By Betsy Scheinbart
Nestled between Parson Boulevard and 160th Street, across the street from what will soon be One Jamaica Center on Jamaica Avenue, is the Jamaica Market, an atrium dining and shopping facility that is both a tourist attraction and a nice place to eat lunch.
It is easy to miss the narrow Jamaica Avenue entrance to the center and the 160th Street entrance is equality obscured by outdoor fruit stands. There is a even full farmer’s market on the block Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from April through November.
But once inside, a hungry visitor has the choice of over 10 different fast-food stations and shoppers can browse through books, jewelry, art, and more at the number of small merchant stands surrounding the atrium dining area.
Unique Things by Jackie is one of the small shops in the market. Jackie Rhett designs the hats, plates and small decorative items she sells to area shoppers and tourists alike.
“They come from all over the country,” said Rhett of her customers, “and a lot of people in the city who never knew this place was here.”
The food and shopping center was conceived 26 years ago as an outdoor market in the parking lot across the street, where One Jamaica Center will soon house the area’s only first-run movie theater. Nine years ago the market’s building was constructed.
“It is an incubator,” said Sam Samuels of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, which runs the market. “Most of the restaurant people and store operators wouldn’t have the resources to open a store on their own.”
The corporation helps the store operators set up their shops and get started, Samuels said, as well as hosting events like jazz and fashion shows, which draw attention to the market.
The Harvest Room, a 3,500-square-foot conference and catering hall within the market, hosts social, political, corporate and religious events. The room seats up to 150 people and features a removable dance floor.
For those who work in Jamaica, the market is a great place to catch lunch. Chinese, Japanese, Italian and Southern cuisine are all represented, as well as a juice bar, a bakery, and a few places specializing in chicken.
“You get a lot of people at the lunch break,” said Carly O’Conner, who works at the Southern Express. “You also have a lot of activities going on here, mainly on the weekends and summer programs for kids.”
City Department of Sanitation employees who work an early schedule take their lunch here in the late mornings.
“I like it for the ambience,” said Jason Munnerlyn. “It’s hot out there and cool in here.”
Donald Davenport also likes the atmosphere of the market.
“There are a lot of places to eat — you don’t have to have the same thing every day, ” Davenport said. “And it’s clean, after being near all that nasty garbage.”
Several gift shops sell jewelry, flowers, books, and African imports.
Mark Talley and Marvin Scruggs run the Simply Marvelous Art About Us gallery in a crowded corner of the market. Every medium of art, from show boxes containing African instruments to oil paintings, are on display, most of them depicting aspects of black and African culture, heritage and history.
Although some days are better than others, Talley has a positive attitude and enjoys working at the market.
“When you are in business for yourself, sometimes you sit here and don’t sell nothing — sometimes you have a great day,” he said.
One of the local artists represented, Sir Shadow, uses a single line to depict musicians and other figures.
Talley and Scruggs buy wholesale from the artists and stock up on what people ask for.
“As Marvin Scruggs says, ‘the customers know exactly what they want and we must provide what they want,’” Talley said, quoting his business partner.
Reach reporter Betsy Scheinbart by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 138.
