Most vendors say a new location for the weekly Farmer’s Market in Woodbury hasn’t dampened sales.

On a recent sunny Sunday morning, just before 11 am, there was a long line of cars entering the parking lot at Red Rock Elementary School. Cars were also parked on the streets outside neighborhood houses.

“I think there are the same number of people here compared to last year,” said a smiling Cher Lyfoung of Mai’s Birds and Veggies. She was upbeat and chirpy, standing behind a long stall full of bright red tomatoes and crisp multi-colored peppers. Lyfoung thought that the old location at Central Park was more visible but she had not heard of many complaints from customers about the new premises.

The layout of the market at Red Rock is a series of loops, compared to a long line of vendors in two rows facing each other, with a wide space in the middle, in the previous Central Park parking lot. Construction at the traditional site at Central Park forced a move to Red Rock Elementary’s parking lot.

Brian Harrens of Novak’s Orchard, who has been selling at the Woodbury Farmers’ Market for over 15 years, is happy with the new location. “Sales are about the same. Personally, I liked the old set-up where all vendors were in one row.” Harrens mentioned that some customers have said that parking is easier at Red Rock.

This sentiment is echoed by first-year vendors Adria and Jeffrey of Nana’s Cottage Minnesota, a microbakery. The bakery sells goodies like homemade baked fruit scones and artisan breads.

“As a consumer, I feel that there are lots of vendor spaces and parking is better at this location. “ I feel like it is easier to shop and visit.” Adria said. As a vendor, she is upbeat about the business.

Customer Deb Smieja was all smiles as she headed back with her loaded bags, pretty flowers peeking out from one end. She is happy now that she eventually found the new location.” I love it,” Smieja said. But that was only after she found the new spot. Her mobile phone displayed the old location when she searched online.

Veteran vendor Sheldon Hotzoer of Great Harvest Bread Company feels that the old location was better. Market regulars may recall him, happily talking about all the breads he has on sale for the day and even offering them a free sample. Hotzoer does not like the loop set-up or the parking situation. His biggest grouse was that the location change was not advertised very well. He said he encountered the same thing when the Andover, MN, market had changed locations. “But things have picked up here too,” says Sheldon.

Lyfoung says it best. “We love the people of Woodbury. They will find us anywhere.”

The Farmers’ Market in Woodbury, hosted by the St. Paul Farmers’ Market, is held on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. This year it will end on Oct. 27.