‘We are the 17th Street Market’: How three siblings maintain a historic Richmond farmer’s market

RICHMOND, VA. (WRIC) — Dionna Mosley, who moved to Richmond just a few months ago, was looking for a good local farmer’s market.

“When I Google-searched markets, 17th Street was the closest one to me,” Mosley said. “[Photos online] showed a beautiful ambiance of the market and it looked huge. So I decided to give it a try.”

When Mosley got to the market, instead of that beautiful ambiance, she found “three elder siblings” sitting under an umbrella with one table of produce in front of them.

“They immediately said, ‘We are the 17th Street Market’,” Mosley said. “And it broke my heart a bit. They told me the story of how they ended up on this street corner.”

Rosa Flemming, Emanuel Carter and Luceal Allen have been carrying on their father’s legacy of selling fresh produce their entire lives.

“We are legacy,” Flemming, who is 85 years old, said. “I was five years old when I started down here over on the market with my father.”

Once bustling with customers, the siblings said the lot now stands as a shadow of its former self.

“There used to be a building with a roof on top,” Flemming said. “Those were lovely days. A lot of people used to come out … You would actually sell out what you have on your stand.”

Decades ago, vendors sold fruits and vegetables in a large building owned by the City of Richmond. That building was torn down in the 1960s, leaving the siblings relegated to a corner of an empty lot.

Family members of the siblings said they had been working on a lawsuit to get their space back — or at least to get more protection, whether that be a police presence or a proper structure.

“A lot of people are not coming down here, because there’s no tarp on the market,” Flemming said. “And they don’t see anybody hardly over here on the market.”

They said vendors were pushed out and they’ve been at the street corner across the street from Lulu’s on 17th Street since 2020. Their move came after the city regained ownership of the lot, after briefly losing it in 2019.

The city shared this statement with 8News:

“The City, Ms. Allen, and Ms. Fleming came to an amicable resolution regarding their opportunity to vend at 17th Street Market in 2020. Parks and Recreation installed new structures, assigned them parking spaces and created a safe environment for them. Ms. Allen and Ms. Fleming selected their own location based on the proximity to restrooms, shade and parking.”

The City of Richmond

Flemming, Allen and Carter said they still don’t feel safe — and being so isolated has hurt their business.

“It is not like it used to be,” Allen said.

As the siblings carry on their tradition, they also hold on to a piece of history.

The sisters showed 8News old photographs, exclaiming, “Look at that! That’s the market!”

Fondly recalling the glory days of the market, the sisters said they want exposure to help their business.

“It’s really hard to sell out here,” Flemming said. “We have to put up an umbrella and do the best that we can over here. It’s rather hard.”

The city shared this statement about the current use of the space:

“The City of Richmond has not closed the 17th Street Market but has transformed it into a lively, pedestrian-friendly destination. Once connected to Main Street, the area has been reimagined as an open-air market where visitors can stroll freely without worrying about vehicle traffic.

This revitalized space aims to create a vibrant hub where people want to eat, drink, and shop. With its versatile event space, the market hosts a variety of gatherings—from weddings to community events like 804 Day and Sounds of Shockoe. The Richmond Night Market , held on the second Saturday of each month, features vendors offering diverse goods, enhancing the shopping experience, and partnering with Unlocking RVA to host silent headphone events. Visitors can also enjoy patio dining at nearby restaurants, making the 17th Street Market a perfect spot to relax and enjoy all the city offers.”

The City of Richmond

Despite their current struggles, the siblings remain hopeful that their business has more life to live.

You can visit these siblings from Thursday to Sunday every week at 100 N. 17th Street, where you’ll find them selling fruits, vegetables, snacks and drinks.

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