By Rob South
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-897895.mp3
LANSING, MI – The New Lansing City Market is holding its official grand opening this weekend. The market has been open to the public for months. Officials wanted to wait for warmer weather and wanted to give vendors time to settle in to the new space.
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The $1.6 million market has seen its share of controversy. Even before construction started, critics lambasted the barn-like design, lack of parking and smaller vendor space. But manager John Hooper says the brighter, more comfortable atmosphere of the new market is winning a lot of fans. Hooper says traffic at the new market is two or three times what it was in the old space.
"There's nobody who's struggling right now." Hooper said. "We're at 100% occupancy. Two or three people a week are inquiring about coming in. We just have no room at the inn right now."
One of the new vendors is City Fish. Steve Joseph owns the fresh sea food market and says things were slow at first, but it's getting better.
"I think it's fine. I think once people find out we're here, everybody will be pleased."
The old market was torn down this week to make room for a new mixed-use development called Market Place. Construction on Market Place could start by the end of the year.