The Maxwell Street Market (on Desplaines between Roosevelt and Harrison) is an interesting, historic, iconic and controversial thing. It's been moved, closed, re-opened, but it's still around.According to a post we read on the Chicagoist today it sounds as if the city is now going to be managing the market:
The historic Maxwell Street Market has been through several changes since it first opened in the late 1800s. It was closed down in the mid-90s due to the expressway and new developments and then relocated to Canal Street. In 2008, it moved to its current location on Desplaines Street between Harrison and Roosevelt. The market will now be managed by the city. The Daley Administration terminated its $850,000-a-year contract with JAM Productions, according to the Sun-Times.According to the post on the Chicagoist it will save the city $350,000 a year.
7 comments:
does this mean that more or less stolen merchandise will arrive at the MSM?
besides the incredible mexican street food and plethora ofd sock outlets, I have found it difficult shopping there. My attempt to do some actual Christmas shopping last December was unsuccessful.
How is the City of Chicago going to improive this market?
This is the best news for the market;
Under new city management, plans are in place to create stages for music and let merchants park their vehicles at their vendor space.
This is what the market has been lacking for years!
Big surprise here.
Firm with Daley ties gets Maxwell St. market deal
Really what is the purpose of this market at this location? Vendors sell stuff for cash, no sales tax is raised, and vendors who do not claim most of their income tax. 99.9% of South Loop residents have ever been there.
It's not like you can't get everything you want in Chicago's many versions of Little Mexico on West 26th, in Pilson, on west Fullerton, etc. Would it not be better to encourage people to go see or shop in those neighborhoods. As well you go to places like 41st and Ashland and other neighborhoods, and they have all these same vendors at the 'Swaporamas' Monday - Sunday.
What do you have against Mexicans?
It's a scene, you clueless Anon.
You either "get it" or you don't. It's not my job to educate you.
I have yet to visit the market, but I can think of two big reasons that it has value, especially in this location: 1. Its history and 2. Its central location.
The benefit of having a cultural event in a city's core is that it allows everyone to enjoy it (conveniently). When I visited San Francisco I was struck by how centrally located its many ethnic neighborhoods were and by how comfortable everyone felt traveling between them. Chicago is far more segregated, so events like these are especially necessary to keep things interesting and perhaps act as a gateway to the more distant neighborhoods you mention.
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