Markets On Rokeby, Corner Rokeby and Bagot Roads, Subiaco WA 6008.
Elephant in the Room … Markets on Rokeby could definitely use some Novocaine for the Soul. This is not so much a review as a lament for lost opportunities.
When MOR opened they had some established Street Food vendors and a fair few newbies. We went in the first couple of weeks and the food was pretty good.
Then, just a few weeks later, the markets were half the size, both vendor and visitor wise. What happened? No one seems to know. But the Event organisers are sure keeping a low profile. I’ve yet to track down a Company name associated with the markets.
I have a few ideas to toss around. Maybe the old school vendors just up and left because the crowds didn’t meet expectations. And, it could have been that Subiaco residents didn’t really embrace the Markets. Perhaps the Bricks and Mortar Restaurants objected to food vendors sitting outside their venues.
The Markets then suddenly closed down for four months. Without mentioning it on their FB. This was inconvenient for people who turned up with not a stall to be found.
Fast forward to April 2016 and the Markets have reopened. But now only operate on Sundays. I let them breathe and visited a few weeks in.
To be honest, it was hard to find the actual market. It used to stretch four blocks from Roberts Road to Bagot Road. Now it sparsely covers one block. Visitors seem thin on the ground. But as I was leaving the Football Crowd came pounding down the pavement towards me like a wave. So things could have improved after that. Well, at least until the Footy started.
MOR is a mishmash of food and retail vendors. There were a few food vendors I recognised but the rest were new to me.
Subiaco deserves better than this Market. Both the Council and the Event Management team need to up their game. Someone needs to take ownership of this Project.
Purchased two dishes, from different vendors. A few bites into both dishes had me throwing the food away. I’m not going to point any fingers at the individual stall owners. But I will ask the question, why is Event Management not tasting the food coming out of these Stalls?
The Subiaco Community deserves something like the Twilight Hawkers Market in the City. Or, a community market like the Maylands Hawkers Market @ The Rise. Both these markets attract established Street Food Vendors and huge crowds. Continuity is also guaranteed, with favourite stalls turning up weekly or on a rotating roster.
I am not a resident of Subiaco. My interest in the Market offers me no financial gain. I’m just an avid supporter of Street Food Events and hate to see this one losing its way.
Note: MOR have now closed and will not be re-opening. Current as of July 2016.