Atlanta Municipal Market marks 100 years with $1.2 million in city funds

The Municipal Market of Atlanta marked its 100-year anniversary on Oct. 18 with a ceremony where city leaders announced over $1.2 million in funding for improvements to the iconic city landmark. 

Known as the Sweet Auburn Curb Market among locals, the market was established as a brick-and-mortar in 1924. It was originally a farmers’ market started in 1918, but the success of the open-air offerings pushed the Atlanta Women’s Club to fundraise and create a permanent building. 

It was one of few places where Black Atlantans could shop inside, though Black vendors had to sell outside the building, earning the nickname “The Curb Market.” Over the years, even with the advent of supermarkets and big box stores, the Municipal Market has remained a bustling hub for the area.

Today, it houses 30 businesses. There are counter service restaurants like Vieux Carre Bistro and Tilapia Express alongside grocery shops like S & H Produce and Porky Pig Market. 

“The market has stood strong as many buildings came and went,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said.  “Over the last 100 years, it has grown into a community institution.” 

The building is owned by the city, but the Oct. 18 announcement marks the city’s first time getting involved with the market in over 30 years. Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari introduced legislation that will set aside $500,000 in the next city budget to pay for physical improvements to the historic market.

For Dickens, the step comes down to food access in Atlanta. The mayor said about 76 percent of Atlanta lives within half a mile of affordable fresh food. By the end of 2025, he committed to raising that number to 85 percent. 

“The goal of taking these steps is to close this food access gap in Atlanta,” Dickens said. 

That’s where institutions like the Municipal Market come in. According to Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari, about 1,000 seniors live within walking distance of the building. It’s a long-standing neighborhood market for many with groceries and meals served up by small business owners. 

“The market fulfilled a role long before terms like ‘food insecurity’ existed,” Dicken said. 

But the building isn’t just helpful for its customers. The booths have served as a launchpad for several popular businesses in the city, like GrindHouse Killer Burgers, Bell Street Burritos and Arepa Mia.

“The market’s mission has always been about creating opportunities for everyday folks to expand their businesses,” Central Atlanta Progress President AJ Robinson said. 

Yet the booths are paid for by the small business owners. The spots are a low barrier of entry for new vendors, but the condition depends on investment from already cash-strapped tenants. They also vary in style and design based on when they were built and who maintains them. 

Invest Atlanta approved $500,000 in funding to make improvements to the existing booths. The money will be used for a redesign and reconstruction of the booths to create a standardized and “modern” look and a smaller average size. 

The board added another $275,000 to small business grants and technical assistance programming that will help teach budgeting, lending, business planning and leasing to new and existing vendors. 

“It’s the original incubator,” Robinson said. 

Lis Hernandez, owner of Arepa Mia, got her start at the curb market before moving to her Avondale Estates establishment. The Venezuelan chef received a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation in 2023. 

She used to set up outside of the market every Friday, selling her arepas for about $5. Hernandez said the late general manager Pamela Joiner helped her open a business in the market. 

“I am definitely so grateful that the market gave me the opportunity to open a business, it’s been a rollercoaster, but a fun rollercoaster,” Hernandez said. 

She said the market team helps vendors “understand and grow” their startups. Today, Hernandez has 18 employees and national recognition — a step up from her self-run table outside the building all those years ago.