Lexington + Northeast

Another weekend, I was able to visit some of the more formal markets in Baltimore, Lexington Market, and Northeast Market. I live near the Northeast Market and have visited it many times because it’s the closest grocery store to my home. The market is interesting to me because it has a bunch of older-looking food stalls, and in the back, fresh fruits, veggies, eggs, meat, and dairy. I even found herbs and peppers there (I like my food spicy!) There are also a couple of smaller booths that sell basic canned goods. The nearby Walgreens is the other “food” provider in the area. I put food in quotes cause the refrigerator section where the cheese, milk, basic meats, and freezer meals are supposed to be is usually empty.  I talked to the people outside Walgreens about it, and we are all pretty sure it’s going to close just like the CVS below the Tala apartments. Anyway, the northeast market has these amazing groceries for affordable prices. The Lexington Market is bougie, and its workers are older than those at the northeast market.

From what I’ve seen, the northeast market consists of immigrant workers, while the Lexington market has more workers who were born in Baltimore. The groceries at Lexington Market are much more expensive, which makes sense since the market was renovated and is now semi-gentrified (not my words; this is what a customer I was sharing a table with said). I think both the markets are cool cause they balance modernization with heritage. Behind the counters, generations of vendors preserve family legacy while adapting to changing circumstances. The contest between formality and familiarity reflects Baltimore’s evolution. It’s a reminder that progress can coexist with memory when spaces are well cared for. In cases like this, policy and community planning are essential.