Reading Terminal Market Has a New GM

The Reading Terminal Market has been looking for a new general manager since Paul Steinke stepped down in December, in order to run for City Council. Today, the Board of Directors of the Reading Terminal Market Corporation named Anuj Gupta as the new general manager. Gupta comes from Mt.Airy, USA where he served as Executive Director. Gupta has been instrumental in many improvements in Mt. Airy over the past five years including; the resurgence of some of the 6500-6700 blocks of Germantown Avenue; a second location for Wissahickon Charter School; and the birth of Street Fare – Mt. Airy’s successor to Night Market.

Vincent Iovine, President of the Reading Terminal Market Merchants’ Association, said “we are thrilled with the Board’s selection and look forward to working with Anuj.” “The Board has been hard at work on this recruitment process and Anuj made an incredible impression when we met with him last Friday. His impressive background and leadership style will be a tremendous asset to the Market.”

The Terminal began a nationwide search for Steinke in late 2014, eventually narrowing their search to 20 candidates and three finalists. Gupta, who served for three years in Mayor Michael Nutter’s administration in a number of roles including Chief of Staff, beat out the field.

Gupta takes on a Reading Terminal Market that appears to be in good shape. The market has completed a recent renovation and has added new revenue streams for vendors through a partnership with Instacart. In 2014 the market was named one of the ten greatest public spaces by the American Planning Association, but there is the near constant stress of vendor mix and the multiple personalities that make up the 120-year old market that should provide plenty of challenges for Gupta.

Brad Copeland, Mt. Airy’s current director of real estate development and Abby Thaker, director of development and education partnerships will head Mt. Airy, USA in an interim basis.