LOGAN SQUARE — Plans to redevelop the Pierre's Bakery building are moving forward, which means the Logan Square farmers market, which had called the old bakery home for four years, is moving.
The last day of the outdoor farmers market season is Sunday. Beginning Nov. 5, the market will move to Emporium Logan Square, 2363 N. Milwaukee Ave., for its indoor season, according to the Logan Square Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber had to move the market because the Pierre's building, 2747 N. Milwaukee Ave., is expected to be torn down in the coming months to make way for a new development, said Paul Levin, longtime executive director for the chamber.
"We decided to [move locations] because our old friend, Michael Fox, the owner of the bakery, told us that he believed that Pierre's Bakery was going to be torn down sometime this season," Levin said. "He told us he submitted requests for permits."
Mike Fox of R.P. Fox & Associations, who is also responsible for renovating the Goldblatt's building at Diversey, Kimball and Milwaukee avenues, didn't respond to a request for comment Thursday.
Back in April, Fox was looking to tear down the pastel pink building and construct a 60-unit residential project with ground floor retail in its place.
The plan sparked controversy in the neighborhood, with some residents, community leaders and Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th) wanting the development replacing their beloved bakery to include affordable housing in the rapidly gentrifying neighborhood.
Other neighbors voiced support for the project, however, saying they'd prefer to see a development instead of a vacant building in the hot neighborhood. The bakery closed more than four years ago.
It's unclear if the project has changed since April. When asked for a status update on the development, Ramirez-Rosa spokeswoman Monica Trevino said in an email, "We're not aware of anything on our side."
The farmers market had been held in the Pierre's Bakery building since 2013. Prior to Pierre's, the indoor market was held in the Congress Theater.
Offering much of the same vendors, entertainment and products, this year's indoor market will run from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. every Sunday through March 25 at Emporium Logan Square.
Levin said the arcade bar won't be closing during the weekly market, so expect to see people playing games while gripping their bags of rutabaga.
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