LES Resident Fights for the Historic Essex Street Market

originally posted on Nearsay.com by contributor Grant Braswell

Cynthia Lamb, a resident of the Lower East Side is trying to rally together resistance to SPURA’s potential efforts to ‘relocate’ the Essex Street Market.

 

The Essex Street Market (ESM) has been at its current and only location at Essex and Delancey for now 70+ years.  According do its website, ESM “began in 1940 as part an effort by Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia to find a new place for street merchants to do business. At the time, pushcarts and vendors crowded the city streets, making it difficult for police and fire vehicles to easily pass. To ease congestion, Mayor LaGuardia created the Essex Street Market and several other indoor retail markets throughout the city.”

 

It is funny today how there are still plenty of street vendors, including a resurgence in food vendors as mobile munching has been taken to new culinary highs. 

 

But there is still a vitality that emanates from ESM that stems from its location and history.  A melange of vendors sling meat, produce, cheese, pantry goods and even sweets and haircuts.  The make up of the customers cover all demographics of race and social status, providing a true community melting pot.  Jeffrey’s Meats is a great example, with everyone getting his full attention, and the ladies sometimes getting a little extra.

 

it would be a shame to lose this in its current form without having a very specific plan in place for the new location, the rents (these aren’t flashy chain vendors with deep pockets) and the design.  Until these are laid out and supported by the community, anyone interested in speaking out against the closure and relocation can sign a petition to Save The Essex Street Market.