Public Invited to Next Madison Public Market Open House

posted August 28, 2023 – 4:02pm

The City of Madison in partnership with the Madison Public Market Foundation invites the public to a celebration of progress for the Madison Public Market.

The Ready! Set! Market! Open House will be held from 5-8 p.m., Sept. 12, 2023, at 202 First Street, Madison, Wis., the City’s former Fleet Services Building, the future Madison Public Market location.

The event will include a mix of vendors with food trucks and tents and tables, craft and pre-packaged food items. Local musicians will also perform live. City staff will offer tours during the event.

Some of the Vendors Expected at Sept. 12 Open House

Auntie M’s Creations LLC
East Side Cakes
Madame Chu
Forward Craft & Coffee
Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream
Wonder Cookie
Melly Mell’s Soul Food
Little Tibet
Marieke Gouda-House of Gouda
Blue Violet Jams & Jellies
Kerol’s Kitchen
V Greenery
QB’s Magnetic Creations
Les Delices de Awa

Future Vendor Selection Process
The Madison Public Market Foundation wants entrepreneurs interested in renting a permanent space at the Market to complete a vendor interest form by the end of 2023. Entrepreneurs who submit a form (or have submitted a form in the past) will receive important information as leasing rates, selection process, deadlines and other details are announced in coming months. Learn more about the selection process.

Construction Design Update
The adaptively reused facility will hold 20+ vendor stalls designed to provide a variety of goods and services. Public seating and event spaces are also located within the facility alongside support spaces like public restrooms, storage, and service spaces. The 48,000-square-foot Market is surrounded by patio spaces, planting areas, and transportation infrastructure – bike parking, bus routes, and vehicle parking. MPM is expected to be complete in early 2025.

Future Madison Public Market Experience
The MPM will be a vibrant, year-round public marketplace where new entrepreneurs and long-established Madison favorites will grow their businesses and find success. The Market emphasizes equity through entrepreneurship and through the innovative MarketReady program, the Public Market is already being embraced as a place in Madison where businesses owned and operated by people of color can get their start.

MarketReady Hall will house a food innovation business center that will support the growth of small businesses that wish to create food related products. In MarketReady Hall, entrepreneurs will be offered shared, affordable access to commercial food production equipment and infrastructure that are often beyond the reach of typical low-capital start-ups.

Madison Public Market Numbers
The Madison Public Market is expected to attract at least 500,000 visitors annually, support at least 130 local businesses, create 100 jobs, and generate $16 million in local sales annually.
The Madison Public Market is funded by the following:
Private support/MPM Foundation Fundraising: $3M
TID Funding: $7M
Neighborhood Investment Fund Grant: $4M
Additional TID Funding: $4.5M
Dane County Funding: $1.5M

Event Parking
Parking is available in the back of the building or nearby on neighborhood streets.