Downtown’s Market House to reopen this month

New vendors hope to return the market to its roots

Market House co-owner Joe Lyon talks about the renovations in the common seating area in downtown Annapolis. The historic facility is set to reopen in late June with new vendors and an updated customer experience. (photos by Paul W. Gillespie/Capital Gazette )

After lengthy debate, negotiations and legislative maneuvering, Market House in Annapolis will soon be open for business once again.

Owners Michele Bouchard, Jody Danek and Joe Lyon told residents at an informal open house Friday that the historic market is slated for a late June opening.

The opening marks the close of one very long chapter in the 160-year history of this building.

The city opened the request for proposal process in spring 2017 to replace the vendors languishing after failing to draw strong customer support. The city initially received four bids and, over the course of a year, whittled those down to two.

In January, the city finalized a lease with Bouchard, Danek and Lyon’s New Market LLC.

Now, with their concept nearly complete, the partners are ready to open a market that will return to some of the roots residents remember fondly. Market House, once an open-air hub of fish, fried chicken and finger foods, will again sell oysters, crab cakes and fresh produce.

Bouchard said she was scheduled for a meeting with the county Department of Health this past week, with an on-site review to follow.

On a tour through the still-developing space, Bouchard described the variety of traditional as well as up-to-date morsels the market will soon offer.

An oyster bar will greet customers wandering in from Main Street. Besides the classic raw oysters and assortment of mollusks, the counter will offer small salads and sides to pair with the seafood.

Across the aisle, Market House will offer “really healthy” options — grain bowls and kombucha, a fermented tea drink popular for its supposed restorative powers.

“We’re working on a kombucha tap,” Bouchard said. “If we don’t get the tap, we’ll be selling kombucha by the bottle.”

There will also be a cheese and charcuterie counter. If that’s not appealing, the adjacent grill will be serving up hamburgers, french fries and, of course, crab cakes.

A panini and flatbread station gives way to a small bakery offering local Ceremony Coffee and site-made treats.

Also for sale will be dry goods and fresh produce. The corner grocery, occupying the nook nearest Dock Street, will have grab-and-go items as well as fruits and vegetables. The grocery has a separated wooden stand for produce as well as a vintage workbench and barrel for dry goods such as olive oil, pasta and rice.

Customers can sit at tables and high-tops at the center of the space or at a bar along the windows facing Ego Alley. The seating is open to everyone, and patrons of other downtown businesses will be able to bring their food inside to eat.

Market House has received its beer and wine license for sale from 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. Alcohol will be available for on-site consumption and to-go in the grocery.

[e-mail]