4. Eastern Market - Detroit, MI

Eastern Market Detroit has been located northwest of downtown Detroit since 1891. Covering six-blocks, it is considered to be the largest historic public market district in the country. The market originally opened as a wood and hay market during the 1850s. In 1891, the market was expanded to include food. By the end of World War II, the district had evolved into a cluster of wholesalers and food processing, becoming an important hub for Detroit’s food distribution industry.

Presently, on any given Saturday, some 45,000 Detroiters, suburbanites and out-of-staters can be found shopping elbow-to-elbow at Eastern Market. Selections found include fruits, veggies, fresh-cut flowers, homemade jams, maple syrups, locally produced specialty food products, pasture and/or grass-fed meat and even an occasional goose or rabbit. Despite its wholesaling history, the market and the surrounding district is a urban anomaly. Combined, you’ll discover a local food district with more than 250 independent vendors, processors, retailers and wholesalers in a pedestrian scaled environment.