Downtown Glendale will welcome a new and improved outdoor market today, Thursday, Jan. 9. Formerly known as the Farmers Market, the newly named Downtown Glendale Market will be owned and operated by the Downtown Glendale Association (DGA) and managed by veteran farmers’ market operator Carole Gallegos. The market will continue to operate each Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. but at a new location.

The Downtown Glendale Market will be located in the parking lot shared by the city and the First Baptist Church in the 200 block of North Maryland. The market will open with approximately 60 vendors, with capacity to expand to 100, and plentiful parking.

“The new location and new operator will give people of Glendale and surrounding cities another reason to visit one of the most vibrant, thriving downtown districts anywhere,” said Rick Lemmo, DGA president.

Gallegos, who operates farmers markets in several Southern California cities, promised new and attractive vendors.

“We’ll have certified organic farmers, grass-fed beef, raw milk and such. We’ll also have prepared foods, hot coffee, and baked goods. This is going to be very different and offer a lot more variety for Glendale,” she said.

Helen McDonagh, member of the DGA board,  added, “There are thousands of people who work in our downtown office buildings and we have now doubled the number of vendors to offer more variety to their Thursdays.”