For over 129 years, the Reading Terminal Market has provided a unique shopping and dining experience. Explore the Market’s rich history from 1893 to today!
Market Timeline
2023
130th Anniversary
Reading Terminal Market celebrated its 130th year of operation
2022
COVID-19
Reading Terminal Market operated as an essential business during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic ensuring Philadelphians had continued access to fresh, affordable food.
Filbert St. Transformation Project
The streetscape outside the Market was enhanced to create a curbless “festival street” aimed at increasing public use of the 1100 block of Filbert St.
2018
125TH ANNIVERSARY
The Market Celebrates its 125th Anniversary on February 22nd.
2012
120 YEARS
The Reading Terminal Market celebrated 120 years of bringing fresh and local food to Philadelphia.
2000
GROWTH
The Reading Terminal Market was 100% occupied, a result of growth in downtown residential population and tourism.
1994
NON-PROFIT CORPORATION
Non-profit Reading Terminal Market Corporation created to manage the market.
1993
NEW CUSTOMERS
The adjacent Pennsylvania Convention Center opened and brought new customers to the market.
1992
THE FOOD TRUST
The Food Trust was founded as a program of the Reading Terminal Market
1990
RTM ACQUIRED
Pennsylvania Convention Center bought the Reading Terminal Market.
1988
MARKET PRESERVATION
Supporters of the market organized The Reading Terminal Market Preservation Fund to ensure that the market retained its character as the convention center project developed.
1985
NEW MARKET EAST STATION
The new Market East Station with rail and subway services connecting all major transportation lines opened underneath the market.
1984
LAST TRAIN
The last train left the Reading Terminal.
1983
INCREASED OCCUPANCY
The market was 60% occupied and had become a center for charitable and seasonable food events and impromptu piano concerts.
1980
EMERGING FROM BANKRUPTCY
The Reading Company emerged from bankruptcy, bought out the lease, and began to invest in the market.
1979
OCCUPANCY
Reading Terminal Market was only 20% occupied.
1976
LEASING THE MARKET
The Reading Company leased the Market to a real estate speculator 15 years. He raised rents driving out 30 of the 56 remaining merchants.
1975
PRESERVATION OF THE MARKET
1970-1980: Preservationists who wanted to save the market battled with those who wanted to demolish it to advance the East Market Redevelopment plan
1971
BANKRUPTCY
Reading Company declared bankruptcy and no longer invested in the upkeep of the market.
1968
INFORMAL MARKETS
Informal markets formed around Front and High (Market) Streets near where farmers and fisherman brought their goods from southern New Jersey.
1955
IMPROVING SAFETY
1950 – 1960 New local and federal regulations intended to improve safety of the food supply increased merchants’ cost of doing business.
1941
RATIONING DURING THE WAR
Rationing during World War II brought episodic meat and dairy shortages to the nation
1935
CALL-IN ORDERS
The market had 400 phone lines to take call-in orders.
1934
CELEBRATION OF THE RTM MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION
Reading Terminal Market Merchants’ Association celebrated its fourth year in with the Third Food Show and Home -Progress Exposition with 140 exhibitors and 60,000 attendees.…
1933
UPGRADES TO THE MARKET
The Reading Company invested in new doorways and six refrigerated show windows along Twelfth Street.
1930
MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION
Merchants organized the Reading Terminal Market Merchants’ Association to stem the loss of business from the City’s new parking regulations and the downturn in the…
1913
THE SOURCE
Reading Terminal Market advertised itself as the “Source of Main Food Supply of Philadelphia and Adjacent Territory” with 250 specialized dealers and 100 farmers occupying…
1893
TRAIN SERVICE BEGAN
Train service began at the new Reading Terminal.
1892
RTM OPENS FOR BUSINESS
The Reading Terminal Market opened for business. Merchants at the Butchers and Farmers’ Market and the Franklin Market moved into the new Reading Terminal Market.
1891
CONSTRUCTION
Construction began on the Reading Terminal after the Company agreed to build a market underneath the new railroad station.
1890
CONSOLIDATION
The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company consolidated its four Philadelphia terminals to build one large terminal in downtown Philadelphia. The Company purchased the 1110 block…
1860
BUTCHERS AND FARMERS MARKETS
The indoor Butchers’ and Farmers’ Market located in the 1100 block of Market Street opened for business. The indoor Franklin Market was established on 10th…
1859
REMOVAL OF OUTDOOR MARKET STRUCTURES
Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia directed the Commissioner of Markets to remove the outdoor market structures located on east Market Street…
1858
NINE MARKET HOUSES
Market Street had nine market houses that stretched from Water to Eighth Street and two markets west of Broad Street between Fifteenth and Seventeenth Streets
MARKET STREET
City ordinance changed the name of High Street to Market Street.
1837
DEMOLISHING THE 1709 MARKET
City Commissioners voted to demolish the 1709 market house to make way for new market houses made of cast iron.
1836
COLUMBIA-PHILADELPHIA RAILROAD
The Columbia-Philadelphia Railroad began laying streetcar tracks on High Street. Streetcars were not permitted to run on market days.
1822
REBUILDING
City ordinance approved the rebuilding of the 1720s Jersey Market House on Market Street between Front and Second Streets.
1815
ORDINANCE PASSED
Ordinance passed for building a fish market on High Street east of Water Street
1790
MARKET SHEDS
Market sheds or shambles lined High Street from Second to Sixth Street
1769
MARKET OPENED
North Second Street Market at Second and Coates (later Fairmount) opened
1745
NEW MARKET
New Market at Second and Pine Streets opened. The market house was added in 1804.
1741
MARKET DAYS
On market days, Wednesday and Saturdays, iron chains were put up at sunrise to protect shoppers from the carts and carriages
1709
TOWNE HALL
First permanent head house was built in the middle of Second and High Streets. Known as “Towne Hall” the building served as Pennsylvania’s capitol until…
1693
FORMAL MARKET
Local government agreed to have a formal market with a market head house located where Second Street crossed High Street.
1680
GATHERING
Informal markets formed around Front and High (Market) Streets near where farmers and fisherman brought their goods from southern New Jersey.