The Gum Wall

The landlord considered the gum damage to the historic brick building and asked Unexpected Productions to remove it. The Market stopped trying to remove the gum in 1998, then accepted the wall as an attraction around 1999.

1. Early 20th centuryThe Economy Building first housed farmers selling produce and later became a movie theater.
2. 1991Unexpected Productions began leasing the building. A patron waiting for Theatresports started sticking gum, sometimes topped with coins, to the wall.
3. 1995By the end of the year, gum topped with coins covered the wall; the coins were subsequently taken, leaving the gum.
4. 1998After patrons rebuilt the wall for a third time, the Market stopped trying to remove it.
5. 1999The wall was accepted as a tourist attraction and an improvised art project to preserve.