Locally Grown: The Beginnings of Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market

Ever wonder how Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market became the world famous market that it is today?  Many people don’t know, but there’s an interesting piece of local history regarding the origins of the Market as we know it today.
It started in the late 1970s, when downtown businesses began staying open past 5PM on Thursdays.  Since most businesses usually closed right as people were finishing their shifts, Thursday nights provided a great opportunity for SLO residents to run errands after work.  Needless to say, people loved it.  In a few short years, downtown SLO became so popular that people drove from all over the county to shop, eat, and socialize every Thursday night.
The popularity of Thursday nights developed another tradition within the younger generations—cruising.  Teens began driving down Higuera Street (the “main drag”), to show off cars, race, and see their friends.  And instead of the familiar hustle and bustle of local shoppers, Thursday nights became more focused on cars than stores.  Unfortunately for Downtown business owners, this new energy deterred many people from coming to shop.
Looking for solutions to bring the shoppers back, the merchants sought help from the SLO Downtown Association.  The SLO Downtown Association decided to barricade six blocks of Higuera Street (from Osos to Nipomo) on Thursday nights so people could still shop late without all the cars. Now, the trick was getting people to come back on Thursday nights.
To entice local residence to return, SLO Downtown Association began hosting special activities and entertainment on Higuera Street.  The Downtown restaurants soon began firing up barbecues and popping-up tents to showcase their menu items and sell food.
“I believe it was McClintock’s that rolled out the first BBQ when the street seemed too quiet shortly after it was barricaded in 1983 to deter cruising. Higuera Street is truly this community’s ‘living room’ and Thursday night has become our way of sharing it with family, friends and visitors.”
Pierre Rademaker, Owner, Rademaker Design
In the summer of 1983, the first farmers were invited to sell their produce and other farm-fresh goods at the event, and so began the Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market.  As Downtown businesses noticed the promotional opportunity it provided, more and more of them began participating in the Market.  To kick-off the event each night a whistle was blown to signal to vendors and market-goers that The Market had begun.  In the month of July we will be honoring this tradition by blowing the whistle to start and end The Market each night.
Over the years, Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market has grown to include participants from businesses beyond Downtown, a bike valet hosted by SLO County Bicycle Coalition, multiple entertainment locations, family friendly activities, special events and of course our extremely huggable mascot-Downtown Brown!
Since 1983, the Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market has been at the heart of the week in San Luis Obispo and has been consistently voted the #1 market in the Western United States.  Come join locals and tourists alike as they meet up to mingle with friends, shop for fresh produce, sample delectable cuisine, browse local shops and enjoy a wide variety of entertainment.  Discover. Local. Flavor.