Shepherd's Old Field Market — Local services in Leonardtown

I would like to start my review of this marketplace as a wonderful collection of goods from local artisans and a great collection of unique and one of a kind gifts. This review in no way reflects on the artists that are showing their wares at this boutique collective as there were so many unique and creative items that we enjoyed seeing.

However, our trip was cut short due to their new policy on bags. While I understand anti-theft for small businesses, I do not believe that this situation was handled well.

My family member was wearing a purse backpack approximately the size of 8”x6”, which carries life saving medications (epipen/rescue inhaler) as well as her wallet and cell phone. I will also mention that she dresses goth and has bright colored hair and piercings as I speculate this might have contributed to a bias.

We had been shopping an hour by this point and were in a section of the store where the manager/owner (I assume) was discussing rental space with a potential new artist/client. It was all of a sudden an issue that my family member had a “backpack” on and that she needed to leave it at the front desk. Thinking it was in consideration that some items in shops were fragile, my family member offered to carry it by hand in front of her with the straps like a purse because that is what it was. She was then informed that it wasn’t allowed due to the anti-theft policy and the manager was very blatant about how these artists pay their mortgages with the income they get from this market and that other businesses around the area are doing it as well. The only business that this manager mentioned was a gas station, which has an entirely different clientele for theft. The interaction was extremely antagonistic but my family member finally relented to put it in the “secure” area. The manager didn’t even point out the bag that my husband was carrying with honey we had purchased even though it was bigger than the purse. We also realized after the fact that my husband’s cargo pant pockets were bigger than her bag. He could have fit all of her stuff in one pocket and her bag rolled up in the other. That is how ludicrous the call out for this specific bag was.

The “secure” area is a shelf by the front door. They have bike locks on it to put through the straps of the bag. Anyone can steal from it and it is easy access from the front door. The employee at the nearby counter, while she was nice, was not paying attention to the shelf at all. You had to lock your bag up and give the key back to the counter. This is not secure for multiple reasons. First, it does not stop other people opening up bags and taking things. Second, it is accessible to others who have access to the same key as it isn’t in the sole possession of the person who secured their bag(s).

My family member’s bag was the only bag on the shelf and about a third of the female patrons had purses larger than that bag. It was at this point that my family member decided to take her bag back to the car as it was obvious that she was being singled out and this was a poor solution that would only change the main target of theft occurring at the location to that shelf. We did not stay much longer, as all of us were upset with how my family member had been treated on her birthday. This had been one of the places she was excited to show us during our visit and has now turned into a business she will no longer patronize.

As handmade small business owners ourselves, we were looking at this as a potential venue for our own goods when we move to Maryland early next year. After seeing how this woman treated customers regarding this new policy, I was appalled. We have run our own small business for handmade goods for over ten years and a successful business plan accounts for some theft/shrinkage (even handmade goods). Treating customers like they are potential thieves is not the way to make a good name for yourself. Do better Shepherd’s Old...

I've lived here for 3 years and this was my first time visiting. Will definitely not be my last. I could spend hours and loads of money here. It's really ally quaint and cute... reminds me of an outdoor market somewhere with the shops overlooking a central "street" with cafes and coffee shops. They've done a wonderful job with the ambiance and selection of vendors. Lots of handmade knick knacks and items you never knew you needed.

I went specifically for Dixie Belle Paint which was sold at Swann's. I was a little confused because it wasn't crowded so I didn't realize you check out from all shops at the central cashier right at the entrance. You just browse and grab what you need from any of the shops and check out at one location. Genius! It's awesome how it gives small businesses a place to sell their goods where they might otherwise not have access to. Can't...

I’ve stopped by a few times in the past. Usually hit or miss, but fun to look. Stopped by recently with a friend from out of town. We were walking down the hall and a very rude woman, I assume the manager, told us we had to lock our bags up (they were regular sized purses) in these little baskets they had that were in no way secure or put them back in our car. It was pouring down the rain, so that wasn’t an option. She continued to rant about people stealing, instead of politely explaining their policy or even giving us a second to respond to her. We walked out and I...