Self-Guided Visit
Historic Market Self-Tour
Walk the indoor market building, in use since 1886 and rebuilt after an early fire. Local restaurants now occupy the stalls where vendors operated for a century.
- Duration:
- 30 min
Museum / Historical Site
Roanoke City Market Building
Virginia's oldest continuously operating open-air market, rebuilt in 1922 after fire — ghost tours report cold spots and displaced merchandise in its indoor stalls.
32 Market Square SE, Roanoke, VA 24011
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 3 sources
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Free to enter the market building; individual vendors and restaurants have their own pricing
Access
Wheelchair OK
Flat indoor market floor; accessible from Market Square
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1922 · Oldest Continuously Operating Market in Virginia · National Register of Historic Places · Roanoke Commercial History
Roanoke's City Market has its roots in 1882, when the city issued licenses to the first vendors operating on what would become Market Square. The first City of Roanoke Charter formally authorized a municipally-owned market in 1884, and the original City Market Building was completed in 1886, forming the core of a complex that grew to include a Curb Market and the surrounding Market Square.
The original structure was lost to fire and replaced by the current 1922 building, which has remained the physical anchor of the market ever since. The Historic Roanoke City Market District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the Department of Historic Resources confirming the district's significance in 2000.
The market operated as a traditional farmers market for decades before the City Market Building was renovated into a food court in the mid-1980s. Local restaurants now occupy the stalls where produce vendors and farmers conducted business for nearly a century. The outdoor market on Market Square continues to operate alongside the renovated interior, maintaining the site's claim as Virginia's oldest continuously operating open-air market.
Sources
- https://www.downtownroanoke.org/explore/farmers-market/history-of-the-market
- https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/historic-registers/128-0045/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roanoke_City_Market_Historic_District
Cold spotsObject displacementApparitions of former vendors
US Ghost Adventures' Roanoke walking tour lists the City Market Building among its downtown stops, citing the building's long commercial history and the concentration of unexplained activity reported by staff over the years. Cold spots in specific sections of the indoor market are among the most consistently described phenomena.
The more striking accounts involve merchandise moving between overnight shifts — items found in different positions than they were left at closing, with no clear explanation. Some accounts describe the appearance of figures in older clothing in the stalls, interpreted as former vendors continuing their routines in the building where they spent their working lives.
The City Market Building's long, layered history — more than a century of daily commercial activity by generations of vendors — gives the paranormal accounts a contextual anchor, even if no specific historical incident has been formally identified as their source.
Plan Your Visit
2 ways to experience Guided Tour Booking Required
Roanoke Ghost Tour
US Ghost Adventures' walking ghost tour includes the City Market Building as a stop, covering its paranormal reputation alongside other downtown Roanoke sites.
- Duration:
- 1 hr
Sources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Roanoke City Market Building family-friendly?
Daytime visit is fully family-friendly as an active market. Evening ghost tours are appropriate for older children. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Roanoke City Market Building?
Free to enter the market building; individual vendors and restaurants have their own pricing This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Roanoke City Market Building wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Roanoke City Market Building is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Flat indoor market floor; accessible from Market Square.