Sunday, March 02, 2008

My Town Monday

Detroit's Eastern Market

The Eastern Market is one of the few places in the racially divided city of Detroit where people come together on a weekly basis.

Every city of any size has one: Reading Terminal in Philly, the Farmer’s Market in LA , the Union Square Market in Manhattan. In Detroit, it’s called the Eastern Market and it’s a permanent group of retail and wholesale structures with the outdoor component offered on Saturdays. This is our version.

Detroit's Eastern Market (1891) is the largest historic public market district in the United States. Every Saturday, Michigan's market attracts more than 100 farmers and vendors from Michigan, Ohio, and Canada selling fruits, vegetables, breads, baked goods, jellies, jams, honey, apple cider, cheeses, spices, herbs, plants and flowers. Flower days in mid May are incredible with acres of flowers to choose from. At Christmas, Michigan’s many tree farms sell their wares.

More than 26,000 Detroiters, suburbanites and tourists shop here most weeks during the spring, summer and fall. The prices are outstanding as is the selection. But the experience is even more exhilarating.

Right now the Eastern Market District has made plans to revitalize itself. The district would like to be more than a once a week destination for veggies shoppers. To see the plans, go to

http://www.detroiteasternmarket.com/

Do you have a market like this in your town?

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

These days, Patti, Reading Terminal in Philly is a 7 days a week experience...but, at least as late as 2001 when a bunch of WorldCon attendees were looking to do so, there aren't too many places indoors there for a group of ten people to sit together and talk and be heard. Collingswood, NJ, has something weekly, and a daily farmers' market store down the road a piece.

Travis Erwin said...

We have a seasonal farmer's market where you can buy fruits and vegetable from the back of growers, pickups but nothing like this.

John McFetridge said...

In Toronto we have quite a few seasonal farmer's markets around town and, of course, the St. Lawrence Market:

http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/

I remember on the last day of Boucherson in Madison how there were venders set up all around the capitol building, it was a great atmosphere.

Barrie said...

I love markets like this. Nothing beats wandering from stall to stall. And thank you for the photo.

(I linked to you from my Hometown Monday Post. :) )

pattinase (abbott) said...

Aside from the big market downtown, most suburbs have a smaller markets although this defeats the idea of us coming together in one spot.

Bouchercon in Madison was cow city. Here in Detroit, they did cars and in my community frogs. A nice town.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Reading Terminal-did we have some good cheesesteaks there last time we visited! When I was a kid, we never went there. My parents lived in their neck of Philly (Mt. Airy)exclusively.

Lana Gramlich said...

Interesting--thanks for sharing! Our little town couldn't support a market like this, but we do have a year-round produce stand. Pop over to my MTM post for a gander at the picture. :)

pattinase (abbott) said...

Abita Springs is about as far away in feel as you can get from Detroit. Thanks for taking me on a little spring break.

Lyzzydee said...

I wish we did have a market of any sort in my town !!! The nearest is in the neighbouring town, but its a little run down now and way past its best. We do have French markets before Christmas, the traders come over from France (sometimes Germany as well) and they sell unusual goods, and gorgeous smelling food, mmmmmm

pattinase (abbott) said...

Hi Lizzy Dee. Thanks for bringing England into My Town Mondays. I really miss it.

Todd Mason said...

In response to your now-vanished post, Patti:

Well, you are needlessly worrying, and yes, the Clintons, as I believe I've noted before (and should not be news to anyone), are no strangers to dirty tricks on the campaign trail. I'm not sure which of the leading Dems would be an easier mark for McCain, but frankly, I suspect both will beat him. Btw, I would've been more convinced by Bloomberg's statement of not-running had it not been the lede to a campaign speech.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Todd-I decided to see where the chips fall today before airing my conspiracy theories. But I am worried...

The Anti-Wife said...

Seattle has the Pike Place Market. It opened in 1907 and goes year round. We also have lots of neighborhood street markets that are open from the end of March through October.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Oh,I've been to that one in Seattle. Very nice, but what isn't in Seattle.

Anonymous said...

Traffic and rent, Patti...traffic and rent. And sometimes the atmosphere around the traffic.

Debbielou said...

I love markets! - my town has one every Thursday and Saturday but it is very small

pattinase (abbott) said...

Okay, Debbie Lou, I want to come visit you asap.

Melanie Miday-Stern said...

Thanks for sharing this! My town has farmer's market once a month. People seem to like it!