10/08/2026
When we opened Exeter 1892 Marketplace, I intentionally chose to be open 9 AM–9 PM, seven days a week.
I wanted us open on Sundays, Mondays and evenings because I knew weekends and days off are when people actually have time to wander, shop and enjoy downtown — especially visitors and Airbnb guests.
And truthfully, I wanted to keep it that way.
But instead of throwing ourselves a one-year anniversary party, I decided to do a deep dive into the business.
We analyzed every sale since opening — every day, every hour, every transaction — and used AI to help identify when people are actually shopping, how Farmers Market and special-event nights affect traffic, and how those patterns change during the holidays.
And really, our shoppers have already dictated our new hours.
The data simply showed us what you’ve been telling us through your purchases: when you shop, when you don’t, and which hours actually make sense for us to be open.
Do I love the answer? No. I really wanted to stay open seven days a week, 9–9.
But if I want the Marketplace to be here for the long haul, I have to listen to the numbers.
Effective immediately, our regular hours are:
MONDAY 10–6
TUESDAY 10–6
WEDNESDAY 11–8 during Farmers Market season
THURSDAY 11–6
FRIDAY 10–7
SATURDAY 10–7
SUNDAY CLOSED
Special-event nights will run later.
Thursday, October 15 — Witches Night Out: OPEN UNTIL 9 PM
Once Farmers Market season ends, our late-night focus will shift to the Christmas Open House Thursdays in December, when we’ll again stay open later.
And as we get closer to Christmas, we’ll expand hours during the weeks where last year’s data shows people actually shop more.
To my fellow small business owners: run your sales by day and by hour. Your customers may already be telling you exactly when you should be open.
