Madison can get a look inside the future Public Market Tuesday

James Shulkin walked through the future Madison Public Market building on the East Side and described a vision that’s taken more than a decade to come to fruition.

“It’s just good to see this project moving forward,” the Madison Public Market Foundation board member said. “There’s been a lot of ups and downs, but I commend city alders for their commitment to the market. I can’t think of a better city where a public market would be more embraced than Madison. I’m excited for it to open and to show people its potential.”

Built in the 1950s, the Madison Public Market building at 200 N. First St. is the former home of a men’s homeless shelter and, before that, a 48,000-square-foot facility for the city’s fleet vehicles.

A groundbreaking is planned for later this year, and the Madison Public Market is expected to open in mid-2025, Shulkin said. The market will operate year-round.

The city plans to transform the building, on a 3.5-acre plot of land that allows for 120 parking spots, into an open environment similar to the Milwaukee Public Market, the only other market of its kind in Wisconsin, said Shulkin. He visited public markets around the U.S. and Europe to draw inspiration for Madison’s.

The plans involve gutting some of the interior of the structure.

The building is spacious, but has walls in the center of it that separate it into two halves. Large windows add to the openness of the eventual marketplace, and there’s a mezzanine that could have seating for the public. There’s also space outside for eventual patio seating, Shulkin said.

Half of the building is expected to house 30 food vendors. There will also be two anchor tenants, ideally a brewpub and a restaurant that have a well-established presence in the community.

The back half would house a food entrepreneur incubation center, known as the TruStage MarketReady Hall, which will help those food entrepreneurs manufacture, package and ship their food products made at the center.

The indoor marketplace will also feature artisans selling art, jewelry and other collectibles, Shulkin said, and there will be space for public events.

Creating that space will cost the city roughly $20 million, with the construction price tag alone at $12.5 million, said George Reistad, business development specialist for the economic development department. The rest of the money will cover the design and furnishings, among other things.

Money for the market is coming from private sources, foundation fundraisers, a grant from the American Rescue Plan Act, tax assistance and the county, he said.

According to city of Madison figures, the market is expected to attract at least 500,000 visitors, support at least 130 businesses, create 100 jobs and generate $16 million in local sales annually.

People can get a taste of what the market has to offer during an open house from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. The event will include a mix of food trucks with tents and tables, and craft and pre-packaged food items. Local musicians are also expected to perform, and city staff will offer tours of the building, said Hannah Mohelnitzky, public information officer for the city’s engineering department.

“People are excited about this project,” Shulkin said. “The event is a way to boost excitement for the market and keep it current. I think the community buy-in and interest and support is extremely important. It’s a way to create some momentum.”

Five vendors have already been approved for the Madison Public Market, Mohelnitzky said.

They are Little Tibet, a family-owned restaurant offering authentic Tibetan and Himalayan cuisine; Perfect Imperfections, a natural body-care line that uses locally sourced ingredients; Caracas Empanadas y Mas, a Venezuelan food business; El Sabor de Puebla, a Mexican-style kitchen and smoothie bar; and Melly Mel’s Soul Food, a business that sells home-cooked food with a Southern flair.

They all participated in the city’s MarketReady program, which is designed for entrepreneurs who either have a small existing business, such as a food cart, or have a strong idea for starting a business. MarketReady provides connections to resources, coaching and business mentors to prepare business owners for a successful launch.

One of those vendors — Melly Mel’s Soul Food — will be at Tuesday’s open house.

“All other vendors participating in the Sept. 12 event have not been granted a space at the market,” Mohelnitzky said. “The decision-making process as to who may have a space is still a few months out.”