Former trader returns to Newark Market with Maria’s Jacket Potatoes van

The ‘Scarf Lady’ who worked as a market trader for over 20 years made her return to the market with a food van.

Maria Smith, who used to own Maria’s Boutique on Church Street, has opened Maria's Just Jackets on Newark market.

When she previously worked in the market she had two to four market stalls selling anything from greeting cards, to socks and scarves.

Maria said: “My parents have always had fish and chip shops all my life so I started in the fish and chip shop when I was 12, my dad's first chip shop.

“I love being in the market, I am in my home.”

With a lot of experience working around food, from fish and chip shops to working at Curtis making sandwiches for ten years, Maria decided to invest in something different at the market.

Not only does she offer several options of jacket potatoes, from chilli con carne, minced beef and chicken tikka masala to the simple yet famous option of cheese and beans but filled rolls and hot and cold drinks.

She added: “The support we have had is amazing, on my Facebook page and everywhere, the reviews are phenomenal.

“I can definitely tell that this is the way forward for me.

“If you give good food out, people are going to come back to you and my prices are quite reasonable, they are not over the top.”

To the question of why is her business special, Maria said: “Because it is, it is Maria.

“I wouldn’t serve anyone anything I wouldn’t have myself.

“At the end of the day, I have grown up with the food businesses through my dad, I have watched how he has been successful in his businesses and I know my food is good.”

Maria's Just Jackets is at the Newark Market every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from early morning until around 3pm.

When Maria first started in the market, she not only found her love for the market but true love, with her husband Garry Smith, who used to have a market stall opposite to her.

She has now returned to the market, with the support of Garry and is looking at retiring in the next four years.

“People have to take advantage now because if they don’t, they will miss out,” concluded Maria.