Eastern Market

The Greater Downtown Partnership renovated Shed 2 of the Eastern Market, which allowed an additional 50 vendors to conduct business. In addition, the project established the Eastern Market neighborhood as a link to the riverfront and downtown. Detroit Eastern Market is the largest historic public market district in the United States. Every Saturday, Michigan's largest and most colorful market is host to more than 150 farmers and vendors from Michigan, Ohio, and Canada offering a cornucopia of fruits, vegetables, breads, baked goods, jellies, jams, honey, apple cider, cheeses, spices, herbs, plants and flowers.

Highlights:

• The renovation of Shed 2 has brought more customers to Eastern Market, thus increasing income to local farmers.
• Local business owners also benefit because the area their business is in looks nicer and the newly attracted customers also spend money in their stores.
• Shed 2 is a gem in the area, and its transformation has created a sense of pride in the community.
• Eastern Market reported in 2005:
  • Eastern Market Advancement Coalition (EMAC), along with the Greater Downtown Partnership and others, sponsored the ULI Advisory Services Panel. The panel involved real estate experts from across the nation who volunteered a week of their time to examine the Eastern Market District and its land-use patterns. The panel studied the District, interviewed 70 stakeholders, and then made recommendations on improving the District as a vibrant neighborhood where all people can visit, shop and live. 
  • In January 2005, the University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning conducted its annual Detroit Design Charrette in Eastern Market. The Design Charrette applies architectural and planning analysis to the Market District to arrive at possible improvements for how the Market District can physically look. The physical look of the District is an important part of a successful Cool City neighborhood, in that an attractive and inviting landscape is part of a comprehensive plan to entice businesses, visitors and residents to live, work and play in the Eastern Market.
  • Louie’s Ham and Corned Beef Restaurant opened to a packed house. The restaurant’s opening created approximately 20 jobs. Currently operating pizza place and deli was in the final planning stages to relocate and expand into an existing vacant 4-story building. The new location, which will include catering and banquet facilities for 300 people, is expected to hire 25 to 35 additional employees.
  • $200,000 public investment – street repaving
  • $1,500,000–$2,000,000 – private investment
  • DVD Lofts are under construction for early 2005 completion (33 units of residential and live/work space) 
  • The former Water Board Building is in development agreement for mixed-use food processing, live/work loft units, artist gallery space, and commercial/retail food space (approximately 100,000 square feet in total) 
  • E&B Brewery Lofts currently under construction (25 units of for-sale lofts to include first floor retail/restaurant).
• In 2006, local business owners and developers reported, anecdotally, an increase in square-foot price of property.