A Stately and Elegant Structure

Center Market opened for business in 1872. The ornamental pressed brick building faced a public square on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Designed to appeal to middle-class marketers, the market building was thoroughly modern and hygienic. The facility boasted wide aisles, electric elevators, cold-storage vaults, and a spacious café.

Market stalls featured elaborate displays and high quality goods. Butcher and butter stalls were the most common, but market men also peddled jewelry, bouquets, and carpets.

 

 

Center Market

The ornate Center Market building attracted thousands of customers a day. Streetcar lines from all corners of the city converged at the market.

Courtesy Special Collections Research Center, 
The George Washington University.
 

"A Birds-Eye View of Part of the Fruits and Vegetable Section of Center Market"

The interior of Center Market featured over 600 modern market stalls, high ceilings with ventilated skylights, and electric lighting.

Courtesy National Archives and Records Administration
 

Where are all the people? The photographer noted that the people moved too quickly to be captured on the glass negative!

 

"Center Market, baker's stall, Pennsylvania Ave. and 7th St., N.W."

This baker’s stall featured an impressive array of pies, cakes, and breads. The ceiling fans kept the flies away.

 

Look closely at the signs behind the counter. “Keep Smiling” is a great customer service motto!