Community Corner

Plum Plums Co-Owner: SoNo Marketplace is a 'Work In Progress'

Though the South Norwalk Marketplace may not be a consistently bustling place, at least one of its vendors feels that it might be soon.

Adam Free, co-owner of Plum Plums, said he thinks the marketplace has just been fighting an uphill battle in some aspects.

"The thing about this place is it's kind of off the beaten path," Free said. "I think this would potentially be a great venue for farmers ... but right now, it definitely is a work in progress."

His store, Plum Plums, is a cheese shop located in Pound Ridge, N.Y. Free said cheese is largely, but not entirely, what the shop brings to the marketplace.

"We offer a variety of obviously different cheeses," Free said, adding that although about 80 percent of the shop's cheeses are from Europe, the shop has noticed people have been looking more for local cheeses.

"Local cheeses are becoming more prevalent, becoming a lot more popular," he said.

Plum Plums, though, also sells salamis, baked goods and nuts at the SoNo Marketplace, all of which are from "as many sort of local vendors as we can get," Free said.

The shop has been going to the SoNo Marketplace every weekend since about January and goes to the John Jay Homestead every Saturday, Free said, emphasizing how he feels buying local is best.

"It's all about the local movement. They're really great, great products," he said.

Free feels the markets congregate local foods, which is important because "the local movement is becoming huge."

"You see people really sort of take care of and really get into what they're doing," he said.

Free said Plum Plums will be continuing to set up shop at the SoNo Marketplace, even though business is slow now.

"I think potentially this could be a really fun place," Free said. "We just have to kind of wait it out."

The SoNo Marketplace is open every weekend from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. 


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