History of San Antonio's Market Square: Timeline

1718 - Founding of San Antonio 1805 - Antonio Cordero y Bustamante, Governor of The Spanish Province of Texas, ordered the construction of a permanent market for the slaughtering and sale of livestock. It did not prove to be permanent. 1820 -The first building on Produce Row was completed. It is the current location of "Botica Guadalupana" which was the oldest continually operated pharmacy in San Antonio until 1997. Produce Row was the main street in the current Market Square area, however it is now a pedestrian walkway. 1830 - An informal market sprang up on Plaza de Armas. This area was later called Military Plaza and is the current location of City Hall. Produce fresh from the countryside fields was the main staple of this market. San Antonio Chili was born here and served by San Antonio's legendary "Chili Queens." 1836 - Fall of the Alamo and Battle of San Jacinto 1840 - The San Antonio City Council passed an ordinance establishing the first city Market House, in a long, low building of stone on the north side of Plaza de Armas. This building was believed to have been the last remaining portion of the original Spanish Presidio. It was a meat market, with strict rules, for the display and sale of beef, mutton, cabrito and hog. From 1840-1860, this Market House complemented the Informal produce market on Plaza de Armas. 1860 - A new Market House was constructed at 511 West Market Street just north of Plaza de las Islas, or Main Plaza. It was a Grecian architectural design with classic Doric columns. Locals called it "The Greek Temple". It too was a meat market. 1889 - The produce market on Plaza de Armas closed forever. It gave way to the city's plan to build City Hall on the exact same spot. 1892 - On petition of the citizens of San Antonio, Presidio Square was designated as an open market and not as a park, which it had previously been. This is the area where Market Square is located today. 1893 - "The Greek Temple" was sold by the city to a private entrepreneur who converted it into a hardware store. 1894 - The area of Presidio Square which fronted on Commerce Street was designated as Paschal Square in honor of Mayor George Paschal who died in office. 1899 - A Victorian style new City market designed by Alfred Giles was built in Market Square. 1920 - The building currently referred to as Centro de Artes del Mercado was constructed. 1926 - "The Greek Temple" was torn down to make way for a flood channel cut-off in the San Antonio River. 1938 - The Victorian style market was torn down and the building which currently houses El Mercado was built 1976 - Market Square was revitalized with major refurbishing of existing buildings, construction of a new Farmers Market, and by making Produce Row and Concho Street into pedestrian walkways. 1994 - Revitalization of the Farmer's Market building creating the new Farmers Market Plaza with space for 10 in-line stores, 20 kiosks, 6 food court spaces, 5 specialty spaces and 17 pushcarts. 2004 - The re-development of the center section businesses in the Farmers Market Plaza replacing the kiosk-pushcarts concept into store stalls allowing more room for merchandising. 2006- Phase I of the Market Square Rehabilitation project of Produce Row and Concho Plaza to include new storm drains, new paving, new power and lighting system and utility work by SAWS and CPS.