Established in 1992, this hugely popular outdoor market attracts 30,000 to 40,000 people into downtown Anchorage on Saturdays and Sundays. Vendors sell fresh and prepared foods, clothing and crafts to customers who are also entertained with music and performers.
The Job
We were hired to improve visual and pedestrian connections between the market and the adjacent shopping district to encourage more crossover traffic. We were hired by the city to work through a collaborative process with market management and shop owners to come up with a multifaceted plan to help integrate the market area and downtown shops through physical changes as well as management measures. Recommendations were provided for the market and key adjacent areas that serve as natural connectors. (In collaboration with PPS)
Eastern Market, Detroit, MI
Strategic Planning, Management, Operations, Capital Improvements, Outreach
The Market
Eastern Market is one of the best places in Detroit – and one of the city’s most viable opportunities to reconnect a local economy, food system and sense of community. The largest historic market district in the United States – Eastern Market has been evolving in its current location since 1891 when it relocated from Cadillac Square downtown.
The Job
We have been working with Eastern Market and the City administration for over ten years to create a vibrant mixed-use market district, managed by a new not-for-profit corporation that brings together the people, products and promise of new local economic rebirth. The market regularly attracts 50,000 retail shoppers on Saturdays and the surrounding wholesale activity generates over a billion dollars annually. (In collaboration with PPS)
Charleston City Market, Charleston, SC
Strategic Planning, Management, Operations, Merchandising, Capital Improvements
The Market
In continuous operation since 1788, the market sheds were the city’s food hub for ages and are now home to a three-block-long craft market, art market and flea market showcasing a vast array of clothing, jewelry, art, books and exotica displayed by an eclectic community of vendors including Gullah speaking artisans who weave the famous straw baskets. The low slung, open-sided market sheds sit in the center of one of the most charming and active historic market districts in the United States.
The Job
Technical assistance involved working with the City of Charleston (owners of the market) to identify and select outside management charged with physically renovating the sheds and updating operations to make the market more appealing to locals and visitors alike. Another strategic outcome is to ease pedestrian connections between the market and surrounding district. Public workshops were held to get expert input from vendors, residents and surrounding businesses. New management was installed and a transition to ensure historic continuity and authenticity of this treasured institution is underway.
Boston Market District, Boston, MA
Feasibility Study, Establish a Historic Public Market District
The Market
Haymarket, a Friday/Saturday street market (est 1830) sets up stalls alongside historic market storefronts selling fresh produce, meats, fish and specialties. The gritty and authentic market draws an extraordinarily diverse and local crowd – in contrast to the nearby Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market that are overrun with tourists and chain stores.
The Job
The Redevelopment Authority of Boston requested a feasibility study to investigate the establishment and protection of a historic market district centered around the Haymarket. The market district study identified: market characteristics, uses, management options, vendor interest, public spaces, access, parking, development opportunities for indoor market halls in adjacent properties, customer traits, costs and mitigation plans to ensure continuous operations during construction. Public meetings, time lapse photography, vendor interviews and customer surveys were some of the many tools applied during the study. (In colloboration with PPS)
Freight House Farmers Market, Davenport, IA
Market Expansion, Strategic Planning
The Market
An outdoor market with farmers, prepared foods and crafts sets up in a parking lot on the riverfront in downtown Davenport.
The Job
After 25 years, the Davenport Farmers Market was ready to evolve from their parking lot location into something more permanent. We assisted with an analysis of options that would allow the market to operate year round, provide customers a nicer atmosphere while integrating and connecting the market into mixed-use destinations along the riverfront and downtown.
The historic Freight House, largely unused, proved to be an ideal ‘market house’ enabling the hugely popular market to add flexible indoor space and basic comfort amenities. A business plan accounted for a transition to more financially self-sufficient operations The outdoor market still operates at full strength and the spaces closest to the Freight House are in a park-like setting that works as an attractive, flexible and usable public amenity for the city. (In collaboration with PPS)
Ardmore Farmers Market, Ardmore, PA
Market Expansion, Business, Operations and Merchandising
The Market
A market hall with fresh and prepared food vendors in a suburban shopping center.
The Job
The owners of a 1930’s era shopping center on Philadelphia’s tony Main Line wanted to build a larger market hall for 15 fresh food purveyors who had been operating for nearly twenty years in a converted movie theater on the center’s property. An extensive analysis of the merchandising mix, tenants, competition, operating schedule and financial return requirements laid the basis for the new market hall to be developed with an adjacent Trader Joe’s and improved access, parking and visibility. This is an example of a ‘private’ public market that was conventionally developed and financed with no public assistance.
Hub City Farmers Market, Spartanburg, SC
New Market, Feasibility Study
The Market
An outdoor farmers market at an underused train station on the edge of downtown.
The Job
The farmers market sponsor, the Spartanburg Nutrition Council, wanted to open a farmers market to address community health, downtown revitalization and food access for all residents. A site selection process was conducted and the historic Magnolia Street train station was chosen with recommendations to modify the exterior parking lot, garden, covered platforms and entrance to make them attractive and easy to use for the market’s commercial and social needs. Many of the well-received improvements were the result of a community planning process.
