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Coastside Farmers Markets Bring Fresh, Local Flavor to Half Moon Bay and Pacifica

Fresh produce, local vendors, and a strong sense of community come together each week at the Coastside Farmers Markets, serving both Half Moon Bay and Pacifica. These vibrant markets offer residents and visitors alike the chance to support local agriculture while enjoying some of the freshest seasonal goods the California coast has to offer.

From crisp vegetables and just-picked fruit to artisanal products and handmade goods, the markets showcase a wide variety of offerings from Coastside farmers and small businesses. Whether you're shopping for weekly groceries or simply strolling through with a cup of coffee, the markets provide a welcoming space to connect with local growers and neighbors.

Operating in both Half Moon Bay (Saturday: 9 am -1 pm) and Pacifica (Wednesday: 2 pm - 6 pm), the Coastside Farmers Markets make it easy for community members across the coast to access high-quality, locally sourced food. Each location reflects the unique character of its community while sharing a common mission: supporting sustainable agriculture and strengthening the local economy.

Beyond shopping, the markets serve as a gathering place where conversations happen, relationships grow, and the community comes together around fresh, healthy food.

For those looking to eat well while supporting local farmers, the Coastside Farmers Markets in Half Moon Bay and Pacifica are a must-visit weekly destination.

The scent of salt, frying calamari, and decades of local lore usually filled the air at the Ketch Harbor Pub at Pillar Point Harbor. But on a sunny March morning in 2026, those smells were replaced by the harsh tang of diesel fuel and a sickening, paper-thin feeling in the air.

David and Mishelle Westendorf, owners of the beloved restaurant—formerly known as the Ketch Joanne—watched from the pier as an employee taped a white paper notice onto their front door. It wasn't a menu update. It was an eviction notice from the San Mateo County Harbor District, demanding over $155,000 in unpaid rent.

For Mishelle, it was a "punch in the gut." For months, the restaurant had been battling more than just rising costs. David, who handled the intricate logistics and payroll of their businesses, was deep in a desperate, 10-month battle against Stage 4 cancer. “We're trying to renegotiate because my husband is dying and we need help,” Mishelle says she has pleaded to lower their $20,500 monthly rent to $12,500 while they fought for life. But the Harbor District, citing their own budgetary constraints and the accumulating debt, had officially lost patience. The notice was a culmination of a tense, months-long standoff between the Pelagic Hospitality Group—the operators—and the San Mateo Harbor District.

The Day the Music Stopped

Reports are that when the notice was served, employees, worried about their own livelihoods, demanded their paychecks. David was too sick to manage the crisis, forcing Mishelle to act as both restaurant owner and caregiver. "Back at Ketch, employees were confused and angered by the eviction notice," she recalled, with 16 staff members walking out just before opening hours on that Saturday.

The community, which views the Ketch as an anchor of local culture, was deeply split. Some pointed to the mounting debt—which began to pile up when full rent stopped being paid in September—saying business is business. Others saw the eviction as a cold, bureaucratic act, prioritizing dollars over the life of a family who had served the harbor for years.

Aftermath

On Instagram, the restaurant announced its closure, accusing the District of greed. While a few of their other businesses continued to operate, the heart of the Ketch Harbor Pub was silenced. The eviction leaves a vacancy at the 17 Johnson Pier—a spot that for decades had been synonymous with lively music, fresh seafood, and, community cheer.

PCT sincerely hopes some agreement can still be reached.

This story is based on various reports regarding the eviction of Ketch Harbor Pub in March 2026. Read more Half Moon Bay news and see Harbour District meetings, as well as HMB City Council meetings at www.PacificCoast.tv

#PCTcares #ketch #HalfMoonBay #KetchHarborPub #PacificCoastTv

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Coastside Farmers Market!

Coastside Farmers Markets Bring Fresh, Local Flavor to Half Moon Bay and Pacifica

CLOSING OF KETCH?

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