Mod Betty admits that this long beige building may not be much to look at from the outside, but on the inside the Booths Corner Farmers Market is bursting with a colorful collection of folks, food and fun.
While the building has only been here since the 1970s, this traditional "only open on Fridays and Saturdays" market has been around since the 1930s.
Rock and Roll note of Fame: Bill Haley (Rock Around The Clock) used to perform at Booths Corner in the 1940s! You can read about it in market owner Paul Cohen's book all about the market:
Mod B and Retro Roadhusband often make the easy detour off 202 on Fridays and Saturdays to pick up something tasty to eat - but be warned it's so hard to choose just one thing!
A po-boy from Cajun Kate's?
It is at times like this when you will wish you had more than one stomach! I love how this market is a combination of the old fashioned farm-to-market approach, with some of the Amish farm families handing down their stalls from generation to generation. But it is also a testing ground for new entrepreneurs to try out their business ideas here before going full-scale. (We discovered Cajun Kate's here 10+ years ago and have been fans ever since, and our latest fave is Kapow Kitchen thai food.) The market (and at one point, auction) started in the 1930s when local Amish farmers would set up in a barn here to sell their bounty. Sadly the barn burned down in 1973, but the Cohen family (who still run the market today) rebuilt the this main building at the heart of the market. Only open on Fridays and Saturdays, over 100 vendors including many Amish farmers, bakers, and butchers still load their stalls with delicious foods and wares.
Not only are the stalls filled, the aisles are also thick with market-goers ambling, gawking, stopping, sampling and socializing while they shop - just a heads up to agoraphobes or those in a rush. If you’re a cooker, there are fresh meats, cheeses, vegetables, brown eggs, spices and more for your larder, so bring a cooler and you’re all set.
If you're an eater like Mod Betty, note that some food stalls have seating if you order from them, but if not, take it to go and dine "a-la-car" or while you amble around gawking at the market.
Not hungry? (I don't think this is possible, but...) Plenty of collectibles, records, crafts, gifts, shoes, tubesocks, jewelry, arcade games and people watching to bide your time.
Heck, you can even make your own vintage-inspired ceramic Christmas tree!
Come on a Friday night and make it a big date night - go here for din and then Briggs Auctions across the street.
Whatever brings you here, you’re part of an 80+ year local tradition.
For some time, up until he died, actor Ernest Borgnine used to be seen hanging out at Booth’s Corner on occasion. Apparently there was a place he used to like eating at. He and his wife used to reside in the area when she (Tovah Borgnine) and him were in town to sell her line of skin care/cosmetic products on QVC.
For some time, up until he died, actor Ernest Borgnine used to be seen hanging out at Booth’s Corner on occasion. Apparently there was a place he used to like eating at. He and his wife used to reside in the area when she (Tovah Borgnine) and him were in town to sell her line of skin care/cosmetic products on QVC.
That’s right! I just saw that in the book – and according to that Ed McMahon also was a pitchman at the market at one point. Thanks for sharing, Matthew!
Matthew Frederick
April 5, 2017 at 10:41 pmFor some time, up until he died, actor Ernest Borgnine used to be seen hanging out at Booth’s Corner on occasion. Apparently there was a place he used to like eating at. He and his wife used to reside in the area when she (Tovah Borgnine) and him were in town to sell her line of skin care/cosmetic products on QVC.
Matthew Frederick
April 5, 2017 at 10:41 pmFor some time, up until he died, actor Ernest Borgnine used to be seen hanging out at Booth’s Corner on occasion. Apparently there was a place he used to like eating at. He and his wife used to reside in the area when she (Tovah Borgnine) and him were in town to sell her line of skin care/cosmetic products on QVC.
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com
April 7, 2017 at 12:04 pmThat’s right! I just saw that in the book – and according to that Ed McMahon also was a pitchman at the market at one point. Thanks for sharing, Matthew!