DOVER, Del.- The property at 204 Loockerman Street, just behind Bayard Pharmacy in Dover, has sat empty for at least seven years now, according to Diane Laird, executive director of the Downtown Dover Partnership.
But the empty storefront will soon have new life. DDP has announced that Blackswamp Farmstead, a local Kent County farm and Capitol Farmers Market mainstay will be opening an artisanal style market inside the space. And they aren't coming alone; they are bringing other vendors along for the ride.
"A lot of these vendors have been in our farmers market, the Capitol City Farmers Market over time and they vend throughout the state, so we believe their products offered up more or less four days a week, eight hours a day, we'll draw a market from around the region," explained Laird of the thought process behind the project.
The new vendors will include local Delmarva artisans and producers, including 302 Aquaponics, Chesapeake Gold Farms, and Tre Sorelle Dolce. But the main proprietor will be Blackswamp Farmstead, run by Tara and Justin Brant.
The Brants started their farm in 2019 in Felton, raising pigs for pork sales. They tell us that this partnership felt like the right opportunity to bring not only their product, but others into the downtown area.
"We really wanted to bring something to the community that really didn't exist, and I think with our pigs, and some of the products that Tara makes, I think we've been able to do that ourselves, but I don't think we have everything there is to offer in this area, I think there is a lot of people with a lot of ability - and we're trying to bring the capability to the store," explained Justin.
The Kunekune pigs are raised right on the Brants farm, and used not only for their pork products that they will sell in the store, but Tara also uses the lard to create other good, including soaps.
"These are my candles, face cleansers and moisturizers, hand creams and body lotions, foaming hand soaps," pointed out Tara as she showed off some of the products she plans to bring to the store once they open next month. Once an registered nurse and combat medic, Tara says she taught herself how to make soaps and other products from YouTube tutorials and looking at the science of making such products. Justin, currently still serving in the Navy, says they would never have guessed they would be operating a farm, let alone opening a store, but says they are excited to bring this new opportunity downtown.
The market has no exact open date just yet - but Justin and Tara say they hope to open between middle and late April. Downtown Dover Partnership says they hope this new venture will help to continue the revitalization of downtown.