CAMANO ISLAND — In the early days of the Camano Commons, island residents were buzzing about having a place to come together, to be a community.

It never happened.

Now, a group of area residents want to revitalize the unusual commercial village at Terry’s Corner, a 16-acre triangle that forms the island’s prominent northern gateway.

Led by Camano Island resident Dan Koffman, the group is planning a weekly outdoor market at the Camano Commons. The market could open this summer.

“We’re working hard to make this happen for a lot of reasons,” said Koffman, a local artist. “We think the community will dig having a place for really nice performances and really nice down-home stuff.”

Koffman envisions building permanent, outdoor canopies that would shield vendors and customers from the elements. Musicians, singers, poets and actors could perform while people shop. The island’s artists could have places to display their art, and children from nearby 4-H groups could show off their animals.

Items sold at the market could be goods produced on Camano Island.

“It would be the flavor of the community,” Koffman said.

If people come to the market or hang out for the entertainment, businesses at the Camano Commons could draw from more customers. That could encourage more businesses to move into the empty office spaces at the commercial village, Koffman said.

“We have this great facility,” he said. “It’s only sin is that it’s underused.”

The group is researching where to get the money to pay for the canopies. Also, the group is looking for vendors who would want to work at the market this summer, Koffman said.

Business owners at Camano Commons are on board with the project.

Bonnie Brindle, co-owner of Brindle’s International Cuisine, opened the restaurant with her husband in November 2004, right after construction of the commercial village was finished.

At the time, the plan was to have various vendors and entertainers at Terry’s Corner, Brindle said. People were excited about having a place to go on weekends or after work.

People are still excited by the possibility, Brindle said.

“The potential is huge here,” she said. “People need a place to go, people need a place to gather. That’s what people are looking for. I see this as a fantastic opportunity for people to have a place to go.”

Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.