Harrisburg Broad Street Market: what is open and where to eat

The Broad Street Market in Harrisburg's Midtown is one of the oldest continuously operating market houses in the United States. The market itself says it was founded in 1860, and its older Stone Market building, completed in 1863, still stands. Its brick building, the larger of the two, was destroyed by a fire in July 2023, and the rebuild has taken longer than planned. This guide, checked in October 2026, explains what is open, how to eat there and where to eat nearby. Hours and reopening plans have changed more than once, so check the market's own page before you go.

What is the Broad Street Market?

It is a public market in Midtown where independent vendors sell produce, meat, baked goods, prepared food and gifts. Its history runs back to the Civil War: farmers at the market helped feed Union soldiers mustered at nearby Camp Curtin. It is a city landmark and the heart of Midtown, a neighborhood of rowhouses, cafes and small shops between downtown and the Susquehanna River.

What is open after the fire?

Two things. The stone building remains open on market days. A temporary tent nearby holds some of the vendors displaced from the brick building along with a few new ones, and the city has said it would stay open until the new brick building is ready. Hours can shift, particularly in winter, so check the market's page before you leave.

When will the brick building reopen?

The date has changed several times. The city has planned to reopen the rebuilt brick building, but the target has moved later more than once, so check with the city for the current date. Vendors in the tent have said they are uncertain about their place in the new building. As a visitor, the best way to help is to shop at the market while it is in its temporary form.

What should you buy and eat at the market?

Plan to graze. The market is known for produce, meat, cheese and baked goods, with prepared foods that reflect Pennsylvania Dutch and Central Pennsylvania cooking. Soft pretzels, sticky buns, scrapple, pierogi and sandwiches are all common in market towns of this kind, and the vendors will tell you what is fresh that day. Bring cash, a bag and a cooler for meat and dairy. With a smaller group of vendors in the tent, lines can form at lunchtime, so arrive in the morning.

Where can you eat nearby?

Midtown has cafes and corner restaurants along Third Street and Reily Street, plus bars and neighborhood kitchens. Downtown Harrisburg, a ten-minute drive away, has restaurants near Market Square and the State Capitol, which fill on weekdays with government workers and on session days. Front Street runs along the river with views, and City Island has seasonal food in summer. If you are planning around the Capitol, expect lunchtime crowds on weekdays when the legislature is in session and quieter weekends.

How does Harrisburg fit into a Pennsylvania food trip?

Harrisburg is the hub between Philadelphia, Lancaster, Hershey and Gettysburg. A good day uses the market in the morning, then a drive to Hershey or a walk along the river. It is also a short trip from Lancaster's Central Market. For rail visitors, Amtrak's Keystone line stops in Harrisburg. In winter, the market is quieter, and a hot lunch at a neighborhood counter is a pleasure.

What should you know about parking and getting there?

Midtown is a walkable neighborhood of rowhouses, and parking near the market is on the street, with limited spaces on Saturday mornings. Allow a few extra minutes and park a block or two away. If you are coming from downtown, the walk up Third Street takes about fifteen minutes, and buses run through Midtown. The temporary tent at Third and Verbeke Streets is a short walk from the stone building, so you can visit both in one trip.

It also helps to know how the market runs on a typical morning. Vendors set up early, regulars arrive soon after opening and the best selection of bread, pastries and fresh meat is gone by late morning on Saturday. Come on a Thursday or Friday if you prefer a quiet visit and a chance to talk with the vendors, who are usually glad to explain what they sell and how it is made.

If you are visiting from out of town, pair the market with the State Capitol, whose public tours are free and whose building is open on weekdays, or with a walk along the Susquehanna River on Front Street. It makes a full, easy day without a long drive.

How can you remember what you liked?

Mosey is a food-first app where diners can rate a dish, keep lists of places to try and search by dish and mood. A market with a rotating cast of vendors is a good reason to keep a short list of the stalls you want to visit again.

This is one of many Pennsylvania guides, and the Food in Pennsylvania page lists them all by town.

More guides to read next:

• Where to eat in Moab: Main Street meals around Arches days
• Ogden food guide: Historic 25th Street and the rail district
• Park City Main Street dining by season: winter, mud season, summer

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