Mypolonga’s foodie reputation secured with Lot 23 opening
Kelly Johnson’s dream of a cellar door-style outlet for local producers has come to fruition.
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Mypolonga’s reputation as the foodie capital of the Murraylands has been cemented with the opening of a retail hub for local producers.
Hundreds of people flocked to a market day at Lot 23, in the former Anglican church on Green Street, for its debut on Sunday.
Rose Martin, whose grandmother was the first Sunday school teacher at the old church, cut a ribbon to make things official.
Proprietor Kelly Johnson hoped Lot 23 would give Mypolonga something it had lacked previously: a meeting place, somewhere parents could hold playgroups and visitors could have a coffee.
“It’s somewhere to congregate ... without having to go into Murray Bridge,” she said.
“It’s just so important to me that it’s a community hub.
“It’s not about us making a buck, it’s about being part of the community.”
Sunday’s market day was an example of that philosophy: the netball club cooked a barbecue, the history group had a stall, Woolshed Road provided music and there were lawn games out the back for the kids.
The early reviews from visitors were glowing.
Sharon Thurston said she couldn’t wait to tell everybody to come and visit.
“It’s exactly what we needed,” she said.
“People want that paddock-to-plate experience.
“They can get it here now.”
David Heath said the town had needed something like this.
“The only reason to come in before was if you were going to the school or the post office,” he said.
Jeff and Ell Secomb, of Goolwa, said they planned to stock some Mypolonga produce at their own shop.
Local producers including Woodlane Orchard, Rio Vista Olives, Pomigold and Bakehouse Farms have all signed on to sell their goods at Lot 23, saving them the expense – and security risk – of operating their own cellar doors.
Sunday is not likely to be the last crazy day at the outlet.
Ms Johnson said she hoped to host more market days every two months, starting with a children’s day next time.
