Clawson DDA approves development of downtown market pilot

The Clawson Downtown Development Authority approved a motion to develop a summer downtown market pilot and directed staff to begin event permitting and vendor outreach.

Speaker 5 moved that the board "move forward with fleshing out the Boston Market idea," and Speaker 2 seconded; the motion passed on a voice vote. Speaker 2 later confirmed a planned first date of May 16 and said the market would run roughly every other weekend through the middle of August, with staff preparing a special-event application for review by the chief of police.

Board members framed the market as a way to activate storefronts, support local artists and draw visitors to downtown. Speaker 1 described using alley pop-ups and encouraging storefront participation so "you're not only have vendors in town, but you're also bringing out the storefronts" to show local merchants and activities. Speakers discussed vendor needs, the mix of merchandise (including family- and kid-centered items tied to an outdoor cinema), and timing to avoid the busiest holiday weekends.

Speakers flagged logistics that will shape the pilot, including vendor willingness to commit to full-day slots, typical market hours and the potential effect of other downtown events. Speaker 6 said vendor demand is strong after recent closures, noting "there are a lot of artists looking for places to sell this year" following local shop closures. The board also discussed providing live local music, power access for performances and coordinating with existing summer festivals and the Fourth of July schedule so public-safety staffing and vendor needs align.

Next steps recorded in the meeting included staff filing a special-event application with the police chief for feedback, and beginning outreach and advertising to recruit vendors and promote the market. The board did not record a roll-call tally; the approval was taken by voice vote and the minutes do not specify individual votes.