://www.cacno.org/about.html)
2. LA SPCA (http://la-spca.org)
3. OCH Art Market (http://www.ochartmarket.com)
