After a months-long hiatus due to the COVID-19 lockdown, two popular weekly markets have returned to the Crown Street Mall.
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The Thursday night market, previously known as Eat Street, and the Friday morning makers and growers market have been renamed as the Crown Street Markets under the new operator, Blue Sky Markets.
Stallholders braved the possibility of rain on Thursday night to serve customers once again.
"We know this announcement will come as good news for those who have missed the markets over the past few months," Wollongong City Council director community services Kerry Hunt said.
"It's also a positive opportunity for local businesses who have struggled during lockdown."
Sydney-based Blue Sky Markets won the tender for the markets after the hire agreement with the previous operator, the Foragers Group, expired during lockdown.
"Blue Sky Markets will use the next few months as a chance to review how these popular markets operate - with exciting changes planned for next year," Ms Hunt said.
Foragers, helmed by Kirrily Sinclair, founded the Thursday night Eat Street market, and in 2016 won the tender to operate the Friday market as well.
While someone else is running the Thursday night markets now, the original Eat Street market will live on: Foragers have put a call-out on social media for suggestions of a new location.
They do not plan to host Friday markets elsewhere, however, and will instead focus on their original market at Bulli, which takes place on the second Sunday of every month.
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