Watch my video from Eastern Market

Many years ago before my very first trip to Detroit, I asked a friend from the Motor City about what was her favorite attraction in the city. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the Detroit Institute of Arts, Belle Isle Park, the Detroit RiverWalk, Comerica Park, Ford Field, Joe Lewis Arena or Greektown. At the very top of her list was a place called Eastern Market. However, it was not until I became a recent resident of Detroit that I finally had a chance to check out this Motown favorite.

Eastern Market is much more than a large market. In fact, it is the largest historic public market district in the U.S. Opened in 1891 and today listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the market has been a timeless part of the fabric of Detroit. More than 45,000 visitors visit the Saturday Market each Saturday to buy fresh produce, meats, seafood, flowers, baked goods and local art.

Detroit itself is the largest city in the state of Michigan and the second-most populous metro area in the Midwest. Due to its strategic location in the southeast corner of the state, visitors from all over southern Michigan and southwestern Ontario come to shop at the market on the weekends. It is located approximately one mile northeast of downtown near the Lafayette Park neighborhood.

While the famous Saturday Market is open year round, it is not the only market. The Sunday Street Market and Tuesday Market come alive from June to September. Mondays through Fridays — from April to November — the Wholesale Market is an important hub for wholesale food distribution.

The value of Eastern Market to Detroit transcends food. It is also a popular neighborhood that is growing and attracting new residents. With this increase in residents has come retail growth that includes new restaurants, cafes, shops and even light manufacturing. Several local and internationally recognized art galleries have also established themselves in the area.

If you visit, you will find Eastern Market continues to lead the renaissance of Detroit. You will leave inspired and perhaps with a carload full of food and interesting items you can only find in the Motor City.