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Bon Marché, downtown Menlo Park’s new French-themed midweek farmers market, is heading into winter with earlier hours and a rotating cast of vendors. The brainchild of Bistro Vida owner Ali El Safy, Bon Marché launched Oct. 27 and is open Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. on the 600 block of Santa Cruz Avenue.

Flavored honey sticks for sale from Mike and Niki's Honey at Bon Marché on Nov. 10, 2021. Photo by Magali Gauthier.
Flavored honey sticks for sale from Mike and Niki’s Honey at Bon Marché on Nov. 10, 2021. Photo by Magali Gauthier.

A recent walk through the market found stalls selling classic French treats like crepes and macarons as Yves Montand singing “Sous le Ciel de Paris” played over the sound system. Little Sky Bakery was doing a brisk business selling bread, and surrounding stalls held tempting displays of produce, honey, mushrooms, flowers and gelato. The market picked up around 5:30 p.m., and as day turned to night string lights strewn across the top of the market lit up, giving things a glowing hue.

The market is one of the latest pilots in Menlo Park to reimagine what life in the area can be as people have needed greater physical distance and gravitated outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was organized with the city, West Coast Farmers Market Association and Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce.

Gio Gelati worker Teresa Mastropalo scoops gelato while Guido Mastropalo, her father and owner of the business, watches; Strawberries for sale from Rodriguez Farms at Bon Marché on Nov. 10, 2021. Photos by Magali Gauthier.
Gio Gelati worker Teresa Mastropalo scoops gelato while Guido Mastropalo, her father and owner of the business, watches; Strawberries for sale from Rodriguez Farms at Bon Marché on Nov. 10, 2021. Photos by Magali Gauthier.

Brooke, 3, hands her friend a vanilla-flavored macaron from Macaron Artisan at Bon Marché on Nov. 10, 2021. Photo by Magali Gauthier.
Brooke, 3, hands her friend a vanilla-flavored macaron from Macaron Artisan at Bon Marché on Nov. 10, 2021. Photo by Magali Gauthier.

Macarons for sale from Artisan Macaron at Bon Marché on Nov. 10, 2021; Mike and Niki's Honey worker Laurel Godley speaks with Nicki Poulos at Bon Marché on Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Menlo Park on Nov. 10, 2021. Photos by Magali Gauthier.
Macarons for sale from Artisan Macaron at Bon Marché on Nov. 10, 2021; Mike and Niki’s Honey worker Laurel Godley speaks with Nicki Poulos at Bon Marché on Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Menlo Park on Nov. 10, 2021. Photos by Magali Gauthier.

Alexandre Trouan, owner of Artisan Macaron, hands change back to customers at Bon Marché on Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Menlo Park on Nov. 10, 2021. Photo by Magali Gauthier.
Alexandre Trouan, owner of Artisan Macaron, hands change back to customers at Bon Marché on Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Menlo Park on Nov. 10, 2021. Photo by Magali Gauthier.
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    Mike and Niki’s Honey worker Laurel Godley speaks with Nicki Poulos at Bon Marché, a French-inspired outdoor market, on Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Menlo Park on Nov. 10, 2021. Photo by Magali Gauthier.
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    Macarons for sale from Artisan Macaron at Bon Marché, a French-inspired outdoor market, on Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Menlo Park on Nov. 10, 2021. Photo by Magali Gauthier.
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    Strawberries for sale from Rodriguez Farms at Bon Marché, a French-inspired outdoor market, on Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Menlo Park on Nov. 10, 2021. Photo by Magali Gauthier.
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    People stroll through and hang out at Bon Marché, a French-inspired outdoor market, on Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Menlo Park on Nov. 10, 2021. Photo by Magali Gauthier.
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    Gio Gelati worker Teresa Mastropalo scoops gelato while Guido Mastropalo, her father and owner of the business, watches at Bon Marché, a French-inspired outdoor market, on Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Menlo Park on Nov. 10, 2021. Photo by Magali Gauthier.
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    People stroll through Bon Marché, a French-inspired outdoor market, on Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Menlo Park on Nov. 10, 2021. Photo by Magali Gauthier.

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2 Comments

  1. Bon Marche is a wonderful weekly addition to downtown Menlo Park and our entire community. It demonstrates how the temporary public plaza between Curtis and Doyle can be used to attract more residents downtown and boost the appeal of our central business district. More events are planned to start next spring IF the city council makes the plaza a permanent community resource.

    The future of the plaza will be decided at the end of January. All residents who would support that decision should tell their council representative. Send them an email and attend the council meeting.

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