Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Curtis
Hi Erin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Soda City Market’s story goes all the way back to a rainy November day in 2005 when a local pastured pork farmer, Emile DeFelice, founded and organized the All Local Farmer’s Market. That first market day had just 6 vendors and 225 customers.
Steadily, the market grew over time under the consistent message of operating year-round, rain or shine, 9am to 1pm.
In 2012, then-Mayor Steve Benjamin asked Emile to relocate the market to Main Street as part of an effort to revitalize the Main Street District. Emile took the Mayor up on his offer and rebranded the All Local Farmer’s Market to Soda City Market. Under the same consistent message, year-round rain or shine, and a willingness to allow the customers to define the market’s role as a “third space” by and for the people, Soda City Market evolved into a street market that serves as Columbia’s town square. You will see people from every walk of life at the market, enjoying their community and the talent and hard work of the market’s true superstars, the vendors.
12 years later, Soda City Market is a wildly successful public-private partnership with the City of Columbia. The market averages 7,000 customers on Saturdays, 200 vendors, and spans up to 5 blocks of Main Street in the non-winter months. Its economic impact is immense. The market generates an estimated 7 million dollars in taxable gross sales annually, contributes to hundreds of individual’s paychecks year-round, and has helped at least 15 vendors open brick and mortar locations. It is worth noting that the market has never taken public monies, including hospitality tax dollars.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Every business has challenges. Aside from the usual growing pains, there is a fundamental challenge that market had to overcome.
The market has always been a private business and self-funded. This is very unique. Most farmers’ markets are funded by taxpayer dollars, grants, philanthropy, etc. It took a long time to grow the market into a business that broke even, and an even longer time to become profitable (and therefore self-sustaining). It is the epitome of slow and steady wins the race. While this was certainly a challenge, it is also the reason for the market’s long-term success. It left the market free to focus on its original intent in 2005 — to make the vendor’s income its number one priority. Vendors rely on their business to pay their bills, put food on the table, and create opportunity to improve their qualify of life. Creating a market fulfill other civic priorities will limit its success. If the market’s number one goal is to revitalize an area of town, it will fall short. If it’s number one goal is to eliminate a food dessert, it will fall short. If its number one goal is to offer office workers a place to get lunch, it will fall short. If its number one goal is to teach residents about slow food and the important of shopping local, it will fall short. However, if its number one goal is to create a market that will improve a vendor’s quality of life, all of the other priorities have a better chance of falling into place.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the Director of Operations and Special Projects at Soda City Market. My job is to keep a “30 thousand” foot view of the business and handle complex tasks that are critical to keep the business going and growing.
Aside from the market, around Columbia I’m known for creating events that foster a sense of community and make people feel proud to call Columbia home.
Even though I am deeply introverted, I have a strong intuition for creating spaces that people gravitate towards, often because it fulfills an innate human need for community and to experience joy and delight in an increasingly heavy-hearted society.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Columbia’s rivers! There are few hills I’m willing to die on, however this is one of them. Columbia’s river system and the Three Rivers Greenway is our crown jewel and if properly developed, it would be a livability and economic game-changer.
What I like least is Columbia’s lack of quality public spaces, parks, walkability, and beautification efforts. These things create a sense of pride about where you live and encourage stronger community ties. Aside from the Three Rivers Greenway, there’s little joy in moving about in and around Columbia.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sodacitysc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sodacitysc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SodaCity/
- Other: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g54184-d17549318-Reviews-Soda_City_Market-Columbia_South_Carolina.html
