AVENUE MARKET

LOCATION: Upton, Baltimore, Maryland
YEAR: Ongoing (design completed January 2025)
SIZE: 34,000 SF
CLIENT: Baltimore Public Markets Corporation

Avenue Market (formerly Lafayette Market) is one of Baltimore’s oldest and most treasured public markets. Since 1871, it has served the Upton neighborhood, offering a space for local vendors to sell produce, meats, and other goods. Throughout its history, the Market has remained a resilient community landmark, weathering economic shifts, fires, and evolving cultural tastes.In 2023, Baltimore Public Markets Corporation (BPMC) received $5 million from the Mayor’s Office to modernize the roughly 34,000-square-foot facility. A central goal was to reimagine the Market as a flexible, multi-use space that responds to current community needs. After a grocery chain occupying 15,000 square feet closed, the project team saw an opportunity to reprogram the space.

BPMC partnered with Twopoint Studio and local agencies to develop a community-driven vision. A ‘Community Day’ event brought together residents, market staff, and designers to explore ideas and priorities. The result is a dynamic new layout that combines food and retail with meaningful community spaces, including a neighborhood hub, classroom, teaching kitchen, and co-working area. The updated Market will offer a mix of prepared, fresh, and cooked food vendors, along with a small grocery store featuring frozen and canned goods. This reinvestment is designed to strengthen Avenue Market’s role as a central hub—preserving its legacy while evolving into a modern community anchor.

Early 20th Century
The Avenue Marketing originally opened in 1871 as the Lafayette Market. — **Early 20th Century**
The Avenue Marketing originally opened in 1871 as the Lafayette Market.

1912
Advertisements in the Baltimore Sun for vendors at the Lafayette Market. — **1912**
Advertisements in the Baltimore Sun for vendors at the Lafayette Market.

1939
"Photo shows one of two double staff in Lafayette Market from which A. Calvin Waskey, Jr. has built a reputation for handling only the highest quality meats, butter, eggs, etc." (Baltimore Sun) — **1939**
"Photo shows one of two double staff in Lafayette Market from which A. Calvin Waskey, Jr. has built a reputation for handling only the highest quality meats, butter, eggs, etc." (Baltimore Sun)

1953 A fire rips through the Market in the early hours of the morning, destroying the majority of the building and vendor stalls. (Afro American Newspaper) — **1953**
A fire rips through the Market in the early hours of the morning, destroying the majority of the building and vendor stalls. (Afro American Newspaper)

"Stall holder Rudolphus Hall weighing a bag of produce for a customer behind his stall of potatoes. After the fire in 1953, he was one of the first to set up a shack to continue his business." (Afro American Newpaper, June 1953)

"African American shopkeeper Edward Coates, following the destruction of his Sanitary Fish Market stall and his bankruptcy after a fire at the Lafayette Market grocery and food market." (Afro American Newspaper, June 1953)

December 5, 1957 "A large crowd of men and women wait in line to attend the grand reopening of the Lafayette Market grocery and food market..." just in time for the holiday family feasts. (Afro American Newspaper) — **December 5, 1957**
"A large crowd of men and women wait in line to attend the grand reopening of the Lafayette Market grocery and food market..." just in time for the holiday family feasts. (Afro American Newspaper)

1970s Interior view of Lafayette vendors with their stalls decorated for the holidays. — **1970s**
Interior view of Lafayette vendors with their stalls decorated for the holidays.