9. The New Essex Street Market is The First New Public Market to Open Since 1955

When Mayor LaGuardia began his campaign to get pushcarts off the streets, he imagined an indoor system of marketplaces spread throughout the New York City. The network grew slowly over the decade and a half since his proposal by 1955 there were 10 public markets operating in New York City.

Today, there are only four public markets left of LaGuardia’s original ten. In addition to the Essex Street Market which is run by the New York City Economic Development Corporation, there is La Marqueta in Harlem, Moore Street Market in Brooklyn, and Arthur Avenue Market in the Bronx Essex Street Market was taken over by the NYCEDC in 1995 and was consolidated into one building with $1.5M in renovations. This is the first new market to open since 1955.