Hollywood celebrities’ favorite farmers market in Malibu has been ordered to immediately change venues amid growing public safety concerns. The Legacy Park hotspot had been operating at the site after moving from the Los Angeles County Library parking lot on Civic Center Way. Thanks to its prime Malibu location, it regularly attracted high-profile locals. Over the years, stars such as Simon Cowell, Pierce Brosnan, Cindy Crawford, Hailey Bieber and fashion designer Betsey Johnson have been spotted. Hailey Bieber and Lori Harvey go shopping at the Malibu Farmers Market in July 2023. LESE / BACKGRID Model Cindy Crawford, her husband Rande Gerber, and their children Presley and Kaia take a family trip to the Malibu Farmers Market in 2013. Poersch / AKM-GSI Pierce Brosnan and his wife Keely Shaye Smith usually go to the Malibu Farmers Market on Sundays. Mike / Splash News Sign up for the California Morning Report newsletter with top California news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day. Thanks for signing up! City officials said Legacy Park “was not designed or approved for farmers market operations” and that the location was never intended to be a permanent location. “This is not about closing a farmers market that our community values,” City Manager Joe Irvin said in a statement Friday. Officials said that despite several attempts, the market’s temporary location continues to cause safety issues, parking shortages, blocked access to nearby businesses and permit violations. American Idol’s Simon Cowell has also been spotted at the Farmer’s Market in Legacy Park. GC Images Popular Malibu farmers market evacuated. Instagram/@malibufarmersmarket The City has offered a temporary location for the market right outside City Hall. Instagram/@malibufarmersmarket Legacy Park cannot safely handle the extra traffic and crowds, especially on weekends, city officials said. Vendors and market stalls take up approximately 40% of the Civic Center’s public parking, making parking difficult for business customers and local visitors. “We have worked to make the current agreement work, but we also have a responsibility to protect public safety and ensure that the city’s requirements are applied fairly,” the city manager added. While Los Angeles County reviews the market’s permanent license, the city has offered a temporary location just outside City Hall. Fashion designer Betsey Johnson had advocated in 2023 for the market to remain in the Legacy Park location. GC Images High-profile residents have consistently pressured city officials to keep the market at Legacy Park. In a 2023 letter to the editor published by The Malibu Times, designer Betsey Johnson made her stance clear, writing, “The Malibu Farmers Market has found its true home.” “The smiling faces of vendors and customers make the experience even more enjoyable. I am writing to ask that you continue to support our Malibu Farmers Market and vote unanimously to keep it at Legacy Park,” he wrote. Download the California Post app, follow us on social media, and subscribe to our newsletters California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedInCalifornia Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube,
