City: Indianapolis, IN

Category: Shopping

Telephone: (317) 634-9266

Address: 222 E. Market St.

Description: Dating back to 1821 when Indianapolis was laid out, City Market started as a small site but continued to grow. A new City Market was constructed in 1886, and the popular shopping destination flourished in the early to mid 1900s. However, the encroachment of suburbia took its toll after World War II. People began shopping closer to home at big neighborhood stores. Many City Market vendors went out of business or moved. Buying fresh food from local farmers and merchants was no longer a way of life. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, citizens and government leaders debated what should be done with the old City Market. When Mayor Richard Lugar took office in 1968, change was in the wind. The community was ready to restore City Market. The Lilly Endowment paid for complete restoration and additional construction. With restoration complete in 1977, City Market was granted new life and began drawing shoppers as it once had. Now, more than ever, people seem to need the old-time City Market. Downtown development has brought more residents living in the area and they support a place to gather, buy fresh food, and enjoy the bustling activity of years gone by. In 2004 City Market celebrated the unveiling of its new Market District Stage on Whistler Plaza, where entertainment of all types delights shoppers. In 2007 Lilly Endowment funded another renovation that brought new paint, new floors, new lighting, and a new group of stand owners. Stop by the market to see a hearty blend of Indiana grown fresh produce, fresh-cut flowers, tasty cuisine, and other items.