Market Gone, But Customers' Hard Feelings Linger Toward City

The popular Main Street Market in Safety Harbor has folded up its tent for good.

After being given a 30-day notice to shut down, the owners vacated the place and are turning their attention to a new surf and turf market they are constructing in the old Captain's Pizza building nearby.

But hard feelings linger among some loyal customers who believe that the city overstepped its bounds.

Robert Saltzman left the following comment on the Safety Harbor Patch: "I hate living in a dictatorship....the city seems to be at war with it's citizens and businesses unless you want to build something then you have the run of the place."

Susan Massarsky echoed those comments, adding: "So an open air market that is enjoyed by the community is bad. Concrete islands built to squeeze every last dime out for the developers before they scurry back out of town is good."

Kathleen Reardon wrote: "So now I guess those of us that like to spend our money on local economy - are now forced to join the rest of the drones and shop at big box stores - GEEZ Thanks Safety Harbor ."

Laura Kepner praised owners Bill and Dawn Bailey: "Hey, Dawn and Bill, you two are amazing. You are the type of business people I like to support and I am so glad you are staying in Safety Harbor. You immediately became part of our community when you opened the stand and people around here love that. When you open this fall in the new location, I will be one of the first through the doors."

The comments prompted Community Development Director Matt McLachlan to weigh in: "For the record, there are many roadside vendors that would love to set up shop in Safety Harbor. As we saw with the debate over food trucks, the established business community has argued against changing the rules to allow non-brick and mortar businesses to operate in Safety Harbor."

Robert Saltzman thanked McLachlan for his response.

But it did not satisfy Texting Anthony Weiner, who wrote:  "Quite honestly, Safety Harbor is not business friendly. "

Co-owner Dawn Bailey put a quiet end to the debate, adding a note to the comments on the Safety Harbor Patch: "We have made so many friends and love your support. There is a lot you don't know about how the city went out of their way to help get us to Safety Harbor. If it wasn't for Matt Spoor and Matt McLachlan we would have never opened. Our Thanks goes to the City and the officials that made it possible."     

Want to hear more views about other Safety Harbor businesses? Check out the comments residents just left in the Patch Business Directory about local shops and services.