Government > City Departments/Offices > Public Works > Market House > Market House History

There has been a Market House at City Dock since 1788. The land was given to the City in 1784 for the purposes of establishing a "good and substantial brick, stone, or framed Market House . . . . well-fitted, with all accommodations necessary for the reception and sale of provisions."

Located in the heart of the Historic District where vessels have docked for centuries the existing structure was built in 1856 and underwent a major renovation and restoration in 1972.

Today, the City has revived the Market House so it serves people who live, work, dock, and visit downtown.

The Mayor and City Council Reopened Market House on July 11, 2011
Mayor Joshua J. Cohen and the City Council reopened the Market House to the applause of more than 100 enthusiastic spectators, including elected officials from the state and Anne Arundel County and a host of business and community leaders.

The doors reopened to the historic downtown market where nine area vendors have signed short-term leases that will be in effect until Jan. 2, 2012. This lineup will provide a mix of food options, including a raw bar and grocery, as well as maps and artwork. In addition, the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau has established a satellite office for tourists and residents.

The Market House’s hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, through the Annapolis Boat Shows in October, at which time the hours may be changed.

The short-term vendors are:

b. b. bistro:  Providing an affordable, quick lunch or dinner made with the highest quality local ingredients. Menu items include salads, soups, sandwiches, desserts and beverages. b.b. Bistro serves as a liaison between local farmers and customers for local goods.

 
Chick & Ruth’s Delly:  An Annapolis tradition for 46 years, Chick & Ruth’s serves crab cakes, deli sandwiches and beverages, including their famous milkshakes.  It is home of “The best jumbo crab cake in Maryland.”

Firenzes Coffee & Gelato:  A new concept that offers the sophistication of gelato, a gourmet frozen dessert, along with hot beverages such as coffee, espresso, macchiato, cappuccino and latte.

Jerrie’s on the Shore:  Serving freshly prepared and user-friendly fare for locals, boaters and tourists.  Selections include burgers, curly fries, wings, onion rings, hot dogs and shaved ice.

Maryland Table:  Offering unique, organic and original take-home foods and ready-to-eat offering, Maryland Table market will serve as a resource for residents looking for a more down-to-earth grocery experience downtown.

Myra’s Popcorn Kitchen:  Providing a variety of unique products including gourmet popcorn, caramel apples, cotton candy, and glazed nuts.  Fresh popcorn will be prepared on site.

Pit Boys Oyster & Raw Bar:  Traditional oyster bar, serving Maryland oysters and clams, crab meat, and soft shell crabs, sourced from local watermen.

Wimsey Cove: All products are related to Annapolis and the local area.  Historic maps of Annapolis and other nearby places of interest. Artwork is produced by artists living in Anne Arundel County.  Giftware of the highest quality will be available as souvenirs of historic Annapolis.

Wok Your Way:  Fresh, customized fried rice with options of chicken or shrimp, will complement the other City Dock restaurants, providing a great alternative for Annapolis residents and visitors.  Fresh, healthy and nutritious ingredients will be prepared to taste for a fast balanced meal.

Additionally, nonprofit organizations will be assigned space in Market House on a rotational basis.  

The reopening caps a bold 13-week timetable in which the City completed significant upgrades to the 5,000-square-foot market, including an overhaul of the air-conditioning system and the installation of sprinklers under the eves of the building. The Department of Public Works oversaw those upgrades and led the process to hire an interim manager of the Market House (FranPoint Partners LLC) and select the tenants that have roots in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.

Among the attendees for the event were House Speaker Michael Busch, Sen. John Astle, Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold, former Mayor and current county Chief Administrative Officer Dennis Callahan and County Council members Dick Ladd and Chris Trumbauer. City Council members in attendance were Ross Arnett, Sheila Finlayson, Classie Hoyle, Kenny Kirby, Fred Paone and Ian Pfeiffer.

The City Council set the direction for the project with the passage of a resolution in March to support the opening of the Market House on a short-term basis. The council members revised the timetable at the recommendation of the Mayor to accommodate much-needed upgrades to the air-conditioning system. The council approved $500,000 this year for upgrades to market. In addition, Mr. Busch and Mr. Astle helped push through a $250,000 bond bill in the General Assembly to defray the cost of those improvements.

The City spent $298,000 for first phase of the air-conditioning upgrades as well as the other improvements. Phase two of the heating and air conditioning project will be completed in early 2012 when geothermal wells for the air conditioning system will be installed.  In addition to the local and state funding, the City has a $96,000 federal grant to defray the cost of the geothermal system. The City closed the facility at the end of last year on a temporary basis.  

“It is finally open,” Mayor Cohen said. “This morning I had a crab cake slider, some raw oysters and steamed shrimp, and a delicious fruit smoothie. It feels like home again.

“Even though we are still considering what the long-term future holds for the Market House, we have taken a giant step forward and have an exciting mix of vendors in there for the rest of this year. It was a tremendous team effort to get open in only 13 weeks, and we did it on time and within budget.  

“Given how hot and humid the weather has been, I'm especially grateful to Senator John Astle and House Speaker Mike Busch for going to bat for us to provide state matching funds to replace the air conditioning. After many years of limbo and litigation, we can all breathe a deep sigh of relief that finally the air conditioning fiasco is behind us.”
To meet the Vendors, click on the video below