Farmers Market Annex

That was then…….
For almost 130 years, dating back to the late 1870’s, the Minneapolis Farmers Market has been home to a bustling bastion of commerce, proudly offering fresh produce, gardening and floral favorites, along with the best commodities our esteemed family farmers have to offer.

Beginning in the 1870’s, in the central core of downtown Minneapolis on Hennepin Avenue, residents were able to meander down to the city’s main thoroughfare to purchase what they needed to fill the stomachs and please the palates of their family members.

In 1892, the Market moved to Third Avenue North and Seventh Street. This Market burned to the ground, but was quickly erected again.

During the late 1800’s, Minneapolis streets were still lined with horse and buggies as the main mode of transportation.

Today, because of the venue’s vast popularity, finding a parking spot among the 25,000 weekend customers can be a source of minor displeasure for some. Improvements to parking availability are always being made in partnership between the Farmers Market and the City of Minneapolis. In the 1800’s, the largest challenge among shoppers was not the parking, but traveling to and from the market.

The paved streets we know today were once only dirt covered, with large holes and bumps in the horse and buggy strewn roads. As a result, thousands of farmers threatened to strike during the 1800’s if necessary road improvements were not made so they could better get back and forth to the Market.

By the early 1900’s, Minneapolis boasted a claim of being one of the largest produce markets in the U.S.

The current location of the Minneapolis Farmers Market, located at Glenwood and Lyndale Avenue North, was designated in 1937. In 1938, the new Market opened its doors for business.

This is now…….
During the 1980’s, a gentleman by the name of Jim Bartlett decided to privately expand the southern side of the Farmers Market.

At that same time, a young entrepreneur named Scott Barriball worked as a vendor across the street at the public Market. When Bartlett’s property adjacent to the Farmers Market (on the southern side) was placed on the real estate block, Scott Barriball jumped at the chance to purchase the property and add a large section to the current Market that is now popularly known as the Farmers Market Annex.

Barriball quickly recognized the many needs that customers had beyond the produce and grocery items found at traditional farmers markets. So, in 1989, Barriball expanded his side of the market, which has a symbiotic relationship with the public Market, to include fresh fish, meats, poultry, textiles, pottery, imported goods, custom-made jewelry, concession stands with ready-made food, music, and many more unique products.

The current markets combined now command a shopping audience of over 25,000 customers per weekend, making the combined markets the largest open-air marketplace in the upper Midwest region.

Today, while shopping at the Farmers Market Annex, you will be welcomed by over 100 diverse vendors eagerly waiting to serve you with a smile. One of our many vendors includes the famous bratwurst stand which was recently voted the 31st Best Place to Eat in the Twin Cities by Twin Cities Taste Magazine!

Many physical improvements have been made to the Farmers Market Annex during the past decade to better serve our loyal customers who come from the surrounding five states – and all over the world. Plans for the future are always in the works to preserve this most cherished cultural and regional destination and build upon the beloved traditions of the original Minneapolis Farmers Market dating back over 130 years!

We look forward to serving generations to come. Thank you for being a special part of our past and our future.