The city is making exciting progress on plans for the Madison Public Market, which will be an indoor, year-around destination filled with an exciting mix of merchants offering local produce, meats, cheese, culturally diverse prepared foods, handmade arts and crafts and other goods. The market will be located at First Street and East Washington Avenue along Burr Jones Park near the Yahara River. The outdated shopping center on the site will be torn down to make way for the 30,000-square-foot Public Market, as well as privately constructed commercial and residential buildings.

The city’s MarketReady program (madisonpublicmarket.org/merchants/market-ready-program) is working with 30 prospective public market entrepreneurs participating in a two-year training program to prepare their businesses to launch in the market.

To fund this $13‒$14 million project, the city has committed $7.5 million in our capital budget and is securing tax credit financing. In addition, a committed group of community leaders has launched the Madison Public Market Foundation to raise $3‒$4 million in private donations. The group has already secured nearly $1 million in commitments.

Working with numerous community partners and led by the city’s Public Market Development Committee, the city has been working on this project for several years. Our intent is to finalize the design, the vendor mix and the financing plan this year, break ground in 2019 and open the market in 2020. In the meantime, the Public Market Foundation will continue hosting Taste of the Market events to provide the community with a sample of the public market experience. 

Momentum and enthusiasm for the Public Market continue to grow. The Public Market promises to create opportunities for diverse entrepreneurs, showcase southern Wisconsin’s abundant food system and create Madison’s next beloved public space. To learn more, go to madisonpublicmarket.org.

Stay well.