The Pee Dee State Farmers Market is expanding from the wide spaces of open air to the smaller confines of closed air replete with heat and air conditioning.
A new, enclosed 8,400 square-foot-retail building with 11 rental spaces is open for business. Rent is $405 for the 404-square-foot spaces and $540 for the 540-square-foot spaces that are located at the four corners.
Market Manager Tre Coleman said three tenants have signed up: McLeod Farms, Harvest Moon Soapworks and Sparrow and Kennedy. The latter, a John Deere dealer, will sell John Deere hats, toys, etc.
Coleman said space is available on a first-come, first served basis.
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime to get in on the ground floor of a brand-new building in an ideal location with a customer base already in place,” Coleman said. “A recent S.C. Department of Transportation survey estimates 25,000 vehicles pass the Pee Dee State Farmers Market on U.S. Highway 52 daily.”
Coleman said the farmers market is trying to promote year-round sales with the unique retail building that is topped off by a cupola.
“We’re also full under the open-air sheds,” he added. “We’re hopeful that the new building with climate control will attract some more business.”
Coleman said the farmers market is “trying to get away from just plants and flowers” and get more interest from different people who wouldn’t necessarily come out there.
“We still have a lot of people in Florence that don’t know we’re out here,” he said. “Hopefully, this is going to spawn some new interest.”
Ground was broken for the new building in January. Coleman said it’s been on the planning board for seven years.
“Sen. Hugh Leatherman helped us secure funding to get the $750,000 building,” he said. “Without him, we wouldn’t have gotten it.”
The Pee Dee State Farmers Market is located halfway between Darlington and Florence at 2513 W. Lucas St. It has been owned and operated by the S.C. Department of Agriculture since 1983. It holds several special events and festivals each year.
Coleman has been the manager since 2004. His father was the former manager.
“I’ve been in agriculture my entire life,” said Coleman, a graduate of Francis Marion University with a degree in political science. “When I found out my dad was retiring, I applied for the job.”
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