The Unofficial New Maxwell Street Market Home Page

In September 1994, the Maxwell Street Market in Chicago was destroyed by the City of Chicago and the University of Illinois at Chicago. That old Maxwell Street Market was, in the opinion of many, the greatest outdoor urban bazaar ever -- mammoth, diverse, exciting, historical, great food, and a place where all ethnic and racial groups got along. The old market did have problems but rather than solve them, the market was destroyed.

The City then established a new market on Canal Street, about a half-mile east of the old market. The new market is one-third the size of the old market and has vastly increased vendor fees. Some call this new market, "Maxwell Street Light." We still lament the passing of the old market. It was wrong to destroy it.

However, the New Maxwell Street Market on Canal Street and Roosevelt Road is a great place to visit! The old Maxwell Street Market was so fantastic that a market which is only a shadow of its former self is still a great market. There are about 400 vendors selling a diverse variety of merchandise every Sunday year around. The outdoor-cooked food is wonderful, blues musicians still play in good weather, and bargains are still available.

New York Times Review of the New Maxwell Street Market

The following excerpts are from Ann Castillo's article, "Chicago Con Salsa", which appeared in the New York Times Magazine-The Sophisticated Traveler, November 12, 1995, p. 23, 56-60.

"A brief visit on Sunday morning may be one of the best ways to get a true sense of what Chicago was and is."

"And who knows? You may end up getting a good deal on an antique trunk, say, or perhaps something funky to liven up a new studio, like a 1950s first remote-control console television model."

"Every Sunday throughout the year, it bursts with vendors and buyers and, more often than not, the sounds, smells and merchandise remind me of Sundays at La Lagunilla, the street market of Mexico City. "

"For the Mexican cook or anyone in that "Like Water for Chocolate" mood, you'll find every ingredient imaginable known to Mexican cuisine -- and I have it on authority (my Tia Flora), quite a few items that you won't find even in the Mexican grocery store, especially aromatic chilies: el morita, guajillo, peron (very hot but muy rico), pasilla, mulato and japones."

"There are Mexican crafts, folk art and religious icons, herbs and Latino music tapes. Naturally, there's a lot of junk too ..."

"True to the nature of the mercado, you can negotiate the price on everything... . "

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The Unofficial New Maxwell Street Market Home Page was inaugurated 11/12/95 .
Webmaster - S.M. Balkin. mar@interaccess.com