Stats:
400 W. Lexington St., Baltimore, Maryland 21201
(Between Eutaw, Lexington, Greene & Saratogo Streets – A two city block footprint.)
Open year-round in a covered building.
Monday – Saturday, 8:30am – 6pm
140 Merchants, 80+ are food, roughly 75% of which sell prepared foods.
Other vendors selling their wares include, jewelry, clothing, movies, flowers, crafts, and so on.
Back Story:
Boasts being the world’s largest continuously running market, for over six generations. Housed since 1782 on the original site donated by General Howard, an American Revolutionary hero, and named for the Battle of Lexington. In the early years farmers gathered and traded directly from their wagons, but in 1803 the first shed was built. The market grew steadily, adding vendors and reaching its full growth a half century later. A fire in 1949 leveled the original sheds from which a version of the current market was born. The market is still going strong 220 years later and is facing a major renovation as part of the neighborhood renewal.
Impressions:
Lexington Market can prove to be a dizzying experience, especially for the novice. It looks a little chaotic and dirty with some unsavory characters lurking about. That is the scene. But once you get past the initial difficulty of its rough exterior (as well as rough neighborhood) you can begin to appreciate this cultural gem in all of it’s gritty goodness. When you first walk in it looks like a giant food court. When you start wandering deeper into the market you will discover all sorts of great eats for super cheap! Produce, meats, seafood, baked goods, delis, Chinese, Mexican, Cajun, burgers, fried chicken, fried chicken and more fried chicken! But the one thing that is a favorite to many here are the crab cakes at Faidleys.
Travel Tips:
Parking garage adjacent to the Market, Eutaw St. entrance.
Public Transit: Multiple mass transit options. Light rail near Metro stop at Howard St.
Most vendors only accept cash. There is an ATM here.
Multiple festivals throughout the year including the Chocolate Festival mid October and the Preakness Crab Derby in mid-May.
Contacts/Links:
400 W. Lexington St., Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: 410-685-6169
Fax: 410-547-1864
Email: info@lexingtonmarket.com
Lexington Market website
Map:
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