Special Market Announcement
(Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010) — With a resounding 2,400-vote margin over its nearest competitor, the Rochester Public Market won the 2010 America’s Favorite Farmers Market contest, with over 5,200 votes.
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Welcome to the Market
Welcome to Rochester's century-old Public Market, located in the heart of Rochester. Bargains abound Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Local vendors offer their fresh foods, ethnic delicacies and specialty items. Special events throughout the year such as Sundays Greatest Community Garage Sales and Super Fleas, Flower City Days, and Night Markets/Band on the Bricks add to the flavor.
For over a century the Market has been a link between the city, its countryside, and the region's farmers; and has been a source of diversity, character, community, and substantial contributions to the region's economy, ecology, and equity.
See our video to the right, and see another video of the Market, courtesy of the Democrat and Chronicle (click "Market" below the video screen).
Location
The Public Market is located in the northeast part of Rochester, at 280 North Union Street, approximately three blocks north of East Main Street. View a map. Parking exists in lots within the Market gates, but is limited and often jam-packed. There is a Market lot outside the Union Street gate, and street parking and additional pay lots on Railroad Street and in the wide Public Market District.
Days of Operation
- Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Saturdays from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. year-round.
- The Market is open additional hours before and after holidays and on special occasions.
Vendor Applications and Instructions
Click here for a page that includes applications and instructions for regular market and special event vendors.
Special Events
- Major annual events and events series at the Market include Community Garage Sales and Superfleas, Flower Days at the Market, Night Markets, Bands on the Bricks, Tastings with Margaret, Artists Row (Sept. 19), Holidays at the Market, and more. New events are organized all the time, so be sure to check this page regularly and also the City event calendar--enter "Market" into the search field.
- Visitors may also pick up a current schedule of events at the Market Office.
- Public Market merchandise may be purchased from the Friends of the Market Veggie Valet stand next to the Information Kiosk at the market or by contacting the Friends at: marketfriends@rochester.rr.com. (FYI: Market merchandise is not available for purchase at the market office.) Merchandise selections include eco-friendly shopping bags, shirts, hats and more.
The Best Bargains for Every Household In Town or Out
Rochester's Public Market is a time-proven tradition in our community and an economical, ecological, and enjoyable year-round shopping alternative. Supermarkets and corner stores are important conveniences of modern life, but the Public Market is a unique experience that transports you across 150 years of local commerce to the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of yesteryear. The bargains stem from the fact that by shopping at the Market, you bypass costs associated with packaging, transportation, and a multitude of middlemen!
What's In It For Shoppers
At the Market you'll find copious quantities of fresh and local fruit, meat, fish, poultry (live and prepared), eggs, dairy products, homebaked goods, seasonal produce, flowers, plants, jewelry, dry goods, paintings, crafts, specialty foods, ethnic delicacies, decorative items, curiosities and much more!
Our First Market
The same exciting panorama of livestock, produce, crafts and dry goods that overwhelms a visitor today also greeted the first market goers in 1827 when the village of Rochester only had about 5,000 residents and the market was built partially over the river at the west end of the Main Street bridge. Later this unique resource was replaced by Centre Market, Rochester's first major civic undertaking, built on the river's east side between the Andrews Street bridge and the site of the present Sister Cities pedestrian bridge.
Today's Market
The present public market opened at its site off North Union Street in 1905 and currently offers over 300 selling stalls both indoors and out. Summer, spring, fall or winter, you will find the season at its freshest, tastiest and most colorful at the public market. Today, the market combines the traditions of owner-operated family enterprise,and healthful farm-fresh quality with the values of buying direct from the producer and the convenience of modern facilities.
A Good Market For Your Wares
The Market offers merchants a central city location with a constant flow of enthusiastic customers who are there to shop, to bargain and to buy. There are three sheds, two open-air and one enclosed. Open-air shed stalls are available on a seasonal basis and enclosed shed spaces are available on an annual basis. For specific rental rate information, call the Market Supervisor, Tuesday - Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (585) 428-6907. Or visit our Vendor Application page.
Friends of the Market
Friends of the Market is an all-volunteer organization that supports the Market in many important ways. "Friends" always seeks new volunteers--become a Public Market docent, host tours for school children and out-of-town guests! "Friends" meet the second Tuesday of the month in the Public Market Office at 5:15 p.m. Learn more about Friends of the Market by visiting www.marketfriends.org or the Friends' kiosk at the Market, near the Union Street gates!
The Friends of the Market also organize the annual Artists Row at the Market.
Market Map/Layout
Take a Bus to the Market
Come and experience one of Rochester's oldest institutions, the Public Market, and leave the driving to RTS. Downtown workers and others are also encouraged to take the #9 Bay Street bus to the Market on Tuesdays and Thursdays for noontime shopping.(For route information call RTS at (585) 288-1700.
The schedule for service to the Market from Downtown follows:
| Tuesdays & Thursdays - Leaving Main & Clinton |
Take the #9 Bay Street bus to the Public Market
|
6:34 a.m. , 7:40 a.m., 8:46 a.m., 9:52 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:06 p.m., 2:42 p.m., 3:43 p.m. |
| Tuesdays & Thursdays - Leaving the Market (Bay & Niagara) |
Take the #9 Bay Street bus to Main & Clinton |
7:00 a.m., 7:06 a.m., 9:13 a.m., 11:10 a.m., 12:49 p.m. 2:25 p.m., 3:48 p.m. |
Saturdays -
Leaving Main & Clinton |
Take the #9 Bay Street bus to the Public Market |
5:40 a.m., 7:05 a.m., 8:35 a.m., 10:05 a.m.,
11:35 a.m., 1:05 p.m., 2:35 p.m., 3:20 p.m. |
Saturdays -
Leaving the Market (Bay & Niagara) |
Take the #9 Bay Street bus to Main & Clinton |
5:28 a.m., 6:53 a.m., 8:23 a.m., 9:53 a.m., 11:23 a.m. 12:53 p.m., 2:23 p.m., 3:53 p.m. |
Parking Information
The popularity and joys of the Market do create the unfortunate side-effect of traffic and frequent parking challenges. There are free lots on Railroad and Union Street, near the Market gates; there is also street parking in the Market District and Marketview Heights neighborhood. In addition, there are a few private fee lots. Carpooling, bus, cycling, or walking--and visiting the market on Tuesdays and Thursdays!-- is encouraged whenever possible!
Questions?