Dock Lines: Liberty Public Market opens in Liberty Station

If you’re anything like my foodie friends and me, you’ve been eagerly awaiting the launch of Liberty Public Market, the much-anticipated public market that’s finally opened at Liberty Station, adjacent to Stone Brewing. It’s open daily from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. By press time, with the arrival of Baker & Olive, an olive oil and condiment shop, 26 of the planned 28 vendors, mostly eateries, will have opened. The final two will debut in about six weeks, according to General Manager Josh Zanow. There’s potential for an additional four stalls. The inspiration for Liberty Public Market (2820 Historic Decatur Road) derived from Seattle’s Pike Place, San Francisco’s Ferry Landing and a host of public markets around the country, including Zanow’s favorite from his former Napa home, Oxbow Public Market. With San Diego’s abundance of fresh produce, seafood, flowers and food artisans, plus its legendary farmers markets and creative food trucks, a public market seems a natural fit. Yet the last effort closed after 18 months in 2014. Spearheaded by farmers market maven Catt White and visionary entrepreneur Dale Steele who developed a public market in an old Barrio Logan factory, it fell victim to its difficult location, questionable parking and inadequate funding. White and Steele’s...