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Tommy Blog Eastern Market at the Building Museum | Eastern Market at the Building Museum |
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| Written by Linda O'Brien | |
| Friday, 29 June 2007 | |
 Tuesday night, June 26th, at the National Building Museum was a celebration and retrospective of Eastern Market. Councilmember Tommy Wells gave introductory remarks, which were followed by a panel discussion that included Lars Etzkorn from the Office of Property Management, longtime Eastern Market vendor, Tommy Glasgow, Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee Chair Donna Sheeder and Stephen Ackerman a Capitol Hill native and author. Much Market history was offered along with expressions of personal experiences. The theme of that night though, was overwhelmingly - balance and community.Councilmember Wells discussed some of the controversy that swirled around the Market for years regarding exactly what the Market should be. As he explained, some thought it should sell only food. Or, if arts and crafts vendors were to be included, maybe only local artists should be allowed to sell their wares. There was concern also about the potential competition that the Market merchants would create with the other local businesses in the area. Protecting what was there first has always been a priority when considering any changes at the Market. But a balance was struck; and it works. The north and center hall merchants have their roles as do the farmers and weekend flea market vendors. As Donna Sheeder discussed, much of the chaos that has entangled Eastern Market has been born of passion. She said that the Market is so much more than a building, it is the collective community - all of the merchants and vendors, customers and their families, tourists, politicians, neighborhood associations and the restoration society. It is a delicate balance of many interests and many passions. Tommy Glasgow described his experience as longtime Market merchant, as that of becoming a member of the families he has served and worked with. He spoke of caring deeply about, not only his customers, but also their families and friends, and all of their collective joys and sorrows. He said the old way, of one-on-one personalized customer service that Eastern Market is known for, is still the best way. He spoke of Market merchants as a family who care about each other as they do their customers. As different as they are from each other in the goods they sell, the merchants are alike in the concern they share for all their customers. What was clear from all the discussion Tuesday, the Market is more than just the sum of any of its parts or any of its history. It is a spirit, a feeling carried in the heart. It’s the sense of community that is becoming more and more rare in this era. It is knowing that some people still care about more than just making the sale. |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 29 June 2007 ) |
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