Fresh Market at Hershey Towne Square Marks 90th Anniversary of Its Historic Building

Nine decades after Milton Hershey commissioned its construction, the building has housed four different industries — and now a community of 40+ local vendors

HERSHEY, PA, UNITED STATES, August 11, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — This year marks 90 years since Milton Hershey commissioned the construction of the building now home to Fresh Market at Hershey Towne Square, a milestone that reflects nearly a century of continuous service to the Hershey community.

Built in just ten months, from January to October 1936, the 25,000-square-foot building at 121 Towne Square Drive opened as the Hershey Abattoir, processing and selling meat for the growing town. Business was strong enough that the building was expanded in 1967.

Hershey’s aversion to waste soon gave the building a second purpose. From 1937 to 1941, machinery installed on the second floor turned surplus cocoa butter from the chocolate factory into soap, until that production moved to a dedicated facility.

The Abattoir was renamed Hershey Meats in 1976, continuing to process and sell meat on-site until June 1980, when operations relocated to a new facility on Airport Road. The building then served as Hershey’s Post Office from 1984 to 2015, with the Hershey Laundry occupying part of the space from around 2006 until 2015.

Today, 90 years after its construction, the building has been beautifully renovated into Fresh Market at Hershey Towne Square, home to more than 40 local vendors across two floors offering farm-fresh produce, artisan foods, chef-prepared meals and locally crafted goods. The building is also home to UPMC, Iron Valley Real Estate, Hanger, and Core 5 — professional tenants who, alongside the market, represent the latest chapter in a building that has never stopped serving Hershey.

“Ninety years ago, this building was built to put people to work and serve this community, and that hasn’t changed — it’s just taken different forms,” said Lisa Shull, Fresh Market at Hershey Towne Square. “Every vendor here today is part of that same legacy Mr. Hershey started almost a century ago.”

Visitors can learn more about the building’s full history, including archival photos from each era, at www.hersheyfreshmarket.com/history.

Fresh Market at Hershey Towne Square is open Thursday through Saturday, with special events held monthly.

Food Hall on the Upper Level
Thursday: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm

Farmers Market on the Lower Level
Thursday: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Friday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm

Guests can stay up to date on new vendors, seasonal offerings and upcoming events by following Fresh Market at Hershey Towne Square on social media or visiting www.hersheyfreshmarket.com.

About Fresh Market at Hershey Towne Square
Housed in a building that has served the Hershey community since 1936, Fresh Market at Hershey Towne Square is a 25,000-square-foot indoor marketplace in downtown Hershey, PA. The market is home to more than 40 local vendors offering farm-fresh produce, artisan foods, chef-prepared meals, and locally crafted goods across two floors. Fresh Market at Hershey Towne Square is open Thursday through Saturday, with special events held monthly. Visit 121 Towne Square Drive, Hershey, PA 17033.

Lisa Shull
Fresh Market at Hershey Towne Square
+1 717-551-1046
email us here

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