Lexington Market
Encyclopedia
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The main market is housed in two large buildings on the north corners of the intersection of Paca and Lexington Streets. In the broader sense, Lexington Market encompasses both the main market and all of the shops on Lexington Street from Greene Street to Liberty Street.
The main market buildings are host to small eateries and stands selling fish, produce, meat, baked goods, and candy.
Lexington Market is located near the Baltimore Light Rail and Baltimore Metro Subway stops of the same name
Lexington Market (Metro Subway station)
The Lexington Market Metro Subway Station is one of 14 stops along the Baltimore Metro Subway line in the downtown Baltimore area. The station is a transportation hub, a designated transfer station to the Light Rail's Lexington Market Station. The station is also served by a number of bus lines.The...
. It is about six blocks from Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a Major League Baseball ballpark located in Baltimore, Maryland. Home field of the Baltimore Orioles, it is the first of the "retro" major league ballparks constructed during the 1990s and early 2000s, and remains one of the most highly praised. The park was...
.
Lexington Market is the longest running market in the world. It has been around since 1782. The market continues to stand in its original site.
The land for this historical market was donated by General John Eager Howard. The market originally operated with out sheds and stalls. Farmers would load up their horse drawn wagons with ham, butter, eggs and produce. The farmers would travel from Towson and Reisterstown to sell their goods at the market. They would usually start work by dawn.
In 1803 the market had increased in size. The market now spread from Eutaw Street down to Lexington Street. It would later spread over to Greene Street. In the beginning the market was open on Tuesdays, Friday and Saturday from 2am until 12noon. A bell would ring at the start of the day and at the end of the day. Before being called Lexington Market it was known as Western Precincts Market.
Food
There are many shops featuring deli sandwiches, fried chicken, Chinese food, pizza, and gyros that make Lexington Market a popular lunch spot for working Baltimoreans as well as students at the nearby University of Maryland, BaltimoreUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore, was founded in 1807. It comprises some of the oldest professional schools in the nation and world. It is the original campus of the University System of Maryland. Located on 60 acres in downtown Baltimore, Maryland, it is part of the University System of Maryland...
campus and the University of Baltimore
University of Baltimore
The University of Baltimore , located in downtown Baltimore, Maryland in the Mt. Vernon neighborhood at 1420 N. Charles Street, is part of the University System of Maryland. Through the Freshman Initiative or Lower Division Initiative, UB has transformed from an upper division university to a...
.
Perhaps the best known eateries at Lexington Market are Faidley's, known for its crabcakes, Jumbo Fried Chicken, and Polock Johnny's Hot Dogs. Shortbread cookies topped with fudge, sold by DeBaufre Bakeries and known simply as "Berger Cookies
Berger Cookies
Berger Cookies are a kind of cookie made and distributed by DeBaufre Bakeries. It is a vanilla wafer topped with a thick layer of chocolate ganache that derives from a German recipe, and are a cultural icon of Baltimore.- History :...
,"http://www.bergercookies.com are a Baltimore favorite.
The market is closed on Sundays.
Lexington Market as a Baltimore icon
Lexington Market is viewed by many as a place that shows the personality of the "real" Baltimore, as opposed to the more generic and tourist-oriented attractions found at the nearby Inner HarborInner Harbor
The Inner Harbor is a historic seaport, tourist attraction, and iconic landmark of the City of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Described by the Urban Land Institute in 2009 as “the model for post-industrial waterfront redevelopment around the World.” The Inner Harbor is actually the end of the...
. Lexington Market takes part in the festivities leading up to the Preakness horse race by hosting the Preakness Crab Derby, where local business leaders and celebrities race the crustaceans on the arcade stage to raise money for charity.
Music
It is common for the Lexington Market east building to play host to jazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
bands during the lunch hour on Fridays and Saturdays. Throughout the year, the market has also been known to host presentations from several of the many elementary and middle schools in the nearby and surrounding areas. Even some private schools, such as West Cold Spring Lane's own Baltimore Jr. Academy (BJA) have been known to perform there, yearly, in the past. A popular time to catch the performances of Baltimore's young and talented children, at the market, has usually been during the Christmas seasons.