Executive Committee Meeting 10-15-24

President's Report

Page 33 of 95

EXPLORE DETROIT

EASTERN MARKET

Eastern Market a A destination for Detroit residents and folk from neighboring communities, Eastern Market, east of Downtown, is a world

Special Market Dates Throughout the year, various events liven up the market—even more! Some have an admission fee, while you need to pre-register for others. T www.easternmarket.org/markets/events/ . Urban Arts & Eatery Expo – Late April Art, crafts, music, and tastings. www.urbanartsexpo.com . Flower Day – May, Sunday after Mother’s Day . 400-plus gardeners sell their produce in a festive atmosphere. The keenest visitors arrive as early as 4am! www.flowerdayeasternmarket.com . Burger Battle – Late June. Several restaurants compete for the title of Best Burger of the Year. burgerbattle.info . Detroit Bookfest – Third Sun. in July The largest book festival in Michigan State. detroitbookfest.com . Bourbon & Blues Festival – August . Food trucks, music, and drinks... Detroit Lions Tailgating – September . A truly American tradition, consisting of picnicking on the tailgate of a pick-up truck! A celebration in honor of the Lions American football team. Eastern Market after Dark – September. One big night market filled with galleries, artists, and music. Detroit Fall Beer Festival – October . www.mibeer.com . Detroit Tequila Fest – December . Tequila tastings amidst music. www.detroittequilafestival.com .

unto itself! A district in its own right, it encompasses just over 43 acres and is home to the largest and one of the oldest markets in the country, a place for trading, social gatherings, and various cultural activities. The district, whose name is synonymous with the market, also contains an impressive number of painted murals, a major local feature. � Getting there: Take a cab or the 6 bus from Downtown (Larned & Woodward stop, near The Spirit of Detroit statue). Get off at Gratiot & Russell. Local Map p. 42. Detachable Map G4. � Tip: The market is open all year round on Saturdays from 7am to 4pm. From June to September, a smaller market also runs on Tuesdays (9am to 3pm) and Sundays (10am to 4pm), where you can also pick up apparel, objects, and works by local artists. In high season, you can cycle there by following Dequindre Cut Greenway ( H5 T p. 58 ), a converted railway track. T Addresses, p. 77.

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A Long Story Eastern Market is the heir to the city’s first market , established in 1802 near the river. Destroyed by the Great Fire of 1805, it was rebuilt close to the current Cadillac Square. Its present site was acquired by the municipality in the 1830s to create a cemetery, among other things. In the 1860s, a prison was erected in the vicinity, then in the 1870s the hay and wood market left the city center to set up around the corner. The district welcomed breweries too, some of whose original buildings are still standing, a sign of the large German presence, later superseded by the Italians, then by the Black community. In 1891, real estate pressure prompted the city councilors to transfer the

market from the center. The cemetery had closed in 1879, and the prison would be relocated in 1931. Several covered halls were therefore built to accommodate the new market. After the Second World War, wholesalers and meat packing plants settled in the area, enticed by the nearby rail line. When these businesses migrated to the suburbs, in search of extra space, the market lost its appeal, the vacant warehouses becoming blank canvases for graffiti artists in the 1980s. The market, which never closed its doors, returned to public favor in the early 2000s. By dint of investments, restorations, and promotion of the murals, the place now attracts tens of thousands of visitors every Saturday.

A Vibrant Community Hub The district has different things to offer depending on the day of the week. On Saturdays, people flock to the five indoor markets to do their grocery shopping. The region's farmers and producers—around 200 vendors in all—come sell their wares, whose buyers are restaurateurs and everyday consumers alike, often loyal for several generations. You can get just about anything here, including plants, and there is also a specialist meat market close by ( Gratiot Meat Market - 1429 Gratiot St) . Food vendors present their dishes, and crafters their creations, all in a vibrantly rowdy atmosphere. Around

the market halls are retail units, some of which have been going for years, and coffee shops for customers to stop and chat. The wholesale warehouses close on Saturdays and reopen on Monday. Eastern Market is also a great place for an evening out , any day of the week.