Public Food Market | 136 Blackstone Street | Haymarket | Downtown

They took the window coverings off yesterday. Looking good. Can't wait for this to open up.
 
Tomorrow...

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Going in for the Kale

With the opening of the Boston Public Market on July 30, locavores have finally realized their dream of a permanent one-stop shop for pedigreed produce, dairy, seafood, meat, and all manner of ready-to-scarf comestibles—all made here in New England. And if you think that’s impressive now, just wait till winter.

By Christopher Hughes | Boston Magazine | August 2015

It took the better part of two decades—and tireless campaigning by ranchers, fishermen, and farmers—for Boston to get a permanent central market of its own, but now the city is finally joining the ranks of foodie-centric cities like San Francisco and Seattle. And in true New England fashion, the Boston Public Market actually goes one step beyond its lauded forebears out West to become the nation’s first all-local yearlong market. (Talk about a bazaar twist.)

Mind you, this isn’t some overhyped upgrade to your local farmstand. Yes, the $15.5 million, 28,000-square-foot facility off the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway will offer aisles of apples, leafy greens, and all of the other predictable provisions. But with sushi counters, coffee-geek-approved cafés, and kiosks hawking ramen and falafel, it’ll also be a deluxe food court for the locavoraciously inclined. And when winter forces outdoor markets to close from December through May, the heated BPM will continue to operate.

The BPM’s pro-regional ethos can’t be overstated: Its 40 permanent vendors—chosen from some 300 applicants—had to show how they would keep their kiosks full during kale-and-beet season without breaking the strict local-provenance requirements. Expect plenty of prepared fare and creative takes on pickles and preserves. Ahead, 10 kiosks we’re planning to put into regular rotation.

...

Plus:
a) The 3,200-square-foot demo kitchen will feature cooking lectures and hands-on classes from the likes of America’s Test Kitchen.

b) A ramp leads to a covered parking garage with 325 spaces.

c) There will be limited seating in the middle of the market hall, though this food court caters primarily to “cash and carry” noshers.

d) The main entrance to the 28,000-square-foot facility is located on the corners of Congress and Hanover streets.
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http://www.bostonmagazine.com/restaurants/article/2015/07/28/boston-public-market-vendors
 
They were having some sort of soft open/event at the demo kitchen yesterday. Saw lots of waitstaff types milling around and rows of champagne and wine glasses lined up.
 
statler said:
They were having some sort of soft open/event at the demo kitchen yesterday. Saw lots of waitstaff types milling around and rows of champagne and wine glasses lined up.
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It was a Friends and Family preview. I think I heard somewhere that they've got a public soft opening today from Noon to 8 as well.
 
So pumped for this. There aren't enough farm-to-table markets like this anymore. I get the sense that this is what Quincy Market could have been before it turned into a glorified food court (not that there is anything wrong with that).
 
Just took a tour. Best spot is the Apple place when you first walk in although a bunch weren't open yet.

Everything is very pricey as expected, $20/lb for pre-marinated chicken, $18 for a 12 pack of cans (Cisco). That being said its a lot nicer than I expected.
 
Any idea what prices look like at the prepared food spots? I'm a BonMe fan and hope they're comparable to the trucks.
 
I have some time to kill in the area tomorrow afternoon but I'm sure it's going to be mobbed.
 
Lrfox said:
Any idea what prices look like at the prepared food spots? I'm a BonMe fan and hope they're comparable to the trucks.
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Someone on Reddit was reporting $18 for a pastrami sandwich and $10 for a smoothie. Ground beef at $15 / lb.
 
Scipio said:
Someone on Reddit was reporting $18 for a pastrami sandwich and $10 for a smoothie. Ground beef at $15 / lb.
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The Gold Standard of Pastrami sandwiches in Katz in NYC and Schwartz in Montreal. Katz costs around $20 and Schwartz $10. It better be a damn good sandwich at those prices.
 
Great pictures, very exciting. That was just the soft opening - today is the real deal they've been advertising. It will fill up. I hope to go in the late afternoon.
 
I read an article that someone's selling knishes there. I'll be there for lunch. :)
 
The offerings look awesome but I'm not really liking the design to be honest. It looks nice in a general sense but it doesn't feel optimized to capture a real public market dynamic.
Too many sterile counter tops, too much unused space. They should open it up to novelty and souvenir merchants. Get more of a claustrophobic alley feel. You want a really an unbroken pipeline of merchants. I feel like Quincy Market still does this better.
 
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Bubbybu said:
The offerings look awesome but I'm not really liking the design to be honest. It looks nice in a general sense but it doesn't feel optimized to capture a real public market dynamic.
Too many sterile counter tops, too much unused space. They should open it up to novelty and souvenir merchants. Get more of a claustrophobic alley feel. You want a really an broken pipeline of merchants. I feel like Quincy Market still does this better.
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Give it time. Employees will decorate their spaces, owners will get used to which plots are theirs to use, products will be moved into the new space. I have high hopes.
 
I was there during lunch hour today, it was packed, plenty claustrophobic in the aisle for me.

Anything this brand-spanking new is going to have some sterile spots and some blank spots. It's off to a great start, if they can keep on drawing even 75% of today's crowd (assuming it eases off after opening week), it'll get the lived-in look quick enough.
 
Stopped in today. No luck finding those knishes ( :( ), but I was ultimately impressed with the whole space. I took some photos if anyone's interested. It was quite busy today, but no busier than the mad house Quincy Market food court is during lunch time.

This is really exciting for the city. I'm really proud of Boston for opening this market. :)
 
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