Reading Terminal Market
فيلادلفيا
Reading Terminal Market is a covered market that opened in 1893 underneath the Reading Railroad's station. It is one of the oldest and most famous markets in the United States.
A market that wouldn't move
There were already two markets on this block. In 1890 the Reading Railroad bought the land for its new station. The vendors refused to leave, so the market was built under the tracks. It opened in February 1893.
A city of stalls
The market had almost 800 spaces, laid out in a grid. There were twelve aisles from east to west, and four wider avenues from north to south. Underneath there was a huge cold storage area, with 52 rooms at different temperatures.
A modern market
When it opened, the market was lit by many electric lamps, a novelty at the time. In 1935 it had four hundred telephone lines for taking orders. In the hard years of the 1930s, farmers from the region brought their produce here, and the market did well.
Saved by the citizens
In the 1970s the railroad company was in trouble and the market was emptying. Some wanted to demolish it, but many citizens objected. In the mid-1990s a nonprofit organization was created to run it. Today it's still a market full of life.
