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Detroit's
Historic
Eastern
Market:
Serving
the
metro
area at
the same
location
since
1891
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By Ed Deeb - Founder, Friends of Eastern Market, and Michigan Food and Beverage Association |
DETROIT,
MI (Tell
Us Det)
The
Detroit
Farmer’s
Market
is
celebrating
its
206th
birthday
in 2013.
The
first 39
years it
was
located
at the
foot of
Woodward
at the
Detroit
River,
before
moving
to
Cadillac
Square
in 1841.
Then in
1891 the
Farmer’s
Market
was
re-named
Eastern
Market
and has
been at
its
current
location
for 123
years.
From the
horse-drawn
carts to
the
present
semi-trailer
trucks,
farmers
have
annually
hauled
thousands
of tons
of fresh
produce
to
Detroit's
Eastern
Market
area for
re-sale
to
wholesalers,
retailers
and the
general
public.
The
figure
is
estimated
to be
over
70,000
tons a
year.
Today,
on any
given
Saturday,
more
than
45,000
Detroiters,
suburbanites
and
out-of-staters
can be
found
shopping
elbow-to-elbow
at
farmers'
stalls
or area
retail
shops
for
products
from as
near as
Michigan,
Ohio and
Canadian
farms to
as far
as the
European,
Middle
East,
Asian
and
South
American
farming
areas.
Historic
Eastern
Market
area is
not only
known
for its
luscious,
colorful
farm
fresh
fruits
and
vegetables,
but also
for the
meat
products
(beef,
pork,
lamb,
poultry,
geese,
ducks
and
rabbits),
and for
the
herbs
and
spices,
nuts,
candies
and a
variety
of
condiments
supplied
by
retailers
and
wholesalers.
A
variety
of fresh
fish and
seafood
is also
available.
Most
people
are
unaware
most of
the
businesses
are open
six days
a week.
The
public
farmers
market
in the
sheds
are open
mainly
on
Saturdays,
and on
special
days in
the
summer
months.
(Special
Market
days
are:
Sunday
Street
Market,
June-Sept.),
Tuesday
Market
(June-Oct.),
and
Gratiot
Central
Market
(Monday-Sat.)
The
annual
Flower
Day is
held at
Eastern
Market
each
year,
offering
bedding
plants,
flowers,
shrubs,
evergreens,
etc. It
is
recognized
as the
world’s
largest
bedding
flower
market,
held in
May the
Sunday
after
Mother’s
Day.
Eastern
Market
Merchants
Assn.
(EMMA)
was
asked by
the
Flower
Growers
Association
to
assist
them in
promoting
the
annual
colorful
Flower
Day
event.
EMMA
added
several
new
items
and
other
products
to
enhance
customer
choices.
The
Eastern
Market
means
"family,"
as
several
generations
have
shopped
together,
bringing
their
children
to see
the
market,
its
wares
and the
farm
animals
when
available.
It is
also a
people
watcher's
delight.
Rich and
poor,
old and
young
browse
and
actually
bargain
old-world
style
for what
suits
their
interests,
absorbing
the
sights
and
sounds,
color
and
excitement
of the
Eastern
Market
area.
Many
couples
and
families
make an
"outing"
out of
shopping
here,
arriving
before 7
a.m.,
having
breakfast
at one
of the
area's
restaurants,
then
spending
the
morning
shopping
for
their
weekly
needs.
Built on
the site
of an
early
hay and
wood
market,
Eastern
Market
area was
one of
three
markets
founded
in the
early
days.
The
farmers
market
portion
moved to
the
present
Eastern
Market
area
site in
1891
from the
old
Cadillac
Square
area,
1841.
The
Western
Market
was
closed
in 1965.
Chene-Ferry
Market
was
closed
in 1990.
Although
an
open-air
farmers'
market
existed
prior to
the
Civil
War, the
first
sales
shed was
built in
l89l in
the
Vernor,
Russell,
Gratiot
area,
amid
several
other
food
establishments
which
had
already
located
in the
area. As
the
market
area
prospered,
additional
sheds
were
constructed
in 1922
and
1929.
Through
the
post-Depression
era, the
Eastern
Market
area
grew,
expanding
in size
and
logging
record
truckloads
of farm
products
and
other
items as
well,
including
beverages,
and
unique
retail
merchandise.
When
Ford
Field
was
about to
open,
officials
called
and told
me they
were
unable
to hold
tailgate
parties
on the
streets.
EMMA and
MFBA was
asked to
work out
an
arrangement
with
them so
Lions
fans can
park and
tailgate
at
Eastern
Market
in
designated
areas.
So we
arranged
a
meeting
with
City
officials
to
approve
tailgating
at the
Market.
There
were
four
historic
events
that
took
place
that
helped
shaped
Eastern
Market
to the
present
day. The
first
was the
end of
World
War II
when our
servicemen
victoriously
came
home,
settled
down,
getting
married
and
having a
family.
At the
same
time,
pre-packaged
foods
and the
beginning
of the
modern
supermarkets,
shoppers
changed
the way
they
shop
being
able to
get
everything
in one
store.
To save
time,
people
did not
have to
travel a
distance
to the
Eastern
Market
or any
farmers
market,
and thus
there
was a
notable
decline
in the
number
of
shoppers.
Several
of the
farmers,
vendors
and
retailers
were
concerned.
The
second
was when
various
businesses
at
Eastern
Market
decided
they
needed
to
create
events
and
other
activities
to draw
the
people
back to
the
Eastern
Market.
