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Reading Terminal Market is officially the No. 1 public market in America, according to USA Today.
Take that, Boston Public Market!
To celebrate this epic victory, Reading Terminal handed out “#1” pink frosted cookies from The Famous 4th Street Cookie Company, revealed a flashy hot pink banner announcing their win and unleashed a flash mob (well, “mob-ette”) upon the market.
Mayor Cherelle Parker came to give a speech, sporting a hot pink blazer that matched the new banner.
“We’re standing in the legendary Reading Terminal Market,” she said. “And as I always say, this is not just a market… This is a full sensory experience.”
Even on a Wednesday afternoon, the market was packed, with guests lining the halls and the sounds of spatulas clinking against stovetops. The smell of fresh baked goods and savory bites from all over the globe hung in the air.
“The Reading Terminal Market has been feeding Philadelphia’s heart, soul and culture and it’s steeped itself into our city’s history,” Parker said.
In an era of Uber Delivery robots and corporate food halls, Reading Terminal goes against the grain. Instead of championing automation and convenience, it is a space that fosters community and in-person connections. The market is a non-profit space and includes over 80 small family-owned businesses.
“There’s so much negativity, but when you come into the market, we bring in people from every background, every neighborhood — really every country,” Reading Terminal CEO Annie Allman told BP. “You feel good when you’re here. You feel safe when you’re here. And we just wanted to celebrate that today.”
The USA Today list is part of their 10Best Reader’s Choice competition, where the readers get to decide on their favorite spots. Allman believes the passion of Philadelphians helped the market take the victory.
“Everyone loves the market,” Allman said. “Our customers have a deep relationship with the Reading Terminal Market, and I think they showed it by taking the time to vote for us and get their friends to vote for us. That’s why we’re able to celebrate today.”
For Mayor Parker, this outcome was an inevitability.
“None of you should be surprised,” she said, adding that the honor couldn’t have come at a better time. “We as a city are preparing to welcome tens of thousands of visitors to our city this summer for sporting events and celebrations for America 250, our anniversary.”
Reading Terminal is also gearing up for America 250, with plans to shut down Filbert Street and create a pedestrian plaza during June and July with merchants and a bar outside.
“I’ve got a feeling that 2026 for the city and the market will be epic,” Allman told the audience after the mayor’s speech — the final words were not only to foreshadow Philly’s big summer, but also cue the flash mob.
Dancers dressed in Flyers, Eagles and Phillies gear got up and then got down to Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” (One dancer bravely sported a “Fly, Elgses, Fly” shirt in front of the mayor.)
“All of our public markets in America, we all bond because many of us kind of live on a shoestring [budget],” Allman told BP. “We’re in historic buildings that need a lot of care. What differentiates all of us from a public market to a food hall is that we still have our purveyors. We have produce, butchers, fishmongers, cheese mongers and so across the country all of us work together to try to keep these amazing spaces open for everyone.”
Check out USA Today’s entire top ten list:
- Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Milwaukee Public Market, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Boston Public Market, Boston, Massachusetts
- Eastern Market, Detroit, Michigan
- West Side Market, Cleveland, Ohio
- Essex Market, New York City, New York
- Lancaster Central Market, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Midtown Global Market, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Grand Central Market, Los Angeles, California
- North Market Downtown, Columbus, Ohio
