Caribbean Marketplace — Local services in Miami

There is so much history all around us if we pay attention. A great way to learn more about the history of Florida is from these blue historic markers you can find all around the state. I discovered this one in Little Haiti at the Marketplace, part of the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, the center of artistic life in this historic Miami neighborhood. The Cultural Complex is Little Haiti's largest venue space

In the 1980's thousands of Haitian immigrants settled in Miami and formed the neighborhood of Little Haiti. The Mache Asisyen Caribbean Marketplace is located in a building that was built in 1936 but which largely sat empty through the years. In 1984, the Miami Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, in partnership with the nonprofit Haitian Task Force, organized a competition for designs to repurpose the building. The contest was won by Miami architect Charles Harrison Pawley, who was born in Haiti to American parents and lived there as a child. Pawley based his design on Haiti's gingerbread-style houses and the Marche Ferrier, the famous Iron Market in the capital of Port-au-Prince. He used vibrant colors to evoke the spirit of the Caribbean.

When the marketplace opened in 1990, it won a Florida Architect Award and an American Institute of Architects National Honor Award. In 1999, the market closed due to lack of funding and merchants were unable to keep their businesses open. The city took over the building in 2005 and planned to tear it down but protests from the community saved it.

In 2014 the market was renovated and had a grand reopening. It is still a focal point of the Haitian community today and you can purchase food and authentic Haitian arts and crafts. Plan on visiting on Saturday when it is the most active.

Historic marker number F-1009 was installed in 2018 by District 5 Commissioner, Keon Hardemon, The City of Miami Parks Department, Little Haiti Cultural Complex, Libreri Mapou, Haitian omen of Miami, Maximilian Consultants, Santla Neighborhood Center, Visit Little Haiti, and the Florida...

This is a great place. They have local vendors selling affordable products & food from the Caribbean. This isn't your typical marketplace. There's live music, Yoga, Dance classes & even a "Tap-Tap" bus tour of the city of Little Haiti that showcase the historical society & sounds of Haitian culture. The Marketplace is open every Saturday 10am-6pm. The vendors are very friendly and the prices of their products are very reasonable. There's some amazing art, food, music & culture. There's even Caribbean cooking demos from local celebrity chefs. There's activities & products for the entire family, and did I tell you entry to the Caribbean Marketplace is FREE??? And parking is free too!!! Come thru & support local business. I posted some pictures from the Marketplace, enjoy &...

Ask what the good prices are before you order because it felt like the lady at the front corner just charges whatever she wants. This little meal (goat, rice, plantain) for one person cost $25. Felt like a very gentle robbery. Flavor was good as that’s the only positive I can say. Good music playing in the place as well. Not worth coming back and I let...