First Look at Union Market

• September 9, 2012
• 4 Comments

by UrbanTurf Staff

The new Union Market opened this weekend and UrbanTurf was there, camera in hand. Below we’ve posted a few photos of the newly-renovated space and those enjoying its inaugural weekend. When we dropped by at noon on Saturday, there were probably a few hundred people in attendance, with crowds clustered around Rappahannock Oyster Co. and Rogue Soda, among others.

It seemed like about 70 percent of the retail space was occupied, so around the perimeter and toward the far end of the market there were still some empty stands. The mix of vendors had a distinctly farmers-market feel, which can certainly be a successful formula on weekends but could prove challenging if the market wants to attract the weekday lunch crowd from NoMa and surrounds (the options for a full-scale lunch were limited).

The space itself is open, pleasant, and bright — a stark improvement over the dank interior of its former life. We left the market enthusiastic for what we think is a worthwhile and exciting experiment in a long-neglected pocket of the city — but one with so much potential.

Check out our photos below. (Click any of them to enlarge.)

Readers, did you make it over to Union Market this weekend? Let us know what you thought in the comments.

Looking back out into the Florida Avenue Market

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/First_Look_at_union_market/6001

4 Comments

1. Scott L. said at 1:16 pm on Monday September 10, 2012:
   I dropped in for lunch on Saturday afternoon and found it to be a great addition to the area. It does need a little time to fill out and develop, but I think it will do a lot to spur more renovation in the area.

1. Elizabeth said at 3:23 pm on Monday September 10, 2012:
   I dropped by on Sunday and crowds were also large and steady. As a resident in the neighborhood, I've been tracking the market's progress and was very pleased with how it turned out. Would love to see some more ready-to-eat/counter service stalls to make it more distinct from just an "indoor farmers market."

1. jackson said at 12:33 am on Tuesday September 11, 2012:
   Im looking forward to the point when its operating Monday-Friday. Id love to be able to pop in for lunch or grab food for dinner.

1. NYV said at 10:10 pm on Monday October 8, 2012:
   Can anyone tell me where all the vendors who operated out of the old market for YEARS were relocated to? Yes the NEW Union Market is nice, but what about the customers and vendors who kept that market open for decades?? Why not give that building a face lift for those people and RE-OPEN/RENOVATE the original Union Market 2 blocks over?!