ALL ABOUT THE MADISON PUBLIC MARKET

Get ready, Madison—something special is arriving on the near-east side this year. The Madison Public Market, nestled at the corner of N. First Street and E. Johnson – East Washington corridor, is on track to open in early summer 2025 after years of planning and community passion cityofmadison.com+14madisonpublicmarket.org+14visitmadison.com+14.

What Is It?

• A revitalized 45,000‑sq ft former Fleet Service building, repurposed into a vibrant indoor marketplace reddit.com+6madisonpublicmarket.org+6madisonpublicmarket.org+6.

• 30+ permanent vendor stalls, plus rotating food carts, artisans, and local makers reddit.com+1reddit.com+1.

• TruStage MarketReady Hall: a food innovation and incubator space offering shared commercial kitchens and production equipment to support small and diverse food businesses madison.com+6madisonpublicmarket.org+6cityofmadison.com+6.

Why It Matters

• Equity through entrepreneurship: Designed to support POC- and women-owned businesses—83% of MarketReady participants are people of color; 63% are women madisonpublicmarket.org+2madisonpublicmarket.org+2cityofmadison.com+2.

• Economic and community impact: Expected to draw 500,000+ visitors, support 130+ businesses, create 100 jobs, and generate $16M in annual sales madisonpublicmarket.org+1madison.com+1.

• Public asset, nonprofit operation: City retains ownership, while the Madison Public Market Foundation will manage daily operations cityofmadison.com+14madisonpublicmarket.org+14madison.com+14.

The Journey So Far

1. Initial vision and planning by Project for Public Spaces and community stakeholders in 2013 pps.org+1madisonpublicmarket.org+1.

2. Groundbreaking in November 2023 after surmounting funding hurdles involving city, county, and state support cityofmadison.com.

3. Construction milestones: exterior envelope nearly done, interior systems being tested – on time for spring 2025 tenant fit-out cityofmadison.com+1madisonpublicmarket.org+1.

4. Vendor selection underway, with well-loved local businesses already confirmed: Melly Mell’s Soul Food, Little Tibet, Caracas Empanadas y Más, El Sabor de Puebla, Perfect Imperfections, and more reddit.com+4visitmadison.com+4madison.com+4.

What You’ll Experience

• Year-round fresh local food, artisan crafts, wellness goods, cultural eats, and live events madison.com+6visitmadison.com+6captimes.com+6.

• Indoor community hub accented with outdoor seating, live music, and public programming.

• A destination that nurtures entrepreneurs, fosters relationships, and celebrates community, aligning beautifully with our core values of relationship, experience, and community.

The Takeaway

After a long journey filled with vision, community support, and strategic partnerships, the Madison Public Market is about to become a cornerstone for local culture and commerce. It’s more than a marketplace—it’s a vibrant community anchor that promises to make people feel comfortable and excited, support small businesses, and bring us all together.

How You Can Get Involved

• Want to become a vendor or just stay in the loop? Check the market’s website to sign up for updates and express merchant interest cityofmadison.com+2reddit.com+2madisonpublicmarket.org+2wkow.com+6madisonpublicmarket.org+6madisonpublicmarket.org+6.

• Join community events like the Ready! Set! Market! open house, featuring local vendors and sneak peeks of the space madisonpublicmarket.org.

The Madison Public Market is set to open summer 2025—a place to shop, eat, gather, learn, and grow. We’re sincerely excited for what this will bring to Dane County and beyond. Let’s build something amazing together!