Local Makers, Good Food, and the Craft of Connection
Boston’s downtown moves fast. Trains run below and people move quickly above. The Greenway seldom slows.
In the middle is the Boston Public Market. It’s open year-round and feels like a small neighborhood inside the city.
From June through October, a farmers market sets up along the Greenway on Thursday afternoons. Farms bring fresh produce and honey. Fishermen arrive with the day’s catch. Flower stands brighten the walkway.
Inside, the permanent market runs all year. Warm bread and roasted coffee carry through the hall. People browse and talk with vendors. Many stop for lunch between errands.
Summer or midwinter, it feels the same. Local and steady. Good food, always.
For Spencer Peterman, being part of this community feels like a natural fit. Our wooden bowls and boards are made from fallen New England hardwoods in our Gill, Massachusetts workshop, and the Market gives us a place to connect directly with the people who use them. It’s a little piece of Western Mass in the heart of the city — surrounded by the kind of makers who understand that good work takes time.
We share this space with some of New England’s best food producers and artisans. Here are just a few of the incredible neighbors that make a visit to the Market worth the trip.
Union Square Donuts
You’ll smell Union Square Donuts before you see them. They make their brioche-style doughnuts all day long. They are so soft and buttery. The shop has a simple promise: make everything by hand and never compromise on flavor. Their Brown Butter Hazelnut Crunch is awesome. The Maple Bacon is a local legend. A stop here turns a weekday errand into a donut-fueled celebration. Woohoo!
Visit the Union Square Donuts website.
Red’s Best
A cornerstone of the Market, Red’s Best connects Boston directly to the working harbors of New England. Their display cases are filled with just-caught seafood — scallops, oysters, haddock, and more — all traceable back to the fishermen who brought them in. Red’s Best was founded to support small boat fisheries, and every order carries that purpose. Whether you’re picking up dinner or grabbing a lobster roll on the spot, it’s a taste of the coast with a conscience.
Siena Farms
Siena Farms tends fifty protected acres in Sudbury, Massachusetts. The family has worked this ground for more than twenty years. They grow more than a hundred crop varieties. Harvests supply a year-round CSA and the farmstand inside Boston Public Market. A sister shop in the South End and a short list of restaurants round it out.
Visit the Siena Farms website.
Curds & Co.
If you’ve ever doubted that cheese could be educational, spend five minutes at Curds & Co. The staff are part teacher, part enthusiast, pairing sharp cheddars with local honey and triple-creams with fig jam. They source from small dairies around the world, but there’s a strong New England showing — from Vermont cheddars to Massachusetts goat cheeses. Stop for a sample and you’ll likely leave with a new favorite (and a story behind it).
Mother Juice
Mother Juice keeps a busy corner of the Market feeling fresh. The team blends and bottles juices from local, organic produce. Bright colors line the counter. You might spot beets, citrus, or greens in the mix, changing with the season. One drink, the Peanut Butter Bliss smoothie, shows up on repeat orders. The menu is simple, built for flavor and energy. It’s the kind of stop where you can rest for a few minutes and leave feeling lighter.
Visit the Mother Juice website.
Q’s Nuts
Q’s Nuts keeps the Market smelling like cinnamon and brown sugar all day long. This family-run business roasts small batches of nuts in flavors that range from classic to creative — think Chocolate Coconut Almonds or Cayenne Mango Cashews. Started in Somerville, their commitment to quality ingredients and eco-friendly packaging matches the Market’s spirit. It’s impossible to walk by without a sample, and even harder not to leave with a bag or two.
George Howell Coffee
George Howell is a name that helped define coffee culture in New England. His shop at the Market is equal parts café and classroom, where baristas talk about origin and roast level with genuine enthusiasm. The beans are ethically sourced and roasted in nearby Acton, Massachusetts. A cup from George Howell isn’t just caffeine — it’s craftsmanship, right down to the pour.
Visit the George Howell Coffee website.
Jennifer Lee’s Gourmet Bakery
Jennifer Lee’s Bakery offers peace of mind for people with allergies. Every item is made without gluten, nuts, or animal products. The pretzels are soft and chewy, the cupcakes rich and simple. Most days, you can smell them baking before you see the case fill. Each batch is small and made to sell the same day. The shop’s focus is clear: real treats that everyone can enjoy.
Visit the Jennifer Lee’s Gourmet Bakery website.
Soluna Garden Farm
Walk by Soluna’s stand and the scent alone will stop you — a mix of lavender, mint, and spice blends from their farm in Winchester, Massachusetts. Soluna grows herbs and flowers, then handcrafts teas and spice mixes that fill your kitchen with fragrance. Their herbal chai and lemon thyme blends are Market favorites. Everything here feels intentional and calming, a reminder that flavor begins long before the cooking starts.
Visit the Soluna Garden Farm website.
Boston Honey Company
Boston Honey Company bottles honey straight from regional apiaries. Their hives sit across Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. Flavor shifts with bloom and season. You might find wildflower one week and clover the next, with other small-batch varieties rotating through the year. The family has kept bees for generations, and their jars remain a favorite gift for locals and visitors.
Visit the Boston Honey Company website.
Peterman’s Boards & Bowls
Our shop sits at the heart of the Market. The space is small and bright, lined with bowls, boards, and utensils shaped from fallen New England hardwoods. Each piece is turned by hand and finished for daily use. Visitors who care about craft and sustainability can see that work up close. Whether you stop in for a gift or inspiration, we’re proud to share this corner with so many skilled neighbors.
Visit Us
Boston Public Market is at 100 Hanover Street and open all year. It’s steps from Faneuil Hall and the Greenway. Come by, try something new, and say hello to the makers who keep this place feeling like a true neighborhood market.
