City Market

City Market is a four-block complex in downtown Charleston featuring a Main Hall built in Greek Revival style alongside open-air vendor sections. The space combines an enclosed stone structure with covered outdoor areas where crafts people and merchants display their goods.

The market was established in the 1790s following a fire that destroyed the earlier Beef Market on this site. The prominent Market Hall building was completed in 1841 from a design by architect Edward White.

Local artisans craft and sell Sweetgrass baskets here, a traditional craft rooted in the region's history that visitors can watch being made. The makers are often present and share stories about their families' connection to this skill.

The market is open daily with shops and stalls typically opening in the morning and staying open into the late afternoon. Some areas are covered while others remain open to the weather, so visiting during mild temperatures makes for a more comfortable experience.

The upper floor of the building once served as a Confederate recruitment office during the Civil War era. This space later became a museum displaying objects and documents from that period of American history.

Location: Charleston

Architects: Edward Brickell White

Architectural style: Greek Revival architecture

Address: 188 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA

Opening Hours: Monday-Thursday 09:30-17:00; Friday-Saturday 18:30-22:30; Sunday 09:30-17:00

Phone: +18439370920

Website: https://thecharlestoncitymarket.com

GPS coordinates: 32.78028,-79.93139

Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:01