Photo courtesy of the Chicago History Museum, ICHi-35012; by James Newberry

News & Events

Help us with a 3-D Animation Project

We’re creating a digital experience — a walk through of the Maxwell Street Market in Chicago c. 1970! We’re looking for volunteer assistance for someone with animation or Photoshop skills or looking to develop those skills. If you’re a student that can do this kind of unpaid intern work for school credit, we’d be grateful! … Read More

Blues in the Czech Republic

The Maxwell Street Foundation gave a walking tour of Maxwell Street on June 4th to a group of 10 Blues enthusiasts / Blues fans / Blues history fans visiting from the Czech Republic for the 2024 Annual Chicago Blues Festival.  Its organizer, Štěpán Suchochleb, reached out via the Maxwell Street Foundation’s website for the tour of … Read More

“Mr. H” Holger “Max Halsted” W. Wollert obituary

Farewell to Mr. H, who was a big presence in the fight to save the old Maxwell Street Market in the 1990s. Our board member Steve Balkin writes: “I am sad to report that my good friend and Maxwell St. Blues legend Mr. H. has passed way in Arkansas, where he retired to. Mr. H … Read More

Op-Ed by Steve Balkin: Maxwell Street Market has a rich history and deserves the support that would allow it to thrive

https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-maxwell-street-market-incubator-chicago-support-20230317-hxsqfruxhvaptd7jthdcpqvq6q-story.html I applaud the Tribune for writing about the success of Rubi’s Tacos, moving from the all-outdoors new Maxwell Street Market to a bricks-and-mortar restaurant in the Pilsen neighborhood. Their food is great, and they attracted world-class foodies to do cable TV segments about them and the market. What some may not know is that Rubi’s … Read More

Vienna Beef sign on loan to Vienna Beef, Ltd.

Vienna Beef, Ltd. is now hosting the Maxwell Street Foundation’s Vienna Beef sign that has been part of the Foundation’s collection since the 1990s. Mounted and displayed in the company’s corporate headquarters, the colorful sign is shown below with Tom McGlade, Sr. Vice President of Marketing/eCommerce at Vienna Beef, where it is on loan until … Read More

New Maxwell St. Market is Chicago’s Agora

Hi Student member of a University of Illinois at Chicago organization, Please share this invitation and accompanying fact sheet with other students by posting in social media and sending to your email lists. The New Maxwell Street Market, run by the City of Chicago, is at your doorstep and is Chicago’s Agora: a hub for food, … Read More

Tribute to “Mayor of Maxwell Street” Charlie Joe Henderson

Charlie Joe Henderson, Blues Entrepreneur and Maxwell St. Legend Dies by Steve Balkin, Professor Emeritus at Roosevelt University, February 1, 2022 Charlie Joe Henderson, known as the Mayor of Maxwell Street, died on January 23. He was 82. Along with a partner, Earnest Jackson, they were the main people who rented tables to vendors in … Read More

Maxwell Street posters by John H. Sibley

John Sibley’s Maxwell Street posters are now for sale. https://docsib.wixsite.com/maxwellstreet The creation of these seven posters are inspired by John’s visits to Old Maxwell Street as a youth, taken there by his Uncle Miles. John took all the excitement of Maxwell Street into his being: Bluesmen, singing divas, a saxophonist, Gypsy fantasies, Chicken Man, the food, and of … Read More