History and Future of the Public Market
Yesterday
The Rochester Public Market has been continuously operating since 1827
when it was built over the river at the west end of the Main Street Bridge. But, since
1905 the Market has been located in the northeast quadrant of Rochester at North
Union Street.
According to Karen Miltner’s article, “Market Research,” when the Market
first opened in 1905, growers sold strictly wholesale. Neighborhood stores kept
their inventory stocked with food from nearby farms, and hucksters - among them
John Wegman, one of the founders of the local supermarket chain. In 1913, the city
allowed retailers to sell directly to consumers. The Italian and Jewish immigrants
who lived in the vicinity made up the majority of the shoppers. By the 1920’s
produce from farms outside the county began to flood the Market. This caused a
national backlash against chain stores as more independent small grocers who sold
at the Market lost business. By the 1950’s, the market had survived several threats of closure and was a popular retail establishment that drew 20,000 people a day during peak season.
According to The Hands That Feed Us: 100 years of the Rochester Public Market by Nancy Rosin, many cities’ consumers found that public markets had disappeared due to suburban supermarkets. Rochester made the decision to keep the Public Market; however by the 1960’s the growing exodus to the suburbs and triumph of the supermarket had taken its toll on the Market and the surrounding neighborhoods. The Market looked to make some improvements during the 1970’s, but due to insufficient funds to care for many critical needs, none were made. Since the turmoil in the 60’s and the 70’s the Market has since then thrived. In an area with limited incomes, few supermarkets, and little access to shopping centers, the Market is an economic necessity.
when it was built over the river at the west end of the Main Street Bridge. But, since
1905 the Market has been located in the northeast quadrant of Rochester at North
Union Street.
According to Karen Miltner’s article, “Market Research,” when the Market
first opened in 1905, growers sold strictly wholesale. Neighborhood stores kept
their inventory stocked with food from nearby farms, and hucksters - among them
John Wegman, one of the founders of the local supermarket chain. In 1913, the city
allowed retailers to sell directly to consumers. The Italian and Jewish immigrants
who lived in the vicinity made up the majority of the shoppers. By the 1920’s
produce from farms outside the county began to flood the Market. This caused a
national backlash against chain stores as more independent small grocers who sold
at the Market lost business. By the 1950’s, the market had survived several threats of closure and was a popular retail establishment that drew 20,000 people a day during peak season.
According to The Hands That Feed Us: 100 years of the Rochester Public Market by Nancy Rosin, many cities’ consumers found that public markets had disappeared due to suburban supermarkets. Rochester made the decision to keep the Public Market; however by the 1960’s the growing exodus to the suburbs and triumph of the supermarket had taken its toll on the Market and the surrounding neighborhoods. The Market looked to make some improvements during the 1970’s, but due to insufficient funds to care for many critical needs, none were made. Since the turmoil in the 60’s and the 70’s the Market has since then thrived. In an area with limited incomes, few supermarkets, and little access to shopping centers, the Market is an economic necessity.
Jim Farr, Director of Market Operations
Today
The Market is open year-round on Tuesdays, Thursdays from 6am-1pm, and
Saturdays from 5 am-3 pm. The Market continues to offer livestock, produce, arts
and crafts, and dry goods that visitors can indulge themselves in.
Citizens, community groups, restaurants, and government agencies have expressed
enthusiasm for a Rochester venue that serves as a low-cost outlet for New York
state farmers and supports local food entrepreneurs. These robust urban/rural
exchanges help boost regional farm sales, reduce food transportation and energy
costs, bring affordable, nutritious food to urban residents, and create a focal point in
the community for locally-produced goods.
Today the Rochester Public Market is the largest single market site EBT (Electronic
Benefits Transfer) for food stamps in the United States. It does more food stamp
business in this market than the whole green food market system of all 31 in New
York City. And despite the economic swings in the neighboring communities the market has continued to have success
and remain resilient.
Saturdays from 5 am-3 pm. The Market continues to offer livestock, produce, arts
and crafts, and dry goods that visitors can indulge themselves in.
Citizens, community groups, restaurants, and government agencies have expressed
enthusiasm for a Rochester venue that serves as a low-cost outlet for New York
state farmers and supports local food entrepreneurs. These robust urban/rural
exchanges help boost regional farm sales, reduce food transportation and energy
costs, bring affordable, nutritious food to urban residents, and create a focal point in
the community for locally-produced goods.
Today the Rochester Public Market is the largest single market site EBT (Electronic
Benefits Transfer) for food stamps in the United States. It does more food stamp
business in this market than the whole green food market system of all 31 in New
York City. And despite the economic swings in the neighboring communities the market has continued to have success
and remain resilient.
Tomorrow
The City of Rochester has devised a plan for the Rochester Public Market District to create an active market district throughout the year and to create expanded, enclosed facilities that meet the needs of vendors, as well as the public.
The City will construct and develop a new outdoor market shed and renovate the enclosed winter shed. These facilities will increase the amount of covered outdoor
vending space in the Market and significantly improve the indoor food retail space, allowing for more days of operation within an upgraded and attractive building.
Along with this new winter shed, more storefronts are to be built in the surrounding areas of the Market. These renovations hope to benefit freestanding businesses on non-Market days. Construction is anticipated for fall 2014 and will take about 12-15 months to complete, according to the Rochester Public Market website.
Research conducted as part of the Master Plan determined that additional storefronts within the Market District, housing small-scale food producers and food service businesses, would help achieve the Plan’s goals. Furthermore, there seems to be strong demand for more storefront spaces. “Many of the vendors are thrilled to hear that there will be more business brought to the market on those non-market
days of the week. In the past not many people have come to the market, so these new plans hope to change that trend, and help the market expand during those weekdays.” said Mr. James Farr, the city’s Assistant Director of Recreation.
The city of Rochester has also invested money in the surrounding areas of the market. Some renovations of Union Street are in the works as the roads are to be repaved and some gateway features will be added to Central Park and Union in an attempt to give visitors the feeling of “entering a district”. The Market also will add more than 1000 parking spaces in the neighborhood along with a bike shelter this coming spring in order to accommodate the large number of commuters.
The City will construct and develop a new outdoor market shed and renovate the enclosed winter shed. These facilities will increase the amount of covered outdoor
vending space in the Market and significantly improve the indoor food retail space, allowing for more days of operation within an upgraded and attractive building.
Along with this new winter shed, more storefronts are to be built in the surrounding areas of the Market. These renovations hope to benefit freestanding businesses on non-Market days. Construction is anticipated for fall 2014 and will take about 12-15 months to complete, according to the Rochester Public Market website.
Research conducted as part of the Master Plan determined that additional storefronts within the Market District, housing small-scale food producers and food service businesses, would help achieve the Plan’s goals. Furthermore, there seems to be strong demand for more storefront spaces. “Many of the vendors are thrilled to hear that there will be more business brought to the market on those non-market
days of the week. In the past not many people have come to the market, so these new plans hope to change that trend, and help the market expand during those weekdays.” said Mr. James Farr, the city’s Assistant Director of Recreation.
The city of Rochester has also invested money in the surrounding areas of the market. Some renovations of Union Street are in the works as the roads are to be repaved and some gateway features will be added to Central Park and Union in an attempt to give visitors the feeling of “entering a district”. The Market also will add more than 1000 parking spaces in the neighborhood along with a bike shelter this coming spring in order to accommodate the large number of commuters.