Milwaukee Public Market celebrates record-breaking year with nearly 1.8 million visitors

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Public Market had record-breaking sales and visits in 2018. 

Total vendor sales increased 10%, from $16,533,856 in 2017 to $18,179,752 last year. Customer visits also saw a 10% increase, rising from 1,625,843 in 2017 to 1,794,554 in 2018, maintaining its position as a top tier local attraction.

The Public Market was listed third in number of visitors of area attractions behind Potawatomi Casino and Miller Park.

“It has been our goal to cultivate a food-centric placemaking experience like none other in the region, which I’m proud to say is now a reality. We’ve become a hub of social and economic activity, where regional residents and national travelers seek us out as a culinary destination,” said market executive director, Paul Schwartz. “I’m enormously proud and grateful to our vendors, loyal customer-base and the hundreds of workers who are employed throughout the market that make the experience what it is today.”

From a commercial real estate perspective, the market’s gross sales-per-leasable-square-foot is now over $1,400 which is more than double the total sales in 2011.

The Milwaukee Public Market opened in October, 2005 and is owned and operated by the City of Milwaukee Business Improvement District #2.