San Francisco's Ferry Building Marketplace
A Restored Landmark on the Embarcadero is a Popular Destination
Apr 21, 2009
Located along San Francisco’s Embarcadero at the foot of Market Street, the Ferry Building was once the transportation hub of the city before being rendered obsolete by automobile travel and the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges. Today the restored mixed-use building not only serves as a terminal for more than 11,000 daily ferry commuters, but encompasses 65,000 square feet of retail market space, cafes, and restaurants, and is home to a popular bi-weekly outdoor farmer’s market.
The Ferry Building Survived Earthquakes but Lost Ferry Service
The Ferry Building opened in 1898 and became the primary point of arrival and departure for San Francisco. At its peak, the Beaux Arts-style building attracted 50,000 ferry commuters. Architect A. Page Brown’s foundation of pilings and concrete arches supported the steel-framed structure through both the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes with no significant damage. His plans also included the landmark 245-foot tall clock tower that was modeled after the bell tower of the cathedral in Seville, Spain, known as La Giralda. By the late thirties, however, bridge construction and automobiles contributed to the decline of ferry boat travel, and relegated the Ferry Building to a glorified shell of standard office space.
Redevelopment and Historic Preservation Began in the Late 90’s
The Ferry Building was pushed further into obscurity in 1957 when the double-deck Embarcadero Freeway was built across its face. In the 70’s, however, automobile traffic began to overwhelm routes into and out of the city, and ferry service once again gained strategic importance as a commuting alternative. While the Ferry Building withstood the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, the freeway did not, and the impetus soon arose to tear it down, bringing renewed interest and visibility to the Ferry Building itself. By the late 90’s, an architectural rehabilitation of the Ferry Building was begun to create more public space and to give the building a new public life it deserved.
Renovation Created the Marketplace and Attracted a Popular Farmer’s Market
In 2003, after four years of extensive renovation, the building had been carefully restored to its original grandeur with the Ferry Building Marketplace as one of the new design elements. The European-style market runs the entire 660-foot length of the building in the space once used as a transit hall and baggage area. Open daily, the Marketplace offers an array of high quality meats and poultry, fish, wines, artisan cheeses, restaurants, cafes, and shops. On Tuesdays and Saturdays, the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture operates a farmer’s market in front on the Embarcadero and on the rear plaza overlooking the bay. Thousands of locals and out-of-towners descend on this popular destination for fresh produce and flowers from small regional farmers and ranchers, many of whom are certified organic. Shoppers can also buy prepared food from the many stalls along the market’s perimeter, and enjoy their meal with views of sailboats and seagulls.
The Embarcadero’s Ferry Building is at the center of a transit hub that connects all of San Francisco's neighborhoods and the surrounding bay communities. It is accessible by MUNI, BART, trolley car (Line F Market), cable car (California Line), and Ferry Boat. San Francisco City Guides currently offers regular walking tours of the Ferry Building which are free and start at noon on Saturdays and Tuesdays.
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