A life-size nutcracker towers over shoppers at the Downtown Holiday Market last year in Northwest Washington. Patricia Buxton, a candlemaker, recently received an email inviting her to apply to sell her merchandise at D.C.’s annual Downtown Holiday Market, a popular outdoor event where her past patrons have included Vice President Harris.
“It feels like two parents are getting divorced and the kids have to pick a side,” Buxton said. “I’m so confused.” Michael Berman, president of Diverse Markets Management, is refusing to relinquish control of the market. He said in an interview that he is in the process of getting the necessary permits
Asked to specify the amount in rent reductions, Sarah Epelman of BerlinRosen, a public-relations firm representing DowntownDC, said in an email that “we are happy to share more detailed information after we publicly launch the new plan with The Makers Show.” She declined to answer further questions.Berman said the BID has never shared complaints with him about the quality of the market’s operation. He questioned why the group would seek to replace his D.C.
It was at the end of May when Berman learned from a vendor he knew that the Makers Show was inviting sellers to apply for booths. As part of his contract with the BID, Berman said his company owns the vendor list, and he questioned whether DowntownDC was violating the terms of their arrangement.