The Charles R. Hegwood Community Market began operating under new management on July 1, with longtime vendor Bonny Pesch assuming the role of market manager and promoter through a professional services agreement with the City of Biloxi.
Pesch was selected following a request for proposals issued in May and officially assumed management duties on July 1. The market will continue to operate Tuesdays and Thursdays with the hours of 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., weather permitting, beneath the Interstate 110 overpass at the corner of Hopkins Boulevard and Howard Avenue.
A familiar face to market patrons, Pesch has been a vendor at the market for many years and stepped forward to oversee the program as the city sought a new approach to managing the longtime community gathering place.
The transition follows an evaluation by the Biloxi Parks & Recreation Department, which has overseen the market for years by assigning a staff member to leave the office twice each week to manage operations on-site. City officials determined the arrangement cost the department approximately $14,000 annually and placed additional demands on office staff.
Because the city does not have a dedicated market manager position, officials determined that contracting with a private manager would provide a more efficient way to operate the market while allowing Parks & Recreation staff to focus on departmental responsibilities.
The Charles R. Hegwood Community Market has been a city program since the late 1970s and remains a popular destination for residents and visitors. In December 1995, the City Council renamed the Biloxi Farmers Market in honor of Charles R. Hegwood, the market’s first manager and a longtime teacher and coach at Notre Dame High School.
More recently, Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich updated the name to the Charles R. Hegwood Community Market to better reflect the variety of products offered by vendors, which extend beyond locally grown fruits and vegetables.
While management is changing, the market will continue serving the community much as it has for decades, providing a place for local vendors and customers to gather, shop, and support small businesses.
News & notes: Weekly reports, traffic, council meeting
The week that was: The latest information on city projects, permits, service calls, and more from the departments of Police, Fire, Engineering, Community Development, and Public Works is posted on the city’s Weekly Reports page. To see the weekly department reports, visit the weekly reports page of the city’s website at biloxi.ms.us.
Traffic: Information on road closures and updated road construction is available on the traffic page of the city’s website at biloxi.ms.us.
Council meeting: Biloxi City Council will hold a regularly scheduled city council meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at Biloxi City Hall. To see the meeting agenda, visit the city’s website at biloxi.ms.us.
