COOS BAY — The Downtown Farmers Market was crowded Wednesday morning. And crowds like these are the main reason Manager Sarah Crawford added another day.

“As you can see, we’re very busy,” Crawford said.

The Coos Bay Downtown Association recently received City Council approval to add Sundays, Crawford said.

She wanted to hold the additional market on the weekend to make it more accessible to customers and tourists who couldn’t attend during the week. But adding Saturdays wouldn’t work because many of the vendors have other obligations that day. Pony Village Mall offers a Saturday farmers market, as does Bandon.

“Vendors go to other places like Brookings, Port Orford and Eugene,” Crawford added.

So a Sunday Farmers Market has been scheduled to begin in mid-August. Though the day of opening has not been determined, it will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., she said.

Approximately 40 vendors set up stands on Wednesdays, selling produce and homemade crafts. Crawford said more are clamoring to rent space.

Crawford said she was looking at adding a day so she could include these vendors, many of whom are artists. At the same time, she hopes to help the limping downtown economy.

“This is the most foot traffic we see here all week and we desperately need it,” Crawford said. “Sundays are pretty desolate down here. I’m doing it because of the popularity and because the demand is here.”

Crawford pointed out the three large, empty storefronts along Central Avenue near U.S. Highway 101, where the market is located.

“Empty, ugly,” Crawford said. “I don’t know.”

Though some downtown businesses are closed on Sundays, Crawford said she’s had promises from shop owners that they would open Sundays if there were a market.

The Indoor Crafters Co-op and Farmers Market at 158 Central Ave., now open year-round Wednesdays through Saturdays, plans to add Sundays when the market opens.

“If they have an outside market, we are here and up and selling here, too,” said Linda McCoy, one of a group of owners. “We’d probably do 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.”

Jerry Klink, a tie-dye T-shirt vendor, won’t be interested this year. He also happens to be manager of the Coquille farmers market, which runs on Thursdays.

“Three markets — that would be overkill,” Klink said. “Maybe next year.”

Crawford said she plans on featuring more local artists’ work on Sundays than on Wednesdays, but she still hopes for produce vendors and crafters.

“It might start out small,” she said.

Single booths cost $20, and vendors must have liability insurance. Vendors are listed in Farmers Market advertisements. For more information, call Crawford at 266-9706.