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Before Grand Central Market was a haven for foodies (ugh, sorry), it acted as, well, an actual market: a place where one could pick up produce, stop at the butcher counter or fishmonger, and gather whatever was necessary for dinner that night.
And it still is, kind of, but it's certainly changed a lot, especially over the last 5 years. The market was revamped in 2012, with the intent of being an L.A. counterpart to the Ferry Building in San Francisco. Since then, few produce stands, butcheries, grocers and the like remain, having been replaced by casually chic food counters, fancy coffee, and even a couple of places to booze it up.
Don't get us wrong; there are some incredible places to eat at Grand Central Market. And it's great to see some of its classic establishments expanding and thriving because of the market's new vibe. But it's hard not to get smacked with a little nostalgia looking at these photos from a simpler time, when you went to the market to buy a dozen eggs, not to wait in an hour-long line for someone else to make them for you.
One thing hasn't changed: as you can see in these photos, it's always been busy.
