Why We Loved the Dairy Market Food Hall

Restaurant

The Dairy Market in Charlottesville brings the first food hall to the area: it is hip, on point, and super-fun for the family.

Does someone want a craft cocktail and someone else wants a locally brewed pint? CHECK! Does someone want a rotisserie chicken salad and someone else wants woodfired pizza? CHECK! And, of course, everyone wants ice cream.

On the first truly gorgeous Friday night Charlottesville had, we met up at The Dairy Market to explore and check it out.

Of course, because it was so pretty out and everyone turns into lizards when the sun first shows in spring, the outdoor dining patio was pretty busy and a bit of a wait. But we didn’t mind. We just warmed our skin in the sun, taking in our surroundings.

The Dairy Market was originally just that: a building that housed the Monticello Dairy company. The company was founded in 1912, and in the late 1930’s the current market building was built. In the mid-1980’s, the business was closed and the building began to undergo a series of changes in use, ownership and storefronts. Nothing really seemed to stick.

But in 2017, a new developer had a vision and went all in with it. The new Dairy Market is not only a food hall that merges indoor and outdoor dining, but also office buildings, event space, retail space, and apartments – all being opened and available in a phased development plan.

The entire space feels very well done, creating life and vibrancy while still honoring the historic roots and original feel of the building and space.

There are still some things that the Dairy Market is working out. We were, for example, incredibly confused as to what the ABC laws were (as were nearly 100% of the other people we saw there) and I felt bad for staff who had to keep walking around telling people where they were allowed to consume their beverages. In fact, I still don’t think I understand what the rules are.

The indoor vendors are still building and moving in, so quite a few stalls are covered in construction and will be open to visitors soon.

And, as I mentioned, since we were there on a gorgeous night, the waits and lines for food (especially ice cream) were long. Of course, trying to wait for ice cream with four children ages 3-11 is always going to feel eternal. But the waits were worth it.

There is a large parking lot next to the Dairy Market, but it’s a pay lot. So be prepared for that.

This new food hall truly does seem to offer a sense of community and is a welcome casual gathering space. I searched for articles for quotes and thoughts from neighbors who live next to the Dairy Market. I was wondering how they feel about this. The 10th and Page neighborhood has tremendous history, developed by John West, an emancipated slave who became an influential leader and landowner in Charlottesville. I can imagine there are mixed feelings.

I personally love that a building that meant so much and is really beautiful wasn’t demolished or torn down. I love that a developer had the ability to recognize that the old bricks and worn walls are the best part of the building. It is a perfect merge of preserving the past yet bringing it forward to meet the future.