Smiley City Council talks Virtual Shady Oaks Market

The Smiley City Council met for their regularly scheduled meeting Wednesday, June 19 at Smiley City Hall.

One of the agenda items that was discussed was a Virtual Shady Oaks Market; City Secretary Scott Jewell spoke on behalf of the market organizer.

Jewell said the face-to-face market has been taking a break, due the heat, but organizers have thrown together the idea of doing a virtual market via Facebook.

“She's recommending that she uses the current market public group directly. She sent out a poll asking the vendors if they wanted to do a Facebook Live sale or post items or request shoppers contact them if they're interested in those items,” Jewell said.

“She was looking at the vendors who paid a $10 registration fee to the city and she was still collect her $4 vendor cost,” Jewell added.

Councilwoman Diane Moreno asked Jewell if this is going to cost the city any money.

Jewell said it’s only the $4 fee for promoting the market online.

The council approved the agenda item, 5-0.

In other business, the council talked to Justo and Lisa Suarez about the use of the old city hall building for a German bakery.

Justo Suarez said he has been doing this has a hobby for many years and his wife, Lisa, is from Southern Germany.

Lisa Suarez has been baking for quite a few years and selling her baked goods at the Pearl in San Antonio, Justo Suarez said.

“She sold out, she sells thousands and thousands of baked goods. The last sale that she did last Christmas, she sold 4,000 pastries in just four days,” Justo Suarez said.

The plan is to be open three days a week to see how things are going to work, Justo Suarez said.

“I think it will take us a few months to get the building up to speed. I'm going to redo all of the inside, including the floors, and bring them back up to speed and repaint the building,” Justo Suarez said.

The council approved the agenda item, 5-0.

The council approved the following agenda items:

--approved to keep the city council time to 4 p.m.

--approved to create a grant fund at Third Coast Bank.