Two programs that have attracted shoppers to Rye for many years have announced their plans to return.
The Rye Farmer’s Market, first held in 2004, will open for the 2026 season on April 26. A rotating roster of 27 vendors will sell everything from baked goods to organic produce on Sunday mornings through Thanksgiving in the parking lot off Theodore Fremd Avenue behind Purchase Street.
Three new merchants will join the cadre of small businesses selling their wares in tented stalls from 8:30 am to 1 pm: The Wild Radish (prepared foods), Liquid Fables (locally sourced canned cocktails) and Squeaky Clean Snacks (nutrient-rich kids’ snacks).
Another returning downtown event is the Rye Chamber of Commerce’s annual downtown sidewalk sale. This year the sale will take place on July 16, 17, and 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Chamber Co-President Samantha Benson expects that once again local businesses will provide shoppers with great deals on merchandise and services.
Meanwhile, Baxter in Rye began selling men’s and women’s apparel on March 19 at 57 Purchase Street, the former site of a Capital One bank branch that closed during the pandemic.
The upscale emporium enjoyed strong sales during its first few weeks, said founder Timothy Baxter, a longtime retail executive and Rye resident who hopes this store will be the first of many.
“We actually sold out of many items on the first week, but were able to get reorders in quickly to fill the demand,” he said.
Several new businesses are expected to add more excitement to the downtown shopping experience in the next few months in spaces formerly occupied by The Snackery, The Pub, and TD Bank.
