The Municipal Market of Atlanta, also known as the Sweet Auburn Curb Market, is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a $1.26 million boost for improvements.
The Atlanta City Council approved $489,000 at its Nov. 4 meeting for improvements, such as vendor booth upgrades, to the Downtown market. In October, Invest Atlanta approved $775,000 to the market, also for booth improvements and more security cameras. The Invest Atlanta funding also sets aside $200,000 for small business grants and $75,000 for a merchant training program.
The funding comes as the Municipal Market celebrates its 100th anniversary. Located in an area with limited access to grocery stores, the market provides fresh, affordable food to local residents. Investing in the market is part of the city’s broader efforts to strengthen local businesses and close the food access gap.
“For the past 100 years, the Municipal Market has served as a beacon of hope to give back to the surrounding community,” said Mayor Andre Dickens in a news release.
“Only 76% of Atlanta’s residents live within a half mile of fresh food — a gap too big. The market fulfilled that role long before terms like food insecurity ever existed. This market is an important asset for the city, and we plan to ensure it continues to thrive,” he said.
The Municipal Market was established in response to the Great Atlanta fire of 1917. The fire consumed more than 50 blocks and left 10,000 people homeless — most of whom were Black residents — in what is now known as the Old Fourth Ward.
In 1918, local farmers sought to revitalize what was then the epicenter of the city by gathering to sell livestock and produce on land cleared by the fire. The market was first held under a large tent. The Atlanta Women’s Club raised funds for the market to have a fireproof, brick building that opened on May 1, 1924, under the name of the Municipal Market of Atlanta.
The market was initially segregated — Black vendors were only allowed to sell their goods outside along the curb. The name “Sweet Auburn Curb Market” was adopted in the 1990s as a tribute to that era and its proximity to the historically significant Auburn Avenue, the hub of Black entrepreneurism in Atlanta.
Today, the Municipal Market is a marketplace for local food vendors and small businesses selling fresh produce, meats, dairy, and baked goods. It has also evolved into a hub for local entrepreneurs. Notable restaurants such as Arepa Mia, Sweet Auburn Barbeque, Bell Street Burritos, and Grindhouse Burgers got their start there before expanding to multiple locations around the city.
“I started with a little table outside, where I used to come every Friday,” said Lis Hernandez, founder and chef of Arepa Mia, in the news release. “I am so grateful the market gave me the opportunity to open my business. It’s been amazing.”
In addition to its role in providing food and supporting small businesses, the Municipal Market of Atlanta is a cultural and historic landmark, reflecting the city’s growth and evolution over the past century, said David Y. Mitchell, executive director of the Atlanta Preservation Center.
“This community anchor and cultural resource is not only contributing and significant to the district and city, it also is a really good place to eat,” he said.
“The city of Atlanta is investing into the Sweet Auburn Market to bolster its continued presence and ensure that a landmark of our city continues to be a place that invites and shares our identity through all the senses,” he said.
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