Detroit's Meet Market

A delicious salad of cucumber and melon

Since 1891, the area around Adelaide and Russell Streets has been where Detroiters of all stripes have gathered to meet, eat and be seen. Under the historic sheds, it is not uncommon to see any one of the 45,000 people who visit the market every week engaged in conversations with accidental acquaintances, vendors or strangers. If Detroit is a melting pot of cultures, then this is the stew.

As old as it is, today's Eastern Market was not Detroit's first farmers market. The city's first public market was at the foot of Woodward on the riverfront. As that property became more valuable, the market was relocated to Cadillac Square where a large shed was built. Eventually, downtown congestion and the increased horse traffic prompted a move to the outskirts of town upon a vacated cemetery. It was at that time that it was christened Eastern Market.

At opposite ends of the main market area are two churches that were built to serve the large German population that settled there during the 19th century. Sacred Heart Church, near Mack, was built for German Catholics and Historic Trinity, on Gratiot, was built for Lutherans. In another nod to the German population of the area, Stroh's large brewery complex anchored the southern end for years, right next to History Trinity.

Family-owned businesses have always been one of the hallmarks of Eastern Market. Stroh's is certainly one of the more recognizable names, but to many market shoppers the names Russo, McCarthy, Hirt/DeVries, Dearing, Wigley, Germack, Rafal, Vivio, Sossi, Del Bene, Palazzollo, Licata and Vitale are just as familiar. Some of these businesses have existed for more than a century within the same family. Add to that the scores of vendors and farmers who sell their fruits and vegetables under the historic sheds every Saturday and its hard not to feel like you must be related to someone at the market!

It's rumored that Henry Ford got one of his greatest ideas while visiting an Eastern Market packing plant. As Ford watched various parts being cut from a carcass, he imagined the same thing happening to his cars-only in reverse. From that, the concept of the assembly line was born.

During the 70s, in an effort to breathe some new life into the old institution, Detroit Principal City Planner and Dreamer Alex Pollock hatched an idea to paint huge, colorful murals on buildings scattered throughout the market. Many of Mr. Pollock's ideas for the city have come to fruition while others have not. Washington Boulevard trolleys and the Lansdowne Floating Restaurant are two that made it. Huge semi trucks playing the national anthem on their horns during Super Bowl XL and a gondola connecting Detroit and Windsor over the Detroit River are two that didn't.

Unfortunately, the trolleys and the Lansdowne are gone, and now some of the murals are gone, too. The Eastern Market Corporation was formed in 2006 to relieve the city of the day-to-day expense of running the market. They undertook plans to restore Shed No. 2 to the structure's original late-19th century historic, yet plain appearance. Three of Pollock's whimsical murals which have become iconic with the market are on Shed No. 2 and were casualties of the renovation.

Nowadays, many of the old structures in the market are being converted into residential lofts. The urban pioneers who move in enjoy some of the most unique living spaces in the city. Their new homes are former breweries, fire department repair shops, furniture warehouses and candy companies.

The words "Meet me under the funky chicken" on Shed No. 2 may no longer have meaning, but the market is still a great place to shop. You may even meet someone while you're there!

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Detroit's Eastern Market