This is part two about the Montrose Harvest Market. (Part 1 is here)
The neighborhood of Montrose in Glendale (CA) has earned a reputation as being a time traveler’s trip back to the 1950s. If Ozzie and Harriet wore jeans and t-shirts they would fit right into this throw-back neighborhood. The focus is on families, especially the raising of children.
While the addition of a Starbucks and a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf coffee house facing each other across Ocean View at Honolulu St. is a nod to the 21st Century, most of the shops along the main drag in Montrose are small, individually owned stores. These store owners and their merchants association are the sponsors of the Harvest Market on Sunday mornings.
About three years ago the merchants association changed the market management and made it even more kid-friendly. (Actually the previous market manager, a former mayor of Glendale, was accused of embezzling and as of last week convicted and sent to jail and was ordered to reimburse the Montrose Merchants Association for over $300,000! When he was finally released from jail, he dilly-dallied around about repaying the money he stole.)
Among other things the new management banished the whole section that was called the Thieves Market, where all sorts of vintage stuff was sold. The used book dealer has also disappeared, sadly. The two ladies who knitted and crocheted hats have also gone.
But there is still a jazz band, Mark Towns Flamenco Jazz, and painter Vince Takas is still selling his watercolors. So here’s what you’ll see now in additional to lots and lots of fruits and vegetables.
Originally published March 2014
