Children and adults paced up and down the busy corridor, vendors of all trades on either side, eating kettle corn, ice cream and other foods acquired at the site. The Lake Anne Farmers Market opened its 2007 season on Saturday morning, celebrating its 10th anniversary.
"Welcome, congratulations to all of the merchants and may this be a fabulous year," said Reston founder Robert E. Simon, Jr., at the opening ceremony. Market Master John Lovaas said Lake Anne’s is the finest market in Northern Virginia.
U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8) also welcomed the crowd to the market. "It is bigger and better than it’s ever been," said Moran. He urged those visiting the area to come to Lake Anne during the week, not just on the weekends when the weather is nice. "I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t," said Moran. "No community can come say hello to its founder."
Lovaas also announced during the ceremony that the Chevron gas station at Lake Anne has been reopened. Manager of the station, Bobby Kapoor, offered market visitors six cents off every gallon of gas purchased on Saturdays.
Vendors came from many places to sell a variety of products. Kathy Lewis owns and operates Middleburg Creamery and Country Store, a business that makes homemade ice cream. It is her first year at the Reston market, and she plans to buy as well as sell at the market. "Our ice cream is all natural, we don’t use imitation anything," she said. "I don’t have any fruit flavors today, because I didn’t have any fresh fruit, but I will next week because I will get my fruit here." Lewis added that the store’s bestseller is the mocha toffee crunch flavor of ice cream.
Theresa Bishop, a resident of Ashburn, started selling necklaces and bags about a year ago, something she does for fun. On the other side of Lake Anne’s Washington Plaza, Vienna resident Tom Taaffe — a three-year veteran of the market — put up for sale fossils and minerals. He sells his products at markets, festivals and shows. He said people at the Lake Anne market seem to like his products. Taaffe said he does well at the market. "The customers are pretty knowledgeable" about the fossils and minerals. "They know what they’re looking for."
Lauren O’Mara, who moved to Reston last year, said she came to the market a lot last summer. Her first impression of this year’s market is that there are a lot more vendors. "I’ve been down to Eastern Market a lot, and it’s great to have something like it close to home," she said.