Once the site was selected, an operating, business and management plan provided the Spartanburg Nutrition Council with the tools to run a successful market that would be able to grow. The market has expanded to three locations, with the Magnolia Station its flagship and most popular. (In collaboration with PPS)
Chattanooga Market, Chattanooga, TN
Strategic Planning, Sustainable Business Operation
The Market
The Chattanooga Market opened in 2002 and quickly became one of the biggest and most popular markets in the south with a mixture of crafts, antiques, farmers and entertainment. Located in a large, open-sided pavilion, it hosts upwards of 300 vendors on Sundays from April to May. The market was successful, but overly reliant on grants and sponsors.
The Job
We provided an operating and financial analysis with recommendations to make the market more self-sustaining within three years. Recommendations were provided to improve the merchandising focus, increase revenues, lower expenses and help management attract more customers. (In collaboration with PPS)
Santa Monica Farmers Market, Santa Monica, CA
Strategic Planning, Design and Layout
The Market
Since 1992, this outdoor farmers market has earned a reputation for outstanding quality and value. Part of a four-market system, the attractive Virginia Park location has about 80% farmers and 20% prepared food vendors.
The Job
This popular market on a corner of Virginia Park felt more like a parking lot than a park. We worked with market organizers, community groups and the city to make improvements to the market that would make it look, feel and function more like a park – simultaneously making it a nicer place for farmers and customers every Saturday. With carefully planned renovations, the market’s setting is vastly improved, more welcoming, accessible and nicely integrated into the ten acre park. (In collaboration with PPS)
Meadville Market House (1870), Meadville, PA
Strategic Planning, Merchandising, Capital Improvements, Business Plan
The Market
The Meadville Market House has a classic American market hall on the first floor with a wraparound outdoor portico where farmers sell from the back of their trucks. A second floor community space is home to an art gallery and a small theater. The market is ‘the place’ where everybody meets and its revival is a symbol of the towns bright future.
The Job
New management wanted to revive the market’s tradition as a centerpiece of the local food system and economy while catalyzing improvements in downtown Meadville.
The study and action plan emphasized a shift from non-food products to more locally raised foods at the indoor stalls and to build the presence of farmers selling direct to customers at the outdoor stalls. Recommendations for capital improvements included cold storage, an elevator, and reworking the interior layout to maximize displays, improve sightlines and circulation. A budget analysis showed ways to increase revenue for more outreach, promotion and long term sustainability. Partnership opportunities were identified to bring more customers and help with fundraising.
Flint Farmers Market, Flint, Michigan
Strategic Planning, Market Expansion, Business Plan, Merchandising
The Market
The Flint Farmers Market is an iconic place that has enormous potential to help stimulate the local economy. The market has an indoor market hall with permanent food stalls and a covered shed for farmers and other specialty markets. It sits on the edge of downtown adjacent to the Flint River.
The Job
Working closely with new, not-for-profit management put in place by the City, we put together a five year plan to: double sales, become operationally self-sustaining, attract more customers, invest in ‘green’ improvements and reach out to bring in more regional farmers.
New ideas for capital improvements, layout, merchandising, outreach, community connections and budgeting were prepared with a realistic implementation schedule that was flexibly planned to take advantage of new opportunities as they arose. This plan is currently being implemented by dedicated and visionary new management. New partners are being brought in to improve community health at the much beloved and well patronized market and to coordinate with downtown and riverfront revitalization. (In collaboration with PPS)
New Orleans French Market, New Orleans, Louisiana
Strategic Planning, Merchandising, Capital Improvements
The market requested assistance to evaluate opportunities for leasing, merchandising, capital improvements and procedures to guide strategic decision making.
Sales trends and merchandising were evaluated on a shed by shed, stall by stall basis. Recommendations to increase sales and the overall market ‘experience’ were made based on surveys, interviews, a gravity model and observations. Circulation, market stall design and parking were also addressed as they related to specific merchandising changes or opportunities. The recommendations formed an integral part of the overall renovation of the market which was completed in late 2009.
Riverfront Market, Wilmington, Delaware
New Market Hall, Site Selection, Feasibility Study, Business Plan
The Market
A historic warehouse on the river was transformed into a market hall with an attached restaurant. The market serves as a gathering place for the growing residential and office communities that are moving back to downtown Wilmington.
The Job
A historic warehouse on the river was selected for conversion into a public market hall – with a mixture of fresh and prepared foods and a second story mezzanine for public seating. An interpretive river walk connects the public market to offices, transportation, retail, entertainment and a growing number of residential units. The public market and adjacent restaurant are bringing life and new people to the burgeoning waterfront district along the Christina River.
Ninotsminda Public Market, Ninotsminda, Republic of Georgia
Market Expansion, Site Selection and Design, Operations Plan
The Market
Ninotsminda’s soviet era public market was unseemly, prone to flooding and used less and less by the farmers and traders who migrated to selling randomly along the street with no regular schedule.
The Job
Working with a local steering committee of townspeople, traders and farmers – we chose a new site for the market incorporating old buildings and a large, central market yard for outdoor vending.
New bathrooms and storage facilities were included into a plan allowing the public market to grow and operate more efficiently and pleasantly. (In collaboration with PPS)
Brazil Market Square, Pedra Branca, Florianopolis, Brazil
New Market Square, Market Concept and Vision, Design and Flexible Use Plan
The Job
The developers of a new urbanist town ‘Pedra Branca’ in southern Brazil – wanted help envisioning a market square that would be the central public gathering space that could host farmers markets, craft markets, fairs and special events. We worked with a stakeholder group to layout and design the broader market square area including buildings facing the square, scaled to accommodate indoor markets and other types of complementary restaurants, services and retail that would activate the heart of the new town attracting residents, visitors and students. (In collaboration with PPS)