A popular Northeast D.C. "foodie" neighborhood is adding a 20,000 square-foot Latin market, designed and curated by Jose Garces. Here's what you can expect.
On June 13, chef Jose Garces joined D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, along with a handful of elected officials and real estate developers, to break ground on a new mixed-use project at 1270 4th St. NE. At the development, Garces will open a 20,000-square-foot Latin market.
(草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)
草莓传媒/Rachel Nania
The area surrounding Union Market was once the city鈥檚 go-to destination for food, but in recent decades has been neglected.聽The Latin market will anchor an 11-story mixed-use building comprised of 400 residential units and 30,000 square feet of retail at 1270 4th St. NE.
(草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)
草莓传媒/Rachel Nania
Chef Jose Garces is a Philadelphia-based聽James Beard award-winning chef. He owns and operates more than a dozen restaurants across the country, including Rural Society in the Loews Madison Hotel on 15th Street in Northwest D.C. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for the New York Culinary Experience )
(Getty Images for the New York Cu/Neilson Barnard)
Getty Images for the New York Cu/Neilson Barnard
Garces says he鈥檚 drawing inspiration from other famous Latin markets, such as La Boqueria in Barcelona and the famous fish markets of Lima. Pictured: Barcelona’s La Boqueria market.
(Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
Garces says he鈥檚 drawing inspiration from other famous Latin markets, such as La Boqueria in Barcelona and the famous fish markets of Lima. Pictured: Barcelona’s La Boqueria market.
(Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
Similar to , a 25,000-square-foot space that is home to 40 regional and international food vendors, Garces plans to use his market as a place to promote emerging food businesses. Union Market opened on 5th Street in 2012.
(Courtesy聽Andrew Schwartz)
Courtesy聽Andrew Schwartz
Similar to , a 25,000-square-foot space that is home to 40 regional and international food vendors, Garces plans to use his market as a place to promote emerging food businesses. Union Market opened on 5th Street in 2012. Red Apron is just one of the market’s vendors.
(Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Thread)
Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Thread
The Union Market area has a rich history. It was once considered聽the city鈥檚 go-to destination for food, but in past decades has been neglected. The revitalized Union Market opened in 2012. A sign in the food hall details the market’s history.聽
(Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Edens)
Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Edens
In addition to the Latin market, chef Jose Garces is also opening his bourbon bar Village Whiskey in D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood.聽
(Photo by Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images for Hearst)
Photo by Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images for Hearst
Union Market opened in 2012. Since then, the independent movie theater Angelika Pop-Up,聽, Lab 1270 and the upscale Italian restaurant Masseria have opened within blocks of the main market. This is a rendering of the future Angelika Film Center at Union Market.
(PR草莓传媒Foto/EDENS via The Associated Press)
April 30, 2026 | A large Latin market lands at Union Market (草莓传媒's Rachel Nania)
WASHINGTON 鈥� Hold on to your forks: Things are about to get a whole lot tastier at Union Market.
The Northeast D.C. district is adding a 20,000-square-foot Latin market, designed and curated by celebrity chef .
鈥淟atin food has been a part of my fabric for my whole life,鈥� Garces said at the market鈥檚 groundbreaking ceremony on June 13, where he was joined by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Now, he wants to weave the choice cuisine into the lives of Washingtonians.
With the yet-to-be-named market at 1270 4th St. NE 鈥� just one block from Union Market鈥檚 main food hall 鈥� Garces hopes to create 鈥渁 dynamic culinary center 鈥� celebrating the richness and diversity of Latin cuisine and culture.鈥�
Garces says he鈥檚 drawing inspiration from other famous Latin markets, such as La Boqueria in Barcelona and the famous fish markets of Lima. His concept will carry top-quality Latin products and showcase ready-to-eat foods.
鈥淚t could be anything from a great taqueria, a ceviche bar, an empanada stand, as well as great wines, cheeses that are curated by myself, personally,鈥� said Garces, who聽spoke on聽D.C.’s growing Hispanic population as another reason for launching a Latin-focused market.
Similar to , a 25,000-square-foot space that is home to 40 regional and international food vendors, Garces plans to use his market as a place to promote emerging food businesses.
鈥淚鈥檓 looking to add to the beauty of what has become a really rich dining destination, here in Washington, D.C.,鈥� he said.
Garces鈥� market is part of a larger project from the real estate development company , which owns in the area that was once the city鈥檚 go-to destination for food, but in recent decades has been neglected. The Latin market will anchor an 11-story mixed-use building comprised of 400 residential units and 30,000 square feet of retail.
This is not the Philadelphia-based chef鈥檚 first project in the nation鈥檚 capital. Two years ago, Garces opened the Argentine steakhouse ; this year he is his bourbon bar Village Whiskey to Shaw鈥檚 Blagden Alley.
鈥淚t feels like D.C. has had a really nice renaissance of great chefs that are opening, so to be a part of that feels really good,鈥� said Garces, a James Beard award-winning chef who owns and operates more than a dozen restaurants across the country. Garces is also one of eight chefs to hold the prestigious title of . 聽
Union Market opened in 2012. Since then, the independent movie theater Angelika Pop-Up, , Lab 1270 and the upscale Italian restaurant Masseria have opened within blocks of the main market.
Garces鈥� Latin market is expected to open in 2018.
