Published June 22, 2025 | Updated May 27, 2026

While exploring the RiverFront, I learned that there’s a study underway to open a year-round, indoor public market in one of the downtown parks. Indoor markets can be found in many large cities including Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, and Milwaukee.

In addition to supporting small businesses and startups, the markets provide access to affordable, fresh, and prepared food while also creating vibrant community spaces that foster social interaction. They typically include a butcher, baker, seafood, deli, grocery items, coffee shops, and the like and are required to accept public benefits including food stamps.

You may recall that there was a plan to open an indoor public market near 10th and Pierce Streets in the Rail and Commerce District in 2018. That project, which failed to materialize, included the transformation of a 116-year-old postal annex building that served as a streetcar barn.

While Cubby’s at 13th and Jackson Street does an admirable job providing access to some staples, there’s been a lack of an actual grocery store since Patrick’s Market at 14th and Howard Street closed in 2017. For years there have been rumors of a major grocery store chain such as Hy-Vee opening at Civic Square (former Civic Auditorium site) but it hasn’t come to fruition yet.

The public market is reminiscent of the old City Market at 11th and Jackson Street that closed in 1964. A new public market will go far towards serving the growing number of people who live in or near downtown, especially considering the closest grocery store is likely Supermercado Nuestra Familia two miles away at 29th and Leavenworth.

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