Oh là là! Mesdames et messieurs, a French Market is coming to West Dundee.
The weekly summer event, which won the backing of the West Dundee Village Board this week, will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Fridays between May 23 and Aug. 22 near the renovated Pump House in the downtown district.
Bensidoun USA presents about a dozen such markets in the metro area every summer, including locations in downtown Chicago, Geneva, Wilmette, Wheaton, Barrington and Elmhurst.
“It’s the only market being offered in the Chicago area on Friday by Bensidoun USA,” said Maureen Himmel, a member of the village’s events committee.
Trustees Cheryl Anderley and Dan Wilbrandt formed the events committee, which also includes residents Kate Grimaldi, David Haas, Sam Rosenberg and Adriana Soleim and Community Development Director Tom Moszczynski, in April. When it sent out a community survey asking residents what they would like to see in town, the top request was a farmers market, which was cited by 78% of responents.
From there, Himmel reached out to Bensidoun USA.
“Bensidoun French Market has 60 years of experience in the Chicago and New York metro areas. Their professionalism and market offering is unmatched,” Haas said.
Bensidoun will manage the market and earn fees from the vendors, whom they procure. The only thing the village needs to provide — pavement anchors for booths — are already in place, Haas and Soleim noted.
The market provides the booths and French-style canopies and has crews that put up take down barricades.
Haas said 18 to 24 vendors are expected, and will be providing a variety of products and merchandise, including honey, olive oils, plants, produce, baked goods, jewelry and crafts. Spots will be available for other types of businesses and nonprofit organizations as well.
Spaces at the market will cost $40 and up per Friday, Soleim said, with discounts made available to businesses based in West Dundee. Buskers and family-friendly entertainment will be welcome too, Himmel said.
The market also will tie into the village’s the “Final Friday” concert series held outside the Pump House. The first, a performance by the funk/soul/rock band Local Motive, is scheduled for May 30, Haas said.
Committee members are also planning a garlic fest for the last Friday in August.
The market will be held on the same day as the Downtown Elgin Market, which is presented every Friday from June through October and is located less than six miles from where the West Dundee French Market will take place.
“I’ve been to the Elgin market and love it. There’s a city vibe in Elgin,” Soleim said. “What will make us different will be the European style provided by a company that began in France and that’s been in the Chicago suburbs at least since 1997, when it held (its first) market in Wheaton. They have a large Rolodex of vendors that they work with.”
Haas and Soleim see the market as a way to bring village residents together while drawing visitors from elsewhere who can also check out the town’s businesses, restaurants and other attractions.
“We’ll be extending the hospitality of West Dundee,” Haas said.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
