Ingersoll's Oak Park launches an outdoor market

Oak Park, a fine-dining restaurant off Ingersoll , is launching its first outdoor market next month with The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand.

State of play: The pilot neighborhood market will be held in Oak Park's parking lot, Sept. 16 from 4-7pm — a day the restaurant is closed.

• If things go well, the restaurant may host more outdoor markets.

Details: The small, walkable event will feature local vendors that Oak Park uses in its menu, Kathy Fehrman, Oak Park's owner tells Axios.

• They include Dog Patch Urban Gardens, Grade A Gardens, Preston Honey and Red Dragon Tea.
• Lachele's and Black Cat Ice Cream will also have food trucks present and live music.

Flashback: In March, Des Moines' zoning board of adjustment granted the restaurant permission to host a farmers market at its property once a week between May to November.

• While some nearby neighbors expressed concerns over potential congestion and parking, the North of Grand Neighborhood Association wrote a letter to city staff supporting a trial run.
• The city ultimately granted a five-year conditional permit.

What they're saying: "We just want to introduce (our vendors) to people who are fans of Oak Park, and maybe they could be customers of them as well," Fehrman says.

What's next: After the September event, Fehrman plans on reconvening with the neighborhood association to discuss how things went, with an eye towards more markets next year.

If you go: Parking will be available at Central Presbyterian Church and Financial Plus Credit Union, as will a bike valet.