The Outdoor Market in Charleston, South Carolina

Market St. in Charleston, SC is home to an outdoor market that is thriving, colorful and reaches from Meeting St. all the way to East Bay St. It's an ideal area to browse, shop, and learn a little bit about Charleston's unique history.

The land where the market is now was given to the city over 200 years ago for the express purpose of transforming it into a market space. Originally the covered buildings sold meat, fish, fruit and vegetables. The primary shoppers were the slaves who worked in the homes and kitchens of Charleston. The buildings are sheltered with roofs yet there are no doorways or windows, just open sides. This makes it easy to browse through each building and keeps the breezes flowing yet shelters the vendors, shoppers and products from the sultry southern sun and thundering rain showers.

Today there many different types of products sold in the markets on Market St. Sweetgrass baskets are sold by Gullahs. These baskets are each an artistic, yet usable, piece of art. The Gullahs have handed down the knowledge of their craft through each generation and hold a tight rein on the prices they charge. While each artist has their own style and expertise, the prices on certain sizes or styles of baskets remain consistent. Don't try bargaining with them, it's considered demeaning and insulting. Even if you can't afford a Sweetgrass basket, take some time to peruse and admire their beauty and craftsmanship.

There is always lots of jewelry for sale in the Markets, ranging from antique jewelry to handmade items to less expensive jewelry. It all varies in style and medium, from semi-precious stones to silver and gold. There's usually something appealing to a wide variety of people.

There are also clothes for sale, bowls, African masks, oil and watercolor paintings, Provencal tablecloths, handmade paper and books, and much more. If you're looking for some unique Charleston gifts, the Markets are the place to find them. You can find anything from key chains, postcards, homemade pralines and candies, southern sauces and spices, Charleston and lowcountry cookbooks, and lots of other products. One vendor sells bricks that were dislodged from old Charleston buildings during a hurricane and paints scenes from Downtown on them. Another vendor paints Charleston icons such as the palm tree or the pineapple on glass olive oil jars. There are all sorts of unusual gifts relating to Charleston, its history, cuisine, and culture that vary in price.

Down at the Markets on Market St. in downtown Charleston there's something for everyone. You can shop there year round and always find something interesting.