August 25, 2007
Eastern Market Re-Opens
If anyone was worried that the crowds wouldn't come back to Eastern Market, fear not -- they're back, and in larger numbers than before. Today's inauguration of the East Hall -- the $1.5 million tent-like temporary structure that will house the displaced vendors until the South Hall is renovated -- saw a steady crowd of shoppers and gawkers alike, including Mayor Adrian Fenty. Meanwhile, across the street the South Hall remained boarded up and flanked by scaffolding, part of a $25 million renovation set to take up to two years to complete. And though the East Hall lacks the character and flavor of the South Hall, everyone was happy that their favorite vendors were back in business.
Pictures taken by Martin Austermuhle. More shots can be seen here.
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That was quick! I just got home from Eastern Market, and the photos where already posted. Nice job.
Is that tent have AC?
Yes, there is AC in the tent. It was good to see the guys at the Union Meat Company today, I had missed them.
I hate eastern market ... its horrible and the vendors are dirty, who buys food there?
I wonder how temporary this temporary structure will be?
who hates eastern market? have you BEEN to a grocery store in DC?
Uh no, i'm smart enough to live in MD
Please stay in MD, guest 7. Or live out your mean-spirited life even further away from DC. Thanks.
yeah... i will poor jackass
TJ: The so-called East Hall will be in use for 2 years, until repairs and renovations of the historic South Hall are completed.
Market Lunch won't open for another two weeks, so go up 7th Street to Tortilla Cafe, run by the Market’s Canales family, when hunger strikes.
Uh no, i'm smart enough to live in MD
That's like saying you're smart enough to pee in the sink instead of on the floor.
Jeebus, the barely literate Anonymous Idiots are getting depressing. It's almost as depressing as the time I ordered a pay-per-view movie called Chicks with Dicks only to discover it had almost nothing to do with Nixon Adminstration poultry agribusiness subsidies.
Uh no, i'm smart enough to live in MD
Mr. Maryland's comments exude disappointment and rejection. Pity the guy.
I live in Alexandria and I was there for the reopeining. Being from Philadelphia initially, Eastern Market reminds me of Reading Terminal Market so I fell in love with it immediately when I moved to the area. Even though there are plenty of nice grocery stores near me, I enjoy going to Capitol Hill to buy seafood, meats, cheeses, pastas etc...Why? because it supports local people who own independent businesses and who provide a quality product.
Besides, it's an opportunity to go to Market Lunch for breakfast.
I posted a nice slideshow of the opening on my blog. I'll link to it if it's ok. Let me know.
10,
You really think they are going to take it down after two years or just annex it as a new addition?
The structure is owned by a government agency that has a further use for it afterwards.
I went to Eastern Market Saturday with no clue that this tent was opening and I ended up in some B-roll on the Channel 4 News this morning!
Long live Eastern Market and any other venue with lots of free samples.
I went on Saturday and Market Lunch was closed. Does anyone know when it opens again?
Why does a large tent cost 1.5 million? Is it made out of dollar bills?
So I was just looking at those photos of the Mayor . . . he wears polo shirts with "Mayor Fenty" embroidered on them? REALLY?
Eastern Market is nice. But let's be honest. The meats are first rate, but a lot of the produce is actually from the DC Farmers market or other venues, where it's 1/2 the the cost or less, retail. And by comparison to many farmers markets the selection just isn't that amazing.
The vendors selling Asian furniture sortof crack me up. You can get the exact same stuff for 1/3 the price on ebay.
I like that it's a nice thing for the neighborhood to do, but I get a little tired of people deifying the goods there. I've seen better produce a lot of other places, often for less money.
And here lately (before the fire) it seems like some of the outdoor vendor operators were mostly peddling junk that nobody really wanted. Lots of fairly crappy third rate furniture with missing parts, some cheaply framed motel-quality art, and way more incense than this crowd is going to buy.
I also don't understand why it's taking $25 million to rebuild the building. Yes, it's going to need all new AC, wiring, bathrooms, roof, and windows. But how does that add up to $25 million?