Bucksport Riverfront Market

Rules for Vendors

The Bucksport Economic Development Committee (BEDC) is responsible for overseeing the weekly operation of the Bucksport Riverfront Market. The philosophy of the BEDC is to provide space to vendors who are home based businesses and need a location to serve as a retail place of business. The following rules were established with consultation with potential vendors and are intended to be simple guidelines that allow for the success of all vendors.

1. In order to be a vendor at the Bucksport Riverfront Market, a business needs to have baked, built or grown their product that they are offering for sale. Exceptions can be made by the BEDC when they decide by vote that a particular business might not meet the narrow definition but it provides a service/product that would be consistent with the theme of the market i.e.; seafood vendors don't actually catch their product but purchase it from fishermen and sell it roadside. This was a type of vendor that was recruited as a potential business the market would like to attract but wouldn't meet the baked, built or grown criteria.

2. No illegal products/services would be offered for sale, nor any obscene or inappropriate products/services offered, with final decision of this interpretation being the responsibility of the Bucksport Economic Development Committee.

3. Each vendor will be given a parking space measuring approx. 10' X 20' for their sales area (identified as a parking space). Those vendors who are willing to commit to the entire season (identified as seasonal vendors) will be given their choice of spaces and be able to retain the same space each week during the season. Those that are not able to make that commitment (identified as weekly vendors) would be offered the remaining spaces on a weekly basis on a first come, first serve basis.

4. Seasonal and Weekly Vendors are required to complete an application provided by the town which will include the name of the business, address and contact information for the business and a description of what they will be selling. No items that are not listed will be offered or displayed by a vendor. Weekly vendors will need to complete this application and be approved by the town by 5:00 P.M. each Thursday, as available spaces will be assigned on Fridays.

5. Food that is intended to be consumed at the market is allowed to be sold but needs to follow the same requirements that all other products must follow; they must be made in Maine. This does not prevent a vendor from offering free samples to customers. Vendors can sell drinks such as coffee or water. It is the intent of the BEDC to give preference to local non-profit organizations that want to offer food intended to be consumed on the premise. The Bucksport Economic Development Committee will hold the final decision of this interpretation.

6. The Season of operation for the Bucksport Open Air Market will be Saturdays, beginning on Memorial Day weekend (May 28,2005) and conclude with the last Saturday in September (September 24, 2005). The season can be altered with input from the vendors.

7. The hours of operation for the Bucksport Open Air Market will be from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. IMPORTANT; No sales are to take place before the market is officially opened for the day, identified by a bell, whistle or horn, and no sales are to take place after the market has concluded for the day, identified by the same bell, whistle or horn.

8. Any situation that arises during a market day that cannot be addressed with the rules provided will be decided upon by a majority vote of the vendors AND is temporary for that day only. Such an issue will be addressed by the BEDC for final ruling before the following week.

9. Vendors are allowed to begin setting up anytime after 7 A.M. on Saturday morning and are required to have their area vacated by 3 P.M. on Saturday. There is not a lot of vehicle space during set up times so I urge all vendors to drop off their "stuff" and then park their vehicle before setting up. This will allow other vendors the ability to get their vehicle in and unload in a timely fashion. Parking is available on Main St. and behind the Post Office. Vendors are not to park in the Town Dock Parking Area.