Yea, the market was at W. Broadway & Bleecker I think, not W. 3rd, but thats only one block south so we are talking about the same place. And you said it! Only the old Pioneer market (this is taking me way back to the 1970s) on the NE Corner of Bleecker/Minetta & 6th Ave was worse. It's a 'Banana Republic' now. It was a dump, plain and simple. One of the floor managers was a super guy though - a hunchbacked gentleman who was always so nice and friendly. He was the kind of guy if you looked at seemed to be scowling all the time, until you spoke with him, and he was a nice guy!
Not that there was anything much better nearby, unless you wanted to do all your shopping at Dean & DeLuca. ("Ah, one quart of milk. That'll be $7.65, please!")
Yep, that market was the only one nearby, especially after the Pioneer closed. The only other one nearby was a D'Agonstino's on University & 11th or so, way to far to walk.
As for Dean & DeLuca, I can't stand that place. It's only for imitation NYers and Posers, if you ask me. After all, who would be so gullible to pay $8 for a quart of milk? You do get that neat D&D bag though, so everyone on your way back home would know you were shi-shi! ;-)