La Marqueta

THERE IS NOTHING HERE! It’s empty during the winter. aside from the bakery (that is nothing compared to Orwashers or Eli’s bakery.) and a few stands selling unkempt varieties. In the summertime, it turns in to a place that plays LOUD music outside every Sunday with a DJ.
It adds NOTHING to the community because after the weekly celebration, there is so much garbage on the streets and drunk people trying to find the next place to go to.
Hey La Marqueta… I suggest you focus on getting people to shop there instead of your weekly party because word on the street is that you used to be something in the past but now you’re clinging on to relevance with this Sunday party you throw.

It’s a shame no one sympathizes with the neighbors who have to put up with the the deafening noise during weekends. How about moving this event to a park which is just a few blocks away? I am pretty sure they’re violating a noise code, as the metro north train passes by, the music gets louder. There has to be a noise pollution assessment for the sake of residents who simply want to enjoy a peaceful quite weekend in the comfort of their homes.

A good option w the the bakery n that’s about it. Rent a cop security are very rude, especially if you have small pets. Not the most inviting spot; very obnoxious interactions.

This is basically a much-​more-​inconvenient-​to-​the-​type-​to-​frequent-​such-​places condensed version of the Essex Street Market.
Apparently someone burned something before we walked in, which I can only assume forced half the vendors to be closed on a Saturday at noon, including the half-​open with an awful selection Patisserie Vanessa (and long ago shuttered Beurre & Sel Cookies.

More of a gathering place than a market; during summer weekends there are vendors selling snacks, juices, food, souveneirs, etc… There is live music and much dancing, fanfare, drinking on the low, hoards of people gather and have a good ol time partying.
I stumbled upon this place because I have a friend that lives on the same street, it gets really noisy and rowdy, but if you’re a part of it you tend to not care.

La Marqueta has so much potential but right about now all it is is a warehouse for salt fish & adobo. I suppose there’s a market for that, excuse me, a «marqueta» but some additional offerings are desperately needed. The place is a ghost town.

Currently a bit of a ghost town feeling, this once bustling market has seen better days and maybe will again see those better days again.
Built in 1936 by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia for pushcarts of mainly Italian and Jewish immigrants the market swelled again with influx of Puerto Ricans to the area. It nosedived in the seventies and today sees a lilltle resurgence due to Hot Bread Kitchen baking it’s goodies here.
There is a great plant stall, Breezy Hill Orchards, an African food stall, and a fruit stall. The fruit vendor gave me a head of garlic for free as I was the lone consumer one late afternoon. Could this market turn into the mega successful Essex Street Market? Hard to say. as this area has some similarities and many differences, though there is a great hope en EL Barrio that La Marqueta will rise again!

La Marqueta is full of promise. Currently, there are only about ten vendors, but each is a great specialty place is you are looking for something in particular. The meat vendors seemed especially good if you’re looking for a non-​traditional cut of meat.
What I most enjoyed was Breezy Hill Orchard’s stand where they were selling handmade apple cider donuts. Mmmmm. The woman working there was especially helpful and informed me of the La Marqueta CSA which will be distributing fruit, vegetable, and artisanal pasta shares from there in the spring.
Urban Garden Center has a great stall will all sorts of incredible plants that make me wish I had a garden, or at least a bigger spot on the floor of my apartment. The man working there was very knowledgable about his plants. They’ll be opening a huge outdoor center in April at 116^th and Park which will feature even more plants for the people of East Harlem.
Hot Bread Kitchen is also a great addition to this space. I’m not sure that they’re selling any goods here, but they are training immigrant women and women from low-​income families to make artisanal bread of various countries. Depending on what time you come, you can watch them make glorious bread!
I’m looking forward to seeing this place really grow. Until then, I will buy delicious organic apples from Breezy Hill Orchard and fill my apartment with too many plants from Urban Garden Center.

La Marqueta is getting a makeover. You know that odd looking place from 111^th St. to 119^th St. on Park Ave. The «main building» will have new produce markets and a super huge garden center. There are already a few meat markets and produce vendors there. This is an awesome home-​grown version of Target and Costco a few blocks away. It is only one block West from the 116^th and Lexington (6-​train) stop. There are tons of awesome Borican and Mexican Restaurants… I stopped by today and it is looking good. They also have good Bacalao!