Picture the bustling scene. A million square feet of retail space. That’s the Bronx Terminal Market.
Right here before us stands a testament to reinvention. This isn’t just a shopping mall. It’s a story of renewal. A story that begins long before 2009 when this massive retail center opened its doors. It starts in 1914 with the vision of Cyrus C Miller. A former Bronx Borough President. He envisioned a bustling terminal market. His dream however didn’t fully materialize until Mayor Fiorello La Guardia’s administration.
Between October 1934 and May 1935 a new market rose. Small two-story concrete buildings. Simple yet functional. Imagine the aroma of fresh produce. The energy of countless vendors. This was a place of life. A place where the city’s numerous pushcart vendors finally had a home. Samuel A Oxhandler along with John D Churchill and Albert W Lewis designed these buildings. Initially painted light yellow.
Then came 1936. The flagship structure was completed. A small cubist-style polygon. The words Bronx Terminal Market were proudly displayed in large relief. It housed a bank. Upstairs a hotel for farmers awaited. A unique logistical system was in place. Rail cars arrived via barge.
Even the infamous artichoke ban of 1935 is tied to this very place. Mayor La Guardia himself declared it. Aimed at combating mobster-inflated prices. The ban was short-lived. But it adds to the rich tapestry of this market’s history.
The Bronx Terminal Market thrived. It became the nation’s largest wholesale market for Hispanic foods. However it faced decline. The city planned to demolish it. But the Bronx Terminal Market Merchants Association fought back. They enlisted the help of developer David Buntzman. He secured a 99-year lease in 1972 and kept it running until 2004.
The market wasn’t alone on this site. The Bronx House of Detention for Men once stood here. A 350-cell jail known for its art deco features. It closed in 2000. The Related Companies acquired both properties. They demolished the jail to make way for the current Bronx Terminal Market. They preserved some of the jail’s architectural details as a tribute to the past.
The transformation into the modern Bronx Terminal Market wasn’t easy. It required a community benefits agreement and plenty of construction. The Home Depot was the first anchor tenant in 2009. Then came BJ’s. Others followed including Bed Bath & Beyond Target Best Buy and more. Staples closed in 2013. Toys”R”Us closed in 2018. Food Bazaar replaced it. The largest supermarket in the Bronx.
Today it boasts over two thousand parking spots. It’s easily accessible by subway bus and car. This impressive retail center proudly stands as a vibrant hub of commerce and a reminder of the Bronx’s rich history.