The Wharf Marketplace
290 Figueroa St., Monterey
649-1116, www.thewharfmarketplace.com
A superhero takes to the air to stop an oncoming train, and pulls you off the railroad platform to save your life. A boxcar full of produce comes to rest where the Monterey depot transforms into The Wharf Marketplace. You no longer hear the clangs of the railroad or see the flashing signals, but a monumental sign pays tribute to historical trains bringing the first vacuum-cooled lettuce to market. The city of Monterey’s Historical Preservation Commission approves the easy-to-see sign which leads you to an easy-to-park market stocked with local artisan fare. With a community-backyard feel along the bike path—where the old Southern Pacific railroad runs underneath the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail - fresh comes to the rescue at the new Wharf Marketplace.