Market Timeline
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$ 4
11TH & Arch St.Hilton Garage
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$ 5
12TH & Filbert St.Parkway Garage
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2018
2018 - 125th Anniversary
The Market Celebrates its 125th Anniversary on February 22nd.
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2012
2012 - 120 Years
The Reading Terminal Market celebrated 120 years of bringing fresh and local food to Philadelphia.
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2000
2000 - Growth
The Reading Terminal Market was 100% occupied, a result of growth in downtown residential population and tourism.
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1994
1994 - Non-Profit Corporation
Non-profit Reading Terminal Market Corporation created to manage the market.
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1993
1993 - New Customers
The adjacent Pennsylvania Convention Center opened and brought new customers to the market.
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1992
1992 - The Food Trust
The Food Trust was founded as a program of the Reading Terminal Market
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1990
1990 - RTM Acquired
Pennsylvania Convention Center bought the Reading Terminal Market.
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1988
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.
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1985
1985 - New Market East Station
The new Market East Station with rail and subway services connecting all major transportation lines opened underneath the market.
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1984
1984 - Last Train
The last train left the Reading Terminal.
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1983
1983 - Increased Occupancy
The market was 60% occupied and had become a center for charitable and seasonable food events and impromptu piano concerts.
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1980
1980 - Emerging from Bankruptcy
The Reading Company emerged from bankruptcy, bought out the lease, and began to invest in the market.
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1979
1979 - Occupancy
Reading Terminal Market was only 20% occupied.
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1976
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.
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1971
1971 - Bankruptcy
Reading Company declared bankruptcy and no longer invested in the upkeep of the market.
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70s-80s
70s-80s - Preservation of the Market
Preservationists who wanted to save the market battled with those who wanted to demolish it to advance the East Market Redevelopment plan
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1968
1968 - Informal Markets
Informal markets formed around Front and High (Market) Streets near where farmers and fisherman brought their goods from southern New Jersey.
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50s-60s
50s-60s - Improving Safety
New local and federal regulations intended to improve safety of the food supply increased merchants’ cost of doing business.
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1941
1941 - Rationing during the War
Rationing during World War II brought episodic meat and dairy shortages to the nation
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1935
1935 - Call-in Orders
The market had 400 phone lines to take call-in orders.
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1934
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. The Harry Taylor orchestra provided music throughout the nine day festival.
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1933
1933 - Upgrades to the Market
The Reading Company invested in new doorways and six refrigerated show windows along Twelfth Street.
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1930
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 economy. Merchants offered customers free nearby parking.
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1913
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 the stalls
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1893
1893 - Train Service Began
Train service began at the new Reading Terminal.
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1892
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.
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1891
1891 - Construction
Construction began on the Reading Terminal after the Company agreed to build a market underneath the new railroad station.
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1890
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 of Market Street.
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1860
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 Street south of Market Street, but by 1885 had relocated next to the Butchers’ and Farmers’ Market.
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1859
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 and those located west of Broad Street.
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1858
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
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1858
1858 - Market Street
City ordinance changed the name of High Street to Market Street.
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1837
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.
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1836
1836 - Columbia-Philadelphia Railroad
The Columbia-Philadelphia Railroad began laying streetcar tracks on High Street. Streetcars were not permitted to run on market days.
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1822
1822 - Rebuilding
City ordinance approved the rebuilding of the 1720s Jersey Market House on Market Street between Front and Second Streets.
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1815
1815 - Ordinance Passed
Ordinance passed for building a fish market on High Street east of Water Street
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1790s
1790s - Market Sheds
Market sheds or shambles lined High Street from Second to Sixth Street
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1769
1769 - Market Opened
North Second Street Market at Second and Coates (later Fairmount) opened
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1745
1745 - New Market
New Market at Second and Pine Streets opened. The market house was added in 1804.
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1741
1741 - Market Days
On market days, Wednesday and Saturdays, iron chains were put up at sunrise to protect shoppers from the carts and carriages
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1709
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 1735.
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1693
1693 - Formal Market
Local government agreed to have a formal market with a market head house located where Second Street crossed High Street.
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1680
1680 - Gathering
Informal markets formed around Front and High (Market) Streets near where farmers and fisherman brought their goods from southern New Jersey.
