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Firemen’s Market faces financial crunch
Chris Clegg
for South Peace News
It’s a tradition over 10 years running but it may soon be ending.
The Enilda Firemen’s Market faces the grim possibility of closing if efforts to increase revenue by the Enilda and District Society for Recreation and Culture don’t come to fruition.
EDSRC director Jean Bissell says the organization can’t continue to operate the hall in the red.
“We’re not getting enough revenue,” she says. “We can’t keep going in the hole.”
Bissell says the average monthly cost to operate the hall is about $700-800. EDSRC charges the fire department rent and it’s the only revenue they receive. The firemen keep all profits from the concession booth for their efforts.
“The table rent is not covering the costs,” says Bissell.
The table rent has always been $10 per table since the market opened. In addition, if any vendor attends three straight markets they receive free rent the next time they attend.
Bissell says, unfortunately, EDSRC has to consider raising table rent to $15 or $20 and scrapping the freebie given to vendors for continued attendance. A meeting was held with vendors after the Dec. 5 market to discuss an increase in table rent. Results of the meeting will be published in next week’s South Peace News.
Another option being considered is selling 50-50 tickets at each market as a way to raise much-needed revenue.
Another factor weighing in on EDSRC’s decision is the hall is not being rented for other functions such as banquets and dances. EDSRC had fewer than a half-dozen rentals this year. Had the hall been rented more, revenues would have increased putting less pressure on EDSRC’s need to increase revenue from the Firemen’s Market.
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