The sounds of busy workers or tourists taking a moment out of their day to embrace the smell of spices and sweets that waft from the old market building on the corner of Queen and Vine in Lancaster City brings the brick structure full circle to its one-hundred year past as a Farmer’s Market with a modern twist. Southern Market opened its doors this past January as an innovative food hall, office space, and small business incubation hub.
Chris Ballentine, Community Engagement Manager for Willow Valley Communities, explains that under-utilized locations in the city were identified several years ago, including the intersection where the market sits. Addressing its underuse, Lancaster Equity offered a successful proposal for Southern Market’s potential transformation. And, after securing the vacant LNP building (across the street from Southern Market) as the future site of Mosaic, 55+ residential city living, Willow Valley Communities joined the Southern Market revitalization project as the developing partner and operator. Ballentine notes, “This project fits beautifully within the Mayor’s strategic plan for developing the City of Lancaster, and we’re proud to be a part of that initiative.”
The original concept of the incubator was for young or new chefs to start their business in the market with the support to eventually grow into their own space. Senior Vice President of Culinary Services for Willow Valley Communities, Sharon Habanec, works closely with each of the Market’s chefs to ensure their success. She explains that the food is prepared fresh daily in a communal commercial kitchen, increasing the collaborative nature of the process. Within eight months of opening, previous vendor Savoy Truffle has already moved into its own location in Lancaster, showcasing the incubator’s success.
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An open floor plan and high ceilings with a lofted second floor allows visitors to take everything in at once, including the vibrantly preserved moss wall. Bar 1888, the central feature of the Market, is named after the year in which the original building was constructed. The building’s interior design seamlessly combines historical elements of the building with a modern and sleek industrial aesthetic.
The beauty of the market is in more than just its architecture. Ballentine describes the Market’s unique position in the city, stating “You can’t go anywhere else and get ten different cuisines in one place in the city. It showcases the rich cultural diversity of Lancaster and the people in our community.” Habanec loves to bring her family because it saves everyone from having to agree on a cuisine. Instead, a wide array of plates can be shared with no rush to leave, allowing visitors to savor the experience.
Each table is equipped with a QR Code that enables diners to pull up every menu. Southern Market offers everything from Latin Cuisine, to Middle Eastern, to Southern staples. Pho Life is a popular choice with customers, with pho options ranging from medium rare beef, to well done brisket, to vegetarian pho, all simmered in a savory, warming broth. For something fresh, head to Akhi Sushi and grab a Classic Hawaiian Poke Bowl or one (or several) of their many rolls.
The Chicken Shawarma at Flavors of Morocco is a favorite of both Ballentine and Habanec. The flavors are as colorful and bright as the dish itself, which features chicken breast marinated in yogurt and spices on a bed of yellow rice, accompanied by beets, carrots, and eggplant tossed in fresh herbs. Pizzeria 211’s entrance lies right before the Market’s open floor plan, allowing them to accommodate additional hours to serve up its classic pies and subs.
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While individual chef stations offer a wide variety of beverages such as Dominican sodas, Thai iced tea, and milkshakes, the market is home to a coffee shop and a bar. Butter and Bean, operating on earlier hours than the market, is the perfect stop for a caffeinated fix whether your preference is a hot black coffee or an ice-cold frappe or cold brew. The Tea Lattes are Ballentine’s pick. The Parisian Mist is a cozy concoction of lady grey tea with a touch of lavender and vanilla syrup, steeped in the milk of your choice.
Bar 1888’s cocktail menu frequently changes by offering recipes that pair with the unique cuisines surrounding it, while providing modern spins on the classics such as the Armored Car and 1888 Martini. Bar 1888 also features six rotating draft beers from Pennsylvania microbreweries, in addition to six draft wines ranging from sparkling white to cabernet.
The market features weekly events to bring people together, including trivia nights, trivioke, DJ’s, live music, and more. In an effort to be a community gathering place and to utilize all of the space the vast building has to offer, event spaces are available for gatherings such as bridal showers and board meetings. In-house catering is supplied vendors of your choice. Whether you come out to grab lunch on a workday or to sit at the bar on a Saturday night with friends, the market has something for everyone, along with plenty of reasons and dishes to keep coming back for more.
Southern Market
100 S Queen St, Lancaster, PA 17603
