Maxwell St. Entrepreneurs

The open-air market of Chicago's Maxwell Street was long a place to purchase everything from produce and socks to second-hand furniture and an all-beef Vienna hot dog. As few of the vendors had fixed pricing, extended bargaining for goods was expected. Amidst the negotiations for a purchase, one could also have their picture taken while being entertained by street musicians. To the entrepreneur, this marketplace offered a stage for opportunity with the benefit of an audience of potential patrons. Having thrived for almost a century, the original Maxwell Street market was relocated to Canal Street, making room for the development of the University of Illinois Circle Campus. The character and creative spirit of 1950s Maxwell Street is seen in this photograph.