Since I
was
leader
of the
State’s
largest
food
industry
association,
I was
personally
contacted
by the
Eastern
Market
merchants
to
create a
new
association
to help
draw
people
back to
the
Market
and
better
communicate
with
government
officials.
Thus
Eastern
Market
Merchants
Association
(EMMA)
was
formed
in 1972.
(Ed Deeb,
founder,
was
elected
chairman
and CEO,
and Sal
Ciaramitaro
was
elected
president.
EMMA
board
members
included
Jim
Vitale,
Gerry
Fermanis,
John
Vivio,
Tim
McCarthy,
and Tom
DeVries,
Sr.)
Eastern
Market
developed
into an
important
hub for
the
southeastern
Michigan
food
distribution
industry.
Plans
called
to make
it
bigger,
better
and more
efficient
for the
future.
The
organization
began
planning
parades
down
Russell
Street
with the
Shriners
and
Knights
of
Columbus.
They
also
invited
Gospel
singers
to the
Market
to put
on
concerts,
and even
had a
Gospelfest
contest
with
several
churches.
They
also
planned
special
product
promotions
and had
several
cooking
classes
in Shed
5 at the
Market
with
special
community
events.
And
began
the
annual
“Blessing
of the
Harvest”
event
each
Fall. In
1966 the
annual
Flower
Day
event
was
launched.
The
third
historic
event
was when
the
association
and
several
members
appealed
to City
officials
to allow
them to
form a
non-profit
corporation
to
operate
Eastern
Market
themselves.
After
several
meetings
the City
agreed
to give
the new
Eastern
Market
Corporation
authority
to
operate
the
Market
for five
years to
demonstrate
they
were
able to
improve
Eastern
Market
area
professionally.
At the
same
time in
2006 the
Eastern
Market
Corporation
was
formed.
(Founders
of the
Eastern
Market
Corporation
were
Walt
Watkins,
Ed Deeb,
George
Jackson,
Kate
Beebe,
and J.
Kuspa.)
The
Eastern
Market
Corporation
hired
Dan
Carmody
who came
to
Detroit
from Ft.
Wayne,
Indiana.
As a
result,
several
companies,
community
organizations,
and
foundations
began
channeling
needed
finances
to the
Eastern
Market
through
the new
Corporation
and
allowing
it to
renovate
sheds
and
spruce
up the
Market.
This was
well
received
by the
community,
farmers,
and
vendors.
Thus
more
people
come to
the
Market
today
than
ever
before.
Eastern
Market
developed
into an
important
hub for
the
southeastern
Michigan
food
distribution
industry.
Plans
are to
make it
bigger,
better
and more
efficient
for the
future.
Since
the
non-profit
EMC was
formed
in 2006,
several
millions
of
dollars
were
donated
to
improve
the
Market
area.
Various
foundations
indicated
they
preferred
to
donate
to a
501-c-3
corporation
directly
rather
than a
government
agency
(city).
Eastern
Market
was
declared
an
historic
area in
1977 by
the
State of
Michigan
Historical
Commission.
Many of
the
original
buildings
are
still in
operation
or
standing
today.
HISTORIC
POINTS
OF
INTEREST
INCLUDE:
- Sacred
Heart
Church,
Rivard
at
Eliot,
built
for the
German
immigrants
in 1875.
- Roma
Cafe,
3401
Riopelle,
oldest
restaurant
in
Detroit
- R.
Hirt,
Jr. Co.
and
DeVries
& Co.,
2468
Market
St.,
family-owned
and
operated
since
1885.
-
Ciaramitaro
Bros.
Produce
building,
2506
Market
St.,
built in
1885
(now
Andy’s
Meat
Market)
-
Vivio's
Restaurant,
2460
Market
St.
-
Butchers
Saloon,
1489
Winder
St.
- Cost
Plus
Wine
Shop
building,
2448
Market
St.
-
Gratiot
Central
Market,
1429
Gratiot
Ave.,
was
designed
by
Smith,
Hinchman
and
Grylls
in 1915.
(Building
was
destroyed
by fire
in June,
1995 and
re-opened
in
1999.)
The
fourth
interesting
phase
began in
2008
when
Shed 2
was
completely
renovated.
Shortly
thereafter
Shed 3
was
completely
renovated
and used
also to
hold
events
and
activity.
In 2013,
work
began on
Shed 5.
It will
be
transformed
into a
State of
the Art
facility.
It will
host
cooking
classes,
food
festivals
and a
community
kitchen,
among
other
amenities.
Other
interesting
tidbits
include
the fact
that
Generals
Ulysses
S.
Grant,
George
Custer
and John
J.
Pershing
were
headquartered
in the
area and
marched
troops
up and
down the
area
where
the
Eastern
Market
is
presently
located.
In
addition,
parts of
the
Underground
Railroad
went
from the
Eastern
Market
to the
Detroit
River
where
escaping
slaves
were
able to
make
safe
haven to
Canada.
Also,
part of
an
ancient
American
Indian
burial
ground
was
located
in the
area,
and
later
relocated
to a
nearby
cemetery.
The
Eastern
Market
area is
the site
of a
summer
full of
special
events,
and
throughout
the
year. In
2011 the
Market
began a
successful
Tuesday
market
with
farmers
in
addition
to
Saturdays.
In
addition,
several
movies
were
filmed
at
Eastern
Market,
including
“Presumed
Innocent”
starring
Harrison
Ford and
Brian
Dennehy
and
“Collision
Course”
with Jay
Leno and
Pat
Morita.
For
more
information
on the
historic
Eastern
Market
area,
feel
free to
contact
Ed Deeb,
phone
(586)
393-8801,
Fax
(586)
393-8804.
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