Public Markets are those wonderful year-round, multi-vendor Markets that primarily deal in food. They are often owned and/or operated by a municipality or a non-profit entity with a stake in the communities they serve. The merchants within tend to be independent owner-operators who are often, but not always, involved in the production of the products they sell.

Public Markets rarely allow chain stores or franchises but rather showcase local entrepreneurs and producers who might not otherwise be able to own and operate a stand-alone store. Therefore, these Markets can be small business incubators, creating an opportunity for start-up businesses with minimal investment.

Public Markets attract a variety of local residents and visitors, appealing to a large mixture of income levels, ages, classes, and ethnicities. Often these Markets are an important tourist destination for travelers, frequently located in city centers surrounded by additional cultural attractions and public spaces. They usually require on-going community support in order to provide a variety of public benefits.

Aside from the fresh food vendors dealing in produce, meats and poultry, dairy and cheese, there usually exists a variety of value-added products such as baked goods, specialty product lines, coffees, spices, etc. Public Markets commonly have a Farmers’ Market element, with temporary farm stands adding to the merchant base during the growing and harvest seasons. Additional elements might include craft vendors and other non-food merchants that service the local urban community.

Prepared food vendors are a staple of Public Markets. With shared seating areas creating an informal café and gathering place, the Market’s prepared food vendors greatly increase foot traffic at mealtimes.

Public Markets can also stimulate historic preservation in cities where the original Market house is saved from demolition or the obsolete transportation hub is adapted to serve as a Market. Public Markets can also take the form of a Market District involving perhaps many square blocks of complimentary and inter-connected businesses.

Public Markets can take many forms; the term itself is sometimes attached to an enterprise that ventures far from the basic concept described here. Sometimes the vendor mix tips more toward crafts and collectibles and would more accurately be described as a flea market. Or the prepared food vendors dominate, causing the place to be more of a food court than a Market. We may include Markets that stretch our fundamental definition of a Public Market but, when we do, we’ll let you know.