DESCRIPTION: The City Market is home to an eclectic mix of restaurants and merchants who offer distinctive gifts, flowers, home accessories and specialty foods from across the world. March through November, it hosts the region’s largest farmers’ market on Saturdays with additional markets on Sundays and Wednesdays. The buildings surrounding the open-air market house more than 30 shops and restaurants that are open year round, including the Arabia Steamboat Museum. The Market also offers an impressive lineup of concerts and special events.
ADDRESS: 20 E. 5th Street, Suite 201, Kansas City, MO 64106 .
LOCATION: A few blocks north of Downtown in the River Market district.
PHONE: 816-842-1271
WEB SITE: www.thecitymarket.org
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook- The City Market, Twitter- @TheCityMarketKC, Instagram-thecitymarketkc, Blog
HIGHLIGHTS:
HOURS: The City Market is open seven days a week. Contact individual merchants for specific hours of operation. The Farmer's Market operates 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun. November – March Saturdays & Sundays 9 a.m.– 3 p.m. June – August Mini Market Wednesdays 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Youth Market 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
ADMISSION: Free. Special events, exhibits and concerts may charge admission.
ANNUAL ATTENDANCE: Approximately 600,000 per year.
HISTORY: As Kansas City’s oldest continuously-operating business, The City Market has been approximately in the same location since 1857. Leased by the City to Jacob and Fred Scheibel for $50 a year, the Market area quickly became a trading post area for those heading west. The Roaring ’20s brought unprecedented growth to the Market, housing City Hall, two newspapers, an opera house and the county courthouse. City Market buildings witnessed extensive renovations under President Roosevelt’s New Deal in the ’30s, and the Market expanded its offerings beyond produce in the ’70s to include bars, restaurants and other businesses.
WHERE TO GET LUNCH: The City Market houses many eateries, serving selections from falafel and gyros at Habashi House Middle Eastern Café. Winslow’s City Market Barbeque. Other dining options include Bo Ling’s, Carollo’s Italian Deli, City Market Coffeehouse, Minsky’s Pizza, Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant, Bloom Baking Co. and Tikka House.
WHAT’S NEARBY: Be sure to see the treasure recovered from a sunken steamboat at the Arabia Steamboat Museum, which is located on the east side of the Market. Explore the surrounding River Market neighborhood, which is home to a number of antique shops, historic brick buildings, bars and restaurants. Walk along the Missouri River at Berkley Riverfront Park.
WHAT’S NEW: In cooperation with various automobile clubs from the metro area, The City Market hosts a weekly car show series, “Art of the Machine.” Shows feature vintage, restored and custom vehicles. Flicks on the Bricks free movie and music series on final Friday, Be Part of the Art on First Friday's a local artist showcase and paint class every First Friday 6-10 p.m. through October. Events are updated on http://www.thecitymarket.org.
HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES: Shoppers can observe cooking demonstrations from a variety of area chefs, who prepare simple recipes with ingredient readily available at the Market.
DON’T FORGET: Comfortable shoes for strolling and a large bag or cooler to store your purchases. Cash is also extremely handy—most vendors do not accept checks or credit cards.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Take the MAX to the City Market stop or take the Kansas City Streetcar to the City Market stop (5th & Walnut).
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
From the north: From I-29 and I-35, follow the signs for I-35 S. Take Exit 2F, Oak/Grand/Walnut, on the right side. Continue on exit to Walnut Street and turn right (north). Continue driving north on Walnut Street, and you will drive right into The City Market.
From the south: Head east on I-670. Then take Hwy 40 N, which will loop around Downtown and head west. Exit at Oak/Grand/Walnut on the right. Exit to Walnut Street. Turn right on Walnut and you will drive right into The City Market.
From the east: Head west on I-70 toward Kansas City. At the I-70/I-670 split just before Downtown, take I-70/I-35. After about a mile, take Exit 2F, Oak/Grand/Walnut, on the right. Exit to Walnut Street, turn right (north) on Walnut Street, and you will drive right into The City Market.
From the west: Head east on I-70 into Kansas City. Take the Main Street exit and immediately turn left on 6th Street. Continue east on 6th Street to Walnut Street. Turn left (north) on Walnut Street, go over the bridge and you will drive right into The City Market.
PARKING: All City Market parking lots are free Saturdays/Sundays and weekdays after 6pm. (Saturday/Sunday Overflow Parking is available at 7th & Main, a short walk or one KC Streetcar stop from City Market.) Daily free 2-hour parking will continue in City Market Square (green) City Market parking lots are $1 per hour Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. (yellow). Parking is enforced with ticketing and towing.
PUBLIC RELATIONS CONTACT: Sue Patterson, director of marketing and events, 816-842-1271 or spatterson@thecitymarket.org.
