WPCNR City Hall Circuit. By John F. Bailey. March 17, 2004, UPDATED March 17, 2004, 12:30 P.M. with correction:  Tuesday night, the Downtown Business Improvement District and the administration introduced the national "French Market" specialists, Bensidoun USA, Inc., of Chicago as the firm that will create a new Farmer's Market in White Plains in June.

 Sebastien Bensidoun, Executive Vice President, (foreground) introduced his firm to the Common Council during Tuesday evening work session.  Paul Wood, Economic Development Director corrected WPCNR's understanding of the payment arrangement. He said Mr. Bensidoun's firm would pay the city a nominal fee of $1,000 for the service of marketing the farmer's market, which includes custom, homogenous booths with roofs, managing the market, and booking vendors. Last year's vendors would be given preference on the first year's operation.  Wood said, "Basically, their services are free to the City except for the labor for setup and breakdown of the structures on market days which the BID will provide." Photo by WPCNR NEWS

 NEW LES HALLES IN WHITE PLAINS. The City Hall Private Parking Preserve will be cleared of cars Wednesdays and Saturdays and festooned with colorful awnings and booths of a Bensidoun USA "French Market" come June. City Hall is at right. Photo by WPCNR News

The site of the market, previously thought to be on Court Street by Macy's, would move from Court Street to the city hall parking lot, a solution suggested by City Hall employees.

Mayor Delfino said the reason the famer's market had to move was  a new project for developing Court Street along the Macy's corridor would be presented to the Common Council at next Wednesday evening's work session, which dictated that the Farmer's Market be moved from the Court Street Area. Pressed as to the "Mystery Developer" bringing in the project, the Mayor said it was not Louis Cappelli or Leon Silverman.

Mr. Bensidoun said present vendors at the Farmer's Market would be giving discount pricing, paying about $30 for a stall, with new vendors being charged $40. For more on the scope and expertise of Bensidoun, they have a website at http://www.bensidoun-usa.com/.

BENSIDOUN V.P. SHOWCASED his line of French Markets with a slide and webshow.  His markets have been highly successful in the Chicago area and around the country over the last five years. However, he admitted his company still has not turned a profit. White Plains will be his first entry into the New York metropolitan area. The firm sets up booths, supplies a manager who maintains order and decorum and enforces the rules. Vendors are not given contracts. In Wheaton, Illinois, one of 9 sites around the Chicago area, Bensidoun has 90 vendors in one market. Photo by WPCNR News