Rumors about the Towson Farmers Market moving off Allegheny Avenue are both true and untrue.

Since June 9, the block of Allegheny Avenue just west of the Towson roundabout has been closed to traffic each Thursday, from 10:45 a.m. to 3 p.m., for the farmers market, which is sponsored by the Towson Chamber of Commerce.

"It's always a very successful venture each year," said Nancy Hafford, chamber executive director, noting there's a waiting list for the 45 vendor spaces the chamber rents out.

But the chamber plans to move the market to the 400 block of Washington Avenue during Thursdays in November. Then, on Nov. 17, the market will close for the 2011 season, she said.

Though the market draws customers to some shops and eateries on Allegheny Avenue, it's not good for some other businesses because of the traffic and parking problems it generates, she said.

Besides, she said, "the farmers don't have a lot to sell by then, and we can take them over to the Washington Avenue plaza where they will fit in nicely and we won't be interfering with anybody's business.'

But rest assured, the farmers market will be back on Allegheny Avenue when it reopens next June for the 2012 season, Hafford said.

"We would never even consider moving to Washington on a permanent basis," she said. "We would need three times the space that is available there."

The owner of Kent Fisher Furs, at 23 West Allegheny, is among the business owners who are grateful for the change of venue, even if it's only for three weeks.

"The market interrupts our business every Thursday, less so during the summer but more so in fall," said Carl Fisher. "Because the street is blocked off we can't get new or existing customers into the store. They don't want to put up with the headaches.

"In the middle of a recession, it's magnified 10 times over," Fisher said.

Some customers resorted to parking illegally and got towed, he said.

"Twice I've had to bail people out at Pollards to retain their good faith," he said.. "They were furious."

Nevertheless, "I didn't object, because I knew it helped some of out neighbors," he said.

Historically, the market ended in October, but when the chamber extended it into November several years ago without any input from the merchants, it was time for a change, he said.

"I asked for assistance and, graciously, was granted it," he said.

On Washington Avenue, the market won't impede traffic flow, Fisher said.

"All told it's a reasonable solution," he said. "We're grateful for Nancy Hafford's help in instituting the change."