San Juan Council Endorses Plan to Hold Street Fairs

The establishment of a monthly downtown street fair with open-air barbecues, vendors and entertainment was given unanimous preliminary approval this week by the City Council.

The fair, to be called the San Juan Market Place and patterned after similar events in San Luis Obispo and Encinitas, would be held on the first Thursday of each month on Camino Capistrano and Ortega Highway, in front of Mission San Juan Capistrano. The fair organizers hope to launch their first event on May 7 or June 4.

“I think it’s a great idea,” City Councilman Gary L. Hausdorfer said. “San Juan Capistrano has a downtown that is very conducive to the pedestrian. This kind of thing is consistent with what we have been trying to do in the downtown.”

For several years, city officials have been trying to redesign the historic downtown area to lure more visitors and local residents and increase business. A large-scale commercial center, including a hotel complex, was in the design stage but then shelved after historical preservationists protested that the town’s ambience was in jeopardy.

But the search for ways to revitalize the downtown area persists, council members said. That was the motive behind the new Franciscan Plaza, a movie theater complex, and the proposed redesign of Ortega Highway through downtown, city officials say.

The marketplace proposal would serve a similar purpose, Hausdorfer said. By shutting down some of the downtown streets for one night a month, people would have the opportunity to wander the streets and see what local businesses have to offer, he said.

“San Juan Capistrano’s downtown doesn’t have to be a thoroughfare,” Hausdorfer said. “Hopefully, this kind of thing will bring families and kids, who have grown up shopping in malls, downtown again. I applaud the idea.”

The marketplace would be open only to merchants with a San Juan Capistrano business license. Under the proposal, each business person could rent a 10-by-10-foot booth area for wares.

The event’s organizers are hoping to start with 50 spaces and expand to 100. Nine barbecue spots along the street for local restaurants are also included in the proposal.

Before final city approval, the marketplace organizers will need approvals from the Orange County Health Department and the Air Quality Management District. Estimated cost of the first event is $5,840 plus $300 to $500 for liability insurance, depending on the attendance.

The event is scheduled to return for final council approval April 7.