Shop ’til You Drop
North Market, located downtown, has been serving Columbus for 149 years
By Joe Frye
Columbus is full of places to shop, eat and drink. With plenty of chic neighborhoods, it’s hard to go wrong. However, it is rare to find all these in one place. North Market, located downtown, has been serving Columbus for 149 years in 2025. Offering food, drink, local goods and more, North Market is the quintessential public market.
The market, built in 1876, was built on the site of the city’s North Graveyard and was the second of four public markets constructed to serve the city in the 19th century. In its century and a half lifetime, the market has transformed and oscillated between successful and hard times.
In 1948, the market burned down, and in the 70s, the market faced financial hardship. It wasn’t until the 1980s that The North Market Development Authority was formed with the mission to preserve the historic market. Throughout the 90s, the market underwent a revitalization effort, helping create the market as it stands today.
The market’s many shops include a number of food stands representing cuisine from around the world. American staples like barbecue and burgers are sure to please those looking for something familiar while Flavors of India, Momo Ghar and Hubert’s Polish Express are open for those eager to taste the world. For desserts, donuts, ice cream and bubble tea are sure to satiate anyone’s sweet tooth. Columbus-born Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams has a location at the market.
On the retail end, shoppers can browse among fresh cut stems at Market Blooms and search for herbs and spices at North Market Spices. Additionally, shops like Mini-Super make sure that fresh produce and pantry staples are available for visitors to the market.
Luckily, North Market is expanding beyond downtown, North Market Bridge Park recently opened in Dublin, Ohio, and The Merchant Building, a mixed-use development, began construction in 2023. This expansion, in addition to highlighting more local vendors, makes it easier for more Columbus-area residents to get in on this historic fun.
