The Battle Ground Farmers Market opened its doors Saturday, Sept. 27, with a bustling crowd and more than two dozen vendors from all around Clark County filling the remodeled building at 15 NE Grace Ave.
The new indoor market will operate every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Nov. 8 before closing for the winter. It will reopen permanently in spring 2026.
City and county officials, Maddox developers and community members gathered the day prior for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the site, a former Anderson Plastics facility now transformed into a market and patio space.
“We're super excited to have this thing off the ground finally,” Market Director James Townley said during the ceremony. “As we talked to the community, everyone thought it was a great idea. I didn't hear a single bit of negativity about the fact that we can make this an indoor space and feature primarily local farmers and producers just right here in Clark County.”
Townley highlighted the project’s role in boosting the city’s expanding downtown area. The opening occurs just under a year after Al and Ernie’s Bakery Cafe opened south of the Farmers Market by Maddox in November 2024.
“We wanted to create a space that was good for families and for our communities. We wanted to be a rising tide that lifts all of local businesses, families and the community at large,” he said.
Battle Ground Mayor Troy McCoy congratulated Maddox and Townley during Friday’s ribbon cutting.
“We love the investment. We love to see the excitement, and we wish you all the success in the world,” McCoy said.
In a followup interview with The Reflector after Friday’s ceremony, Townley said the project is rooted in Maddox’s goal of giving back.
“They want to bless the community in which they do business. And so they're looking for opportunities to do so and this was just a nice piece of real estate that had kind of been sitting … and so they looked at it and said how can we upgrade that space while still keeping Battle Ground Battle Ground?” he said.
He explained that the market was designed to fill a niche beyond the boutiques and vendor malls already on Main Street.
“This is gonna be more focused toward farms and local producers, and we'll still have some artisans and some crafters and craftsmen and things like that, but it's trying to feature a different niche of people,” Townley said
Vendors seen on Saturday ranged from White Clover Farm of Battle Ground to Cool Crops Farm in La Center and North Fork Mushrooms in Yacolt. Food was served from an Al and Earnie’s food cart stationed near the patio outside.
Businesses experienced steady traffic throughout opening day as locals browsed produce, crafts and more.
Townley encouraged the community to continue showing up.
“Come join us and let us know what you think,” he said.
