Lexington Market

Lexington Market is a historic market in Downtown Baltimore, Maryland. The market is now housed in a 60,000-square-foot market shed building completed in 2022 that is home to 50 merchants and kiosks. The market has occupied many market buildings over its 200+ year history, most recently in its "East Market" building at Paca and Lexington Streets that was built following a major fire in 1949 that destroyed the shed building built in 1871. Following the completion of its new market building, the East Market building was decommissioned and slated for future development.

Lexington Market is located near the Baltimore Light Rail and Baltimore Metro Subway stops of the same name. It is about six blocks from Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Lexington Market is one of the longest-running public markets in the nation, having 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, famous colonial Revolutionary War commander of Maryland Line regiment of Continental Army from his estate "Belvedere" (also known as "Howard's Woods) west and north of Baltimore Town. The market originally operated without sheds and stalls. Farmers would load up their horse drawn wagons with ham, butter, eggs and produce. Farmers would travel from Towson and Reisterstown to sell their goods at the market, while watermen would bring their catches from the Chesapeake Bay and converge on Lexington Market's property to sell their goods starting before dawn.

In the beginning the market was open on Tuesdays, Friday and Saturday from 2am until 12pm. 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.

The Market is owned by the City of Baltimore and managed by the nonprofit Baltimore Public Markets Corporation. A project to build a new market shed building began in 2020 and was completed in late 2022.

Food

There are many shops featuring deli sandwiches, fried chicken, Chinese food, pizza, cheesesteaks, hog dogs, peanuts, and authentic ethnic foods - as well as a historic shoe repair stand and florist. Lexington Market is a popular lunch spot for working Baltimoreans as well as students at the nearby University of Maryland, Baltimore campus and the University of Baltimore.

Perhaps the best known eatery at Lexington Market is Faidley's (known for its crabcakes). Also beloved is Market Bakery, who sell shortbread cookies topped with fudge, known simply as " Berger Cookies" and are a Baltimore favorite.

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 Harbor. Lexington Market takes part in the festivities leading up to the Preakness Stakes 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.

Baltimore City Paper named Lexington Market the "Best Way to Introduce Outsiders to Baltimore" in 2001 and the "Best Place to Take Out of Town Visitors" in 2006. The Market was recently included on a Food & Wine list of the best food experiences in the Baltimore.

Music

It is common for the Lexington Market east building to play host to jazz 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 season.

Media

Faidley's Seafood in Lexington Market was featured on the " Mid-Atlantic" episode of the Travel Channel show, ''Adam Richman's Best Sandwich in America'', in 2012.

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1782 establishments in Maryland
Buildings and structures in Baltimore
Downtown Baltimore
Food markets in the United States
Food retailers
History of Baltimore
History of slavery in Maryland
Market halls
Neighborhoods in Baltimore