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After the Sussex Farmers Market abruptly closed June 29, a new group, headed by Sussex Hamilton High School graduate Jonathan Martin, will be running the market this summer, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 23, Sept. 6 and 20.(Photo: Scott Ash/Now News Group)

After the Sussex Farmers Market abruptly closed June 29, a new group,headed by Sussex Hamilton High School graduate Johnathan Martin,will run the market onthree Sundays this summer.

Martin confirmed on Facebook that the marketwill be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 23, Sept. 6 and 20, all at the Sussex Civic Center,N64 W23760 Main St.

The winter market will begin in January, Martin said. He didnot confirm dates for the winter market, but said it will also be at the Sussex Civic Center.

The name of the market will be changed from Sussex Farmers Market to Sussex Fresh Market.

Earlier this summer, within hours of an announcement by the previous farmers market board announcing the market would close, Martin proposed that he and the 12 employees of hismultimedia marketing company, FitTech Hosting,run the market.

He faced challenges in working with the village, however,in terms of the rental costs and the use of village storage space.

Martin proposed paying $35 permarket session, while the rate for community groups is $125 per event. He said the parks and recreation committee refused to lowerthe rental cost.

After the July 28 village board meeting, Martin announced he would go ahead with the market, although he declined to disclose the terms of the agreement with the village.

But he said his company was "caving" to the village because they want to see the market happen.

"It feels rewarding to give back to my hometown. Thats what really fueled this effort," said Martin.

Martin said that the first step in getting Sussex Fresh Market ready will be reaching out to past vendors and vendors at other markets. He said his company will contact more than a couple hundred companies in the next few weeks.

He said that, conservatively, he sees his team getting 20 to 30 vendors this summer. "But time will tell," he said.

He said that next summer, his company is planning for 50.

"Well be advertising this to vendors hard," he said.He said members of his team are "natural advertisers." He doesn't see getting vendors on board as a problem.

He also said his team will regulatethe kinds of vendors at the market to ensure local farmers and small businesses are represented.

Martin said he also plans to networkwith other community groups and social service organizations to volunteer and to participate at the market.

"We have a few volunteers currently from the community.Well be reaching out to a few other groups, too, such as the Optimist Club and local Lions," Martin said.

He said the market would complywith social distancing guidelines by placing booths 15 feet apart, and that gloves and masks will be provided and strongly encouraged.

While the employees atFitTech Hostinghave experience running events, this summer, Martin said, has been slow because of COVID-19.

"We have been a little stir-crazy," he said.So, he said, the staff is excited to put their energy into the market this summer. He said the market will be a volunteer activity to provide a service for the community.

Valerie Johnson,who works on marketing, social media and web design for businesses throughFitTech Hosting,said she wants the market to be community-driven and will use her marketing skills to show that.

"We are trying to keep the same core values," said Johnson. "We want to make it (the market) more of a spotlight and a focus on the community."

The summer farmers market will be in its sixth season this year. Independent volunteers run the market;itis not village-run, -operated or -sponsored.

"(Sussex) is where I grew up, its where my parents grew up;back when I was a young child, it was an 'everybody knows everybody'environment," said Martin."The only thing I like a bit more about Milwaukee than Sussex is theres a lot more to do,which is why Sussex needs these types of outlets."

RELATED: Local farmers' markets humming along with coronavirus precautions in place

RELATED: A list of Milwaukee-area farmers markets open in 2020, the summer of coronavirus

Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at@KozlowiczCathy.

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After abruptly closing, the Sussex Farmers Market will be back this summer under a new name - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel