A Historic Landmark Tied Intimately To The City Of Los Angeles
Preserving the Legacy of a Celebrated Downtown Landmark
Los Angeles' Largest and Oldest Public Market
When the doors first opened in October 1917, the “Wonder Market,” as it was then called, was billed as “the largest and finest public market on the Pacific Coast.” It filled the entire ground floor of the Beaux-Arts-style Homer Laughlin Building, the region’s first steel-reinforced, fireproof structure. At the time, Los Angeles was the country’s tenth-most-populous city—and downtown was the epicenter of a flourishing metropolis.
A Historical Los Angeles Icon With a Modern Vision
Today, the Market’s 40 stalls are home to an only-in-LA blend of legacy vendors like China Cafe (open since 1959), rising stars, and success stories from the city’s buzzing food scene. The Market is a microcosm of the historic immigrant communities that have shaped Los Angeles and a mosaic of the creativity and vision of the people who call this city home.
Showcasing California's Best Ingredients, Chefs, and Entrepreneurs
Grand Central Market has been part of the LA story from the very beginning. We feel lucky to be woven into the founding fabric that makes this city shine and steal hearts—inspiring people from all over the world to come, see, explore, and discover. To this day, there's always room at our table, and the whole city here for the tasting.