Ak-Chin Indian Community Vekol Market Hosts Anniversary Event on April 7

Written by

Ak-Chin Indian Community Chairman Robert Miguel

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The Vekol Market celebrates its 5th anniversary on Friday, April 7, with a celebration that is open to the public.

Bring the whole family! The festivities run from 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the outside parking lot area. Shade will be available so not to worry! Inflatable jumping castles and face painting promises fun for the kids.

Bring your appetite – the barbecue special offered outside serves up pulled pork, baked beans, potato salad, and macaroni salad for only $5 per plate. Food will also be available inside; the Café will be running a small menu. Vendors will offer beverage taste testing, along with booths to showcase and sell different wares. There will also be snow cones and cotton candy available.

The market started as a small deli and two-pump gas station, which was run by the Robinette family for 30 years. The family leased the facility from the Ak-Chin Indian Community. The community later decided to rebuild, expand, and run the market. The small market saw a steady flow of customers, so the community added a cafe, bakery, dining room with tables and chairs, and outside seating under a cabana.

Nine gas pumps have also been added. This was all part of a master plan to help meet the needs of the growing community.

After the market’s expansion, there was substantial building in the Community for the Library, Learning Center, Water Reclamation Center, Police Department, Fire Department and Civil Courts. Workers on these projects needed a place to grab breakfast or lunch, shop and get gas, so it served the Community well to expand the market.

Due to new housing developments in the Community, the market is busier than ever, and its best sellers are hamburgers, fry bread, and breakfast burros. The café offers your choice of 8 ounce or 12 ounce burgers. The famous fry bread is freshly made on site, too, with different variations like Indian taco, red chili, bean and cheese or plain, the breakfast burritos are a huge hit in the morning and are made fresh daily.

The Vekol Market is located at 47021 W. Farrell Road in Maricopa. Whatever you’re doing on April 7, make time to stop by the market for good times and good food!

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Carolyn Sostrom

Carolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle. She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*. With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower. She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.