Watching Eastern Market change over 15 years of buying there

I started going to Eastern Market back in 2008 when I was just starting my little hot sauce business out of my kitchen. Back then you could get a whole box of peppers for 12 bucks and there were maybe 3 or 4 other small food makers set up near the sheds. Now I see 20+ vendors selling artisan everything and a single basket of heirloom tomatoes runs you 8 dollars. The crowds are way bigger too, especially on Saturdays, which is good for business but parking is a nightmare compared to the old days. Has anyone else who's been around that long noticed the vibe shifting from more of a farmer's market to a weekend event spot?

3 comments

3 Comments

phoenixw1125d ago

Watched that whole place turn into a farmer market cosplaying as a food festival. The pepper guys used to haggle with you over a crate, now they act like they're selling art. Prices went up way faster than quality did. Still go there for the energy but I miss when it felt like a real market instead of a weekend photo op.

wood.faith25d ago

Lol the pepper guys charging art prices is exactly why the place still has energy though. Without the markup and the whole "curated experience" vibe it would just be another dusty lot with overpriced tomatoes. People pay more because they want the show, the photos, the story. The old haggling days were fun but they also meant the vendors were barely scraping by. Now they can actually make a living and the place stays open past noon. If it was still a "real market" nobody would be going on a Saturday afternoon, it would be dead by 9am.

matthewdixon25d ago

You ever have a buddy who stopped going because he said it felt less like shopping and more like a stage?