“Gilmore Girls” Joins the Sandy Community in Duke’s Farmstand

When thinking of popular small towns, many people’s thoughts drift towards the television show “Gilmore Girls” and its’ setting of Stars Hollow. Sandy, similar to Stars Hollow, is a small town with a tight knit community. While none of the iconic characters or businesses are in Sandy, aspects of “Gilmore Girls” have extended their reach into the Sandy community. Beginning their adventure on Jan. 16 was a new Sandy business: Duke’s Farmstand, a small farmstand inspired by “Gilmore Girls.”

Duke’s Farmstand was started by the same owners of Sourdough Sisters, a local business in Sandy. Candice Wiese and Corrine Konell (Sourdough Sisters owners) have been providing fresh bread, ingredients, and resources to people interested in making sourdough or enjoying fresh, homemade sourdough for over 14 years. Duke’s Farmstand is a separate entity from Sourdough Sisters, even though they are run by the same people.

Both Wiese and Konell homeschool their kids, leading to a desire to operate from home. 

“We decided that we wanted something that was more home-based and something that allowed us to have a little bit more freedom with what we offer, more creative freedom,” Wiese said. 

Wiese is an avid fan of “Gilmore Girls.” Additionally, her family loves taking opportunities to do themed things. This passion for the show, along with an inherited passion for theming, influenced the decision to create an atypical farmstand. 

“I wanted something that was an immersive experience,” Weise said. “People who would get it would get it, and people who don’t will still be able to enjoy it.” 

Duke’s Farmstand acts as a community space where people can shop for fresh, organic, local products in their neighborhood and provides a space for networking. 

“We have a community board in there [Duke’s Farmstand]. We want people to feel like they can come in here and put their flyers for their lost cat or their business cards and use that to help promote other small businesses,” Wiese said.

Inside Duke’s Farmstand are products by Duke’s, the name of the Wiese’s farm where Duke's Farmstand resides. Wiese and Konell’s families are farmers, and grew up immersed in the farming experience. Duke’s sells eggs and freeze dried fruit, along with produce in the summer, with all products sourced from Wiese farm.

Duke’s Farmstand is intentionally small. Sourdough Sisters, Toxic Free Homestead, Cottontails Acres Farmstand, Home Grown Joy, and Hey Cake Girl are all permanent vendors. A few other vendors can be found inside Duke’s on a rotating basis. 

“We want to keep it smaller, so as to not overwhelm, and have it nicely curated with selected vendors,” Konell said. In February, a calendar of vendor dates will be released for the public's use. 

A variety of products are sold including soaps, bread, bakery goods, florals, canned goods, and even home-care products such as laundry detergent. The intention was for Duke’s Farmstand to act as a back-road store. 

“We’ve been doing this for a long time now and we feel like a lot of people know about it, so why not use that to help other people and give back to the community, especially if people are just getting started and they want exposure,” Konell said. “We definitely want to help the community.” Wiese and Konell even sell small portions of flour, sugar, and any other baking necessities to offer further convenience. 

“If you live down the street and you don’t feel like going to the store, you can hop in here,” Wiese said.

Vendors who set up and sell goods at the stand pay no commission fee and have their own payment areas within the stand, in the form of Venmo or cash. Currently, there is a vendor waiting list, but “everybody will get a chance,” Wiese said. 

Duke’s Farmstand is open every day of the week from 9 a.m. to dusk. All products are available during these times –  but bread and cookies made by Sourdough Sisters are only available Fridays. Pre-orders are an option on their website https://www.sourdough-sisters.com/, which includes more information about their business. 

A unique aspect of Duke’s Farmstand is the shopping experience as a self-serve farmstand. In return, this means only exact change is accepted. 

Even though it’s just starting out, Konell and Wiese have received positive feedback from the community. “Everybody was really receptive and super excited,” Wiese said. 

Duke’s Farmstand brings a community gathering experience with a twist, by adding “Gilmore Girls” components. With the iconic yellow chicken sign, various blue hues, fair lights, and “Gilmore Girls” music playing in the background, Duke’s Farmstand acts as a most enjoyable gathering place. This venue in Sandy will continue Konell and Wiese's goal of supporting the community while also providing an original, nostalgic experience.