Fulton Fish Market

The Market's Interior

The Fulton Fish Market, is now located in Hunts Point but was for a long time located along the East River waterfront at and above Fulton Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, was the most important wholesale fish market in the United States of America. Opening in 1822, it was the destination of fishing boats from across the Atlantic Ocean. Starting in the 1950s most fish began to be trucked in. The buyers were restaurateurs and wholesalers who purchased fresh fish of every imaginable variety. It was not uncommon for fish to be rushed to Fulton Fish market from fishing ports in New England where it could be resold to be taken back to some of the same towns in which it originally landed. Prices at the Fulton Fish Market were tracked and reported by the U.S. Government.

It was one of the last, and most significant, of the great wholesale markets of New York in its original location.

Closing and move to the Bronx

In July 2005 the market was scheduled to be moved to a modern $85 million, 400,000-square-foot facility with better access to major highways in Hunts Point[1] in the South Bronx. The move was largely due to the cramped location and lack of modern facilities, such as climate control, at the Manhattan location. The move was also due in part to the old market's proximity to the South Street Seaport and the potential for developing the Fulton/East River area for other, more lucrative applications. However, legal problems delayed the move until November 14 when the market finally opened at its Bronx location.[2]

Other wholesale food markets

Of the various wholesale food markets once common in Manhattan, the Meat Market on the West Side around 14th Street remains. The huge, rambling and historic Washington Market wholesale produce market below Chambers Street, also on the West Side, was displaced to the Bronx both for modern facilities and for construction of the World Trade Center.

Other fish markets in New York City (1831)

From a New York newspaper dated 1831:

In New York, there are a number of Markets. Those called Fulton and Washington Markets are the largest. Fulton Market is at the East end of Fulton Street near the East River, and the Washington Market is on the West end, near the North River. The first was formerly situated in Maiden Lane on the East River side, and was called Fly Market. The latter was also in Maiden Lane, near Broadway, and went by the name Bear Market. These are the two principal markets. The next in size is Catherine Market, on Catherine Street, East River. There is also Franklin Market, in Old Slip; Centre Market, in Grand,near Orange Street; linton Market, North River, foot of Canal Street; Essex Market, Essex Street; Grand Street Market, at the Williamsburgh Ferry; and the Tomkins Market, at the junction of the Third Avenue and the Bowery.

References

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