SOUTH BEND -- As the Christmas shopping season swings into high gear, some Michiana business owners may be a little nervous. Talk of a slow economy this year will probably make many of them nervous as they check their ledgers come the end of the year.

But there's a tiny pocket in the middle of South Bend where you would have to listen closely to hear any talk of a a sluggish economy.

That place is the Farmers Market. When WSBT News visited the market on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the walkways were busy and the talk was upbeat. To witness the scene and hear the merchants, you would think the spirit of a bad economy had simply forgotten to stop at this market, located across the street from the St. Joseph River, near Indiana University South Bend.

"Believe it or not, a lot of people are wanting to buy local and buy green so they're coming here more than the store so the economy has not taken a downfall here," said John Sawyer of Sawyer's Meats.

It could be the desire to "buy green" that draws so many people to the market in the face of a perceived bad economy. Or it could be the uniqueness of the shops. Merchants here sell items that customers simply cannot find elsewhere.

Sawyer says he is a fourth-generation owner of the market. His great grandfather was one of the first merchants to set up shop at the Farmers Market in the early 1920s. The talk then was of the Great Depression.

When Sawyer's customers step up to his meat case they know who'll they see in the white apron on the other side of the glass.

Debbie Jerome took her passion and is now turning it into profit. She has been painting pictures of people and other images on Christmas ornaments for about 20 years. She had been doing it pro bono for family and friends. But last May she moved into a booth at the Farmers Market and now gets paid.

"It's been going very well," she said of her business as she worked on another ornament. She told us that it's satisfying when her customers enjoy her work to the point of coming to tears.

"I've had several (who have cried upon seeing their image on an ornament)," she said. "It's pretty powerful. It's very special. It's a wonderful feeling."

When we visited the market, the cafe was full of diners. It was hard to find a seat at the lunch counter. (Yes, a real lunch counter with real swivel-type stools.)

While the long history and unique shops and crafts may be the attractions that draw some people to the Farmers Market during a time when $4/gallon gasoline prices are still a recent memory, one merchant says he thinks he knows the real reason for the market's current success.

Joel Camp sells antique items in a corner of the market. He predicts that the whole country is on the verge of an economic upturn. He says the Farmers Market is just getting a head start.

"Gas has gone down to a more affordable price and the stock market is kind of holding its own right now, " he said. "We're soon to have a new president. So people are looking on up to happier days and (that) hopefully things will change.

"I'm very optimistic and I think the majority of Americans are now more optimistic than pessimistic as they were say, a year ago."

Whatever the reason, talk of a recession is one item that is unavailable here.