Market Hall
The County proposes an adaptive reuse of one of its properties along the BLC as a market hall providing space for food and beverage vendors and small retailers. As demonstrated by the success of Union Market in Washington, DC, a destination market hall with local vendors can help establish a distinct identity for the Blue Line Corridor and help catalyze redevelopment around a BLC Metro station node as a walkable, mixed-use district.
Increasing the County’s commercial tax base
Increasing the amount of healthy food retail square footage
Increasing density in transit-oriented development by catalyzing the real estate market
Increasing areas in the County with identifiable character and a sense of place
Supporting small and minority-owned businesses
Market halls typically offer lower barriers to entry for vendors. The initial capital investment for a food hall space is typically lower than a standalone restaurant. Moreover, market halls often provide more flexible and shorter-term leases, and other costs such as utilities, marketing, and real estate taxes can be reduced. Market halls also provide amenities for both nearby residents and workers as well as landlords, and can help activate the ground floor and public realm. Additionally, they can provide experiential and social offerings. Access to robust food and beverage and small retail offerings through a market hall could help support the nearby residential development.
This is one of five signature projects supported by $400 million in bonding authority that County Executive Alsobrooks and the Prince George’s State Delegation secured from the Maryland Stadium Authority in 2022, the first time in history that the County has worked with the Maryland Stadium Authority on a project.
Project Impact
A market hall along the BLC will support many of the County’s economic development objectives, including: