As the Milwaukee Public Market, 400 N. Water St., marches its way through its second year of operation, like any business, it continues to change, monitor the marketplace and adapt to us ever-fickle consumers.
Personally, I love the place. It's a huge catalytic project for Downtown, the Historic Third Ward and the entire city. It's warm, friendly and makes for the perfect lunch place.
Yet, it needs some tweaking. Again, as any new business does. The market, its vendors, its staff and its board need to continue to act with innovation and passion. This market belongs to Milwaukee and we all should have a say in how it continues to grow.
A marketing firm that is conducting focus groups for Milwaukee Public Market recently approached me. I won't rant on my general distaste for focus groups but will say that I didn't make the cut for the research (they citied my media affiliation as a conflict). Fortunately, I can use this forum to make suggestions for the Public Market that I love and shop at regularly.
So, here are five quick suggestions for the Milwaukee Public Market:
Let your inner capitalist shine
Just because one vendor sells item x shouldn't mean that another vendor can't also sell x. Competition is good and if I want a sandwich, I will buy the best one available or maybe the cheapest one, depending on my mood and cash situation. Some vendors have said that they are restricted in what they can and can't sell. This flies in the face of the entire public market concept. Embrace your inner capitalist, I say. Cater to your customer, offer unique items, innovate and display with passion. Creative spaces draw in the customer. I love the new grilled cheeses from West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe, the free soup at Aladdin's and constant sampling from many of the vendors. Competition is good, and the Milwaukee Public Market should let it vendors compete and collaborate.
Pizza by the slice
During a presentation by the market a few years ago, someone mentioned that they didn't want "to be a food court." I found this rather funny. A market that didn't want to sell grab and go food? Today's groceries are more restaurant than store and I believe the Public Market needs to embrace this concept even more. Therefore, I want a great pizza by the slice place. It would seem that the fresh ingredients from one of the vendors could create such a masterpiece. Ceriello Fine Foods could do this, or why not offer a smaller space to one of the local pizza makers? It would be great.
More outside lighting
The building is beautiful, but it needs more lighting (as do many of the Downtown buildings, but that's another topic). More façade lights will help activate the street and truly make the Market stand out at night and on dreary winter days.
Open earlier
Cedarburg Coffee, the market's wonderful coffee vendor, opens each day at 7 a.m. The rest of the market sleeps in until 10 a.m. on weekdays. Why? If I'm on my way to work, I want options and frankly it makes me mad that I can't buy bakery from the always-tasty C. Adam's Bakery in the mornings. Open earlier and while I'm at it, open on Mondays, too.
Pop some corn
There's nothing like the smell and sound of popcorn. Let's get a great popcorn, cheese corn and caramel corn vendor. I want Garrett Popcorn quality, like in Chicago. Or how about Doug, the Kettle Korn guy? Give me popcorn, Milwaukee Public Market.
These are just five simple ideas. I have more, and am certain you do too. Use our exclusive talk back feature below or contact the Market directly via its Web site.
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
