The famed Eastern Market — a more than two-century-old public market located in the Southeast D.C. — expanded to Northern Virginia at Reagan National Airport’s National Hall as a retail store on July 14.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was joined by leaders of the D.C. Department of General Services, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), Fraport USA and WHSmith/Marshall Retail Group for the official opening.
The 3,544-square-foot store brings the spirit of one of the District’s most iconic and historic destinations directly to air travelers by featuring locally made goods, souvenirs, and travel essentials from city-based vendors and a one-stop shop of convenience items.
“The local businesses who sell at Eastern Market are part of the fabric of D.C., and we’re proud to bring their creative spirit directly to travelers coming to and through D.C.,” Bowser said. “This store is about creating opportunity for our small businesses, uplifting local vendors, and giving everyone who loves our city another chance to take a piece of it back home.”
The new store features products from more than a dozen local vendors who regularly sell at the Capitol Hill site, further expanding their visibility to a global audience and promoting homegrown talent and entrepreneurship.
Plus, other District-based stories such as Solid State Books and DC Arts District Store were also celebrated as having a presence at the airport, offering more opportunities for visitors and residents to support local businesses.
The Eastern Market store is the result of a unique public-private partnership. In June 2024, the District signed a license agreement with The Marshall Retail Group, LLC (a subsidiary of WHSmith) to bring the branded Eastern Market retail store to the airport. MWAA, the authority that operates and manages Washington, D.C.-area airports, partnered with Fraport USA to manage the concessions program and, along with WHSmith, to help bring the store concept to life.
“On behalf of WHSmith North America, we are honored to be the trusted airport operating partner for the historic D.C. landmark Eastern Market,” said Huw Crwys-Williams, CEO of WHSmith North America.” As the crown jewel of our expansive portfolio of travel essential, specialty, and coffee concession locations at DCA, we are incredibly thankful to all our business partners at both Fraport Washington and the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority for their continued support through the opening of all our locations, along with our joint venture partners, culminating with the grand opening of Eastern Market here in the National Hall.”