PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — With great fanfare, including balloons, dancers and remarks from the mayor, the Reading Terminal Market celebrated a new honor: being named the best public market in the United States.
General Manager Annie Allman made the announcement to the market’s lunchtime crowd, that USA Today readers voted it to the number one spot on the publication's “10Best” list of public markets.
She said the designation is mostly about bragging rights, but also offers a practical advantage.
“It has tremendous reach on the 10Best website. They do a fair amount of promotion behind it, so anything that helps elevate and expose us to new audiences is just wonderful,” said Allman.
“I think for Philadelphia, it’s just a great source of pride. This market really belongs to Philadelphians and we love it when we’re number one, right? So it’s another championship we get to celebrate.”
Reading Terminal beat out markets in Boston, Los Angeles and New York City. Mayor Cherelle Parker said the timing is great for the 80 small, family-owned businesses that operate inside the market.
“We as a city are preparing to welcome tens of thousands of visitors. They are ready to be the first stop people make when they arrive,” the mayor said.
Allman also noted the market has plans to expand for America's 250 birthday celebrations — taking over the 1100 block of Filbert Street during the day in June and July.
Reading Terminal Market has carved out a space in the listing’s top three spots in the five years since the category was launched, including a pair of prior wins in 2021 and 2022.
