Business is finally starting to pick up at the Niles Market after a slow start, although vendors say they are still hoping to see more traffic in the coming weeks.

Deanna Briggs sells baked goods made from scratch at the Excalibur Bakery booth, which has been a feature of the Niles Market the past two years.

Briggs sold a few things Thursday morning, but said business is a lot slower at the market’s new location at the Riverfront Park Amphitheater than when it was in the parking lot of Lakeland Hospital a year ago.

“It’s been fairly slow, but has been picking up over the past couple weeks,” Briggs said. “I think people are starting to know we are here.”

Excalibur Bakery was one of six vendors set up this week at the Niles Market, which is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Thursday in the Riverfront Park Amphitheater. Vendors also have the opportunity to set up on one of the downtown streets during the evenings of the city’s Third Thursdays promotion, which takes place on the third Thursday of each month.

Maureen Adams and her son, Andy, were selling tie-dye shirts and driftwood art/home decor from their booth Thursday. Adams said it was her first day at the Niles Market, although they have sold at markets in Benton Harbor and Buchanan in the past.

“It’s a little slow, but we will be back next week to give it a try and see how it does,” she said.

The market is a partnership between Niles Main Street, Lakeland Hospital and the Niles-Buchanan YMCA.

Lisa Croteau, of Niles Main Street, said the slow start could be attributed to changing the day of the market from Friday (last year) to Thursday (this year) and the location of the market from Lakeland (last year) to the Riverfront Park Amphitheater.

“It has been a little slow going, but surely it is growing as more and more people learn about us,” she said. “We have between six and 10 vendors that come to the market depending on the week and plenty of room for more. We expect to get more as the season goes on.”

As for the new location, Croteau said they chose the amphitheater because it is enclosed and provides enough space around the amphitheater to accommodate many vendors.

“It really is a great place for the market,” she said.

Croteau said the market could expand to new days and locations if more vendors sign on.

Potential vendors should contact Croteau at (269) 687-4332.

Thursday’s market also featured the following vendors:

• Gil Bell’s organic produce and eggs (sells produce and eggs)

• Western Michigan University Fort St. Joseph Archaeology Project (provides information and merchandise from the Fort St. Joseph Archaeology site in Niles)

• Happy Paws Treats Bakery (homemade dog treats, animal accessories)

• Bric A Brac Rack (Re-purposed and up-cycled items)