Maxwell Street Market

Maxwell Street Market Review

Until 1967 this famous Sunday flea market, begun in the 1880s by Jewish immigrants, was the place to barter for bargains. Then UIC took most of the property to build university housing. The market limped along and finally closed in the 1990s. The public uproar led to its relocation about ½ mile from its original site to South Des Plaines Street, near West Polk and West Roosevelt roads. Today more than 500 vendors operate at its new location, where clothing, power tools, household items, and many other things are for sale. Often someone is playing the blues here, and you'll also find some of the best Mexican food in town.