In 1893 the London County Council's Public Control Committee states that the Market had existed since 1883 on the southern end of the Street between Andrew Street and Duncan Road and consisted of 35 stalls selling: vegetables and fruit, flowers, eggs, meat, fish, bacon, earthenware, drapery, iron and tinware, mats and pails, and caps and belts.

Of the 35 stalls 10 are recorded as being run by Broadway Market shopkeepers with the remainder being independent street traders.

In late 2005, a group of local protestors occupied 34 Broadway Market (Francesca's café) to bring attention to the issue.

Recognised by Time Out magazine this is one of London’s destinations for street food with over 150 stalls each weekend, with a 2-year waiting list, offering a diverse range of cuisines.

Along with many squares and streets in the East End of London, it is rumoured that the old Broadway Market partly inspired the BBC soap opera EastEnders.