The Bainbridge Farmers’ Market is scheduled to return Saturday, April 16, and when it does, it will be in a new permanent location.

The City of Bainbridge and the Downtown Development Authority are jointly working to revitalize the former taxi lot on the corner of Broad and Market streets into a permanent site for the farmers’ market.

“A more permanent location will allow us to be more visible,” said Mills Brock, president of the farmers’ market. “We wanted to help beautify and do something with the blighted plot of land.”

As part of the revitalization, the old taxi stand will be renovated to mimic an old farmers’ market stand. It will then serve as storage space for tables and other items. Georgia Power will also run electric to the stand.

“We are going to replace the roof with an old tin roof,” Brock said. “There will be a covered deck and wooden barn windows.”

The new location is not the only change coming to the market though. Brock and the rest of the board are working to attract vendors not just from Decatur County, but the entire region.

“A lot of towns and areas around don’t have farmers’ markets,” Brock said. “Having a more permanent location will bring vendors.”

The new vendors will not be limited to only produce and bake good vendors like years past either. The board has decided to open up a limited number of vendor spots to those selling artisan products.

“There will be a limited number and a set ratio,” Brock said. “They can’t resale commercially made products, they have to be hand crafted hand made goods.”

Brock said the decision to limit the number of artisan vendors was made in an effort to keep the market from resembling a flea market. The farmers’ market will also adjust its time and now be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.