Must Visit Stops at the Lancaster Central Market
Over at 23 N Market St in Lancaster, PA, the Central Market sits full of local stands that should not be missed! If you’re in the area, stop in for a coffee, some fresh produce, and a chat with the local legends!
Crowded Kitchen
Premium ingredients make for premium stock and broth. Crowded Kitchen’s Drew Moore offers a ton of fresh stocks and broth ON TAP. Yes, on tap!! This all started back in 2015. Drew stated “I was looking for a way out of the restaurant life but I love cooking, so I still wanted to be around food. I went to a culinary entrepreneur class and I spotted this gap in premium stocks and broths.” The locally sourced ingredients make for the best homemade soups. Choose from frozen, refrigerated, or hot soups served right at their market location. Stand 5 has got all your stock and broth needs covered!
Mean Cup
Voted part of Susquehanna Style’s 2021 Best of Lancaster Food & Drink list, Mean Cup is the coffee shop to make your mornings 10x better. Grab a coffee, a MTO espresso drink, or a tea while you stroll around the market. Check out stand 8 for some needed caffeine.
Barr’s Farm Produce
At stand 44, you’ll find some of the freshest produce around! Barr’s Farm Produce carries delicious in-season fruits and vegetables, along with gorgeous flowers. When we’re running low on produce around the house, I like to stock up at Barr’s because they sell the best local options.
Oola Bowls
I could eat an açai bowl just about any day! They satisfy those sweet tooth cravings, while also being somewhat lighter. And they are full of antioxidants. I don’t know what it is, but the Oola açaí is something from a different planet. It’s not super sweet like so many other brands. It almost has a rich, chocolate taste to it somehow. I LOVE IT. Looking for some toppings? Oola has got your back as they’re stocked with peanut butter, almond butter, Nutella, granola, pacoca, almond dust, vegan granola, apples, bananas, blueberries, pineapple, kiwi, strawberries, cacao nibs, coconut flakes, chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, toasted coco, agave, caramel, cinnamon, and honey. I know I know, where do you even begin?! My favorite is the signature bowl, sub banana for pineapple, and take off the honey. I find they are sweet enough as is. Head over to stand 51 to start creating your own bowl!
Pineapple House Creations
Stand 47 is your one-stop-shop for naturally made products and hand-poured soy candles. Sheryl Hazzard’s clean burning candles, lotions, creams, and balms are amazing.
The Herb Shop
The Herb Shop at stand 7 is one of my most visited locations at the markets. It’s one of those places that I never knew I needed until I found it! Stop by and pick out an array of exotic herbs and spices. Here’s the best part…you can buy as little as 1/2 oz of a single herb or spice — which IS THE perfect solution for those strange recipes that call for a spice you never have. And you won’t be wasting a whole bottle! The Herb Shop is definitely worth checking out and grabbing a few new flavors to work with.
Uncle Leroy's Candy Kitchen
I wouldn’t dare leave the market without stopping in at stand 38, Uncle Leroy’s Candy Kitchen. Owned by Don Lennon, Uncle Leroy’s has the fudge, brittle, and caramel apples of your dreams. The family recipes used for their large selection of goodies have been passed down for years, so you know the quality is there! Stop in for a sweet treat before finishing up your Central Market Trip!
Have you ever stopped in at the Lancaster Central Market? Let me know which stand is your favorite in the comments!