New York City

The Lower East Side was once a hub for pushcart peddlers who rented their carts by the day and sold everything from pickles to hats. Essex Market, established around 1888, was one of dozens of open-air pushcart markets in New York City. The congested streets spurred Mayor La Guardia to create a network of public indoor markets, including Essex Market, which opened in 1940 with four buildings and 475 vendors.

Join Royal Oak as we explore the new 37,000 square-foot Essex Market (formerly known as the Essex Street Market), while learning about the history of the market and its shifting demographics. We will start outside for a history of the market and where it used to be, learning about the Pushcart War and Jewish gangsters (the “Kosher Nostra”), who preyed on the original peddlers. Then we will then head inside the new Essex Market. Still operated by the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the new market continues the tradition of valuing small businesses and serving as a resource for the community. All 21 of the remaining original vendors moved to the new space, in addition to 16 new ones. Some of the vendors we will meet and whose food we will taste include: Essex Olive and Spice House, Puebla Mexican Food and Osaka Grub.