Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-30
CENTER MARKETS
DEALERS MOVING
Must Vacate Old Building
Before Midnight Tomor-
roW-Some to Retire.

AS the time approaches for the
evacuation of Center Market at mid
night tomorrow, provision merchants,
produce dealers and green grocers in
the famous old market place are pre-
pairing today to either move to new
headquarters in other sections of the
city or retire from business.
Last efforts of the attorneys for the
center Market Dealers Association to
obtain an extension Of the time limit
for the dealers in the building on the
south side of Pennsylvania avenue be-
tween Seventh and Ninth streets hav-
ing failed, the retailers are forced tc
comply with the Governments order OF
more than six months ago, ito evacuate
by January 1. 1891"
While additional space for many OF
the dealers has been provided in the
Convention Hall, at Fifth and K streets,
which has been extensively remodeled
ana equipped to accommodate more
market stalls, the closing of Center
Market finds the many merchants who
nave made this market their business
home for many years separating and
scattering to different market places
all over the city.
The majority of the dealers continu-
ing In business have acquired space al
Convention Hall, a canvass of the stalls
at Center Market today shows. 9th
RS VIII go to Western Market, at Twen-
ty-hrst and K streets; to the Arcade
Market, at Fourteenth street and Park
road; Park View Market, Georgia ave-
nue. and Park road, and the Riggs Mar
ket, at Fourteenth and P streets. A
number OF fish dealers are planning to
move to new headquarters on Water
street.
Some VIII Retire.
A few dealers are retiring from bust
ness altogether, some partly because
they failed to obtain satisfactory loca-
ton elsewhere and others because the
closing of the market affords them an
opportunity to retire from business in
conspicuously after having been at
it long enough"
There appeared to be little concern
among the dealers this morning as to
how much of the equipment connected
with their respective stalls they were
entitled to. Meat cutting machines
scales, cash registers, and the like, they
plan to take away with them. Such OF
the glass show cases as are not fixed
part OF the equipment of the stands
they also plan to remove. All other
material, such as marble counters,
benches, ETC., regarded as permanent
fixtures, must remain for the Salvagers.
Fairfax oyster, vice president of the
Center Market Dealers Association, who
maintains stall at Center Market, ex-
pressed objection today at the evacua-
ton orders affecting the dealers and
not the operation of the cold storage
plant at the market. He said the plant
would be turned over to the wrecking
company on January /, and that it was
his understanding the salvagers would
be permitted to continue operating it.
He said some fthe dealers had been
offered cold storage facilities from this
plant for two or three months If they
located in the immediate vicinity of
Center Market.
Subject of Much Debate.
The original governmental order for
the evacuation of Center Market was
to become effective July 1 last. Later
legislation enacted by Congress, how
ever, provided an extension of time for
the stay of the dealers in the market.
until January J. at which time it would
be closed and demolition proceedings
begun. The market, which is in the
path of the giant Federal building prof.
ect on the south side of Pennsylvania
avenue, has been the subject of much
debate among civic organizations and
trade institutions in Washington.
The Center Market has been operated
as a Government institution for many
years. under the direct supervision of
the Department of Agriculture. It was
purchased from private interests and
has provided the Government with
medium through which to keep in con-
slant contact with foodstuff prices and
to follow the fluctuations of the produce
market