Fundamentally, a public market is a shared space that offers local businesses a central place to sell a variety of goods. They are set apart from other types of retail, such as grocery stores, by a few key criteria. Public markets:

• Have public goals, or clear and tangible ways they aim to benefit their local communities;
• Operate in a public space, or create a public space, so they provide inclusive places for the community to gather; and
• Serve locally-owned and -operated businesses, feeding money back into the local economy while creating low-risk opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Market vendors may sell fresh or prepared foods, or they may sell non-food items, such as crafts, art, and secondhand goods. Some vendors may offer services, such as knife sharpening and shoe shining. Markets can operate on a temporary or seasonal basis, or they can operate year-round at all hours of the day. A public market can be a farmers market, flea market, wholesale market, craft market, and even an annual festival or street market. Even if a market operates on private land, as long as it is open to the general public and meets the other criteria above, it’s a public market in our book.

Our public market definition includes markets of most governance and operational structures, including non-profit, for-profit, co-operatives, and municipally-owned and -operated markets.

Below are some examples of market types:

Clusters of Street Vendors

Many markets across the globe are made up of informally organized or semi-organized street vendors. These clusters of street vendors may not be formally managed, but they may still operate under a set of socio-spatial norms established by the vendors themselves. The transience and independent operations of street vendors allow them to easily relocate or shift their product offerings to meet changing customer demand. They provide an important source of food in many parts of the world, especially for low-income households.

Open-Air Markets

‍These markets are formally managed, often seasonal, and their impermanence makes them flexible and agile. Open-air markets can activate underutilized spaces such as vacant lots, parking lots, and streets on a temporary basis, transforming them into lively community places in short order. Like street vendor clusters, they can easily relocate, expand or contract in size, or alter operational hours in response to new circumstances or community needs. This trait was of particular value during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when social distancing placed new spatial demands on markets. Many open-air market vendors use pop-up tents or other temporary infrastructure.

Covered Markets

‍Covered markets operate under some type of permanent physical infrastructure, such as a shed, pergola, or pavilion. While these markets often still operate seasonally, the added protection from the elements can extend the market’s seasonal operations beyond that of an open-air market. The physical infrastructure is often multipurpose, serving as a venue for community events when the market isn’t in operation, hosting concerts, performances, etc. It can also serve as covered parking. The physical infrastructure affords these markets more permanence within the community, which can serve as a form of advertising for the market even when it is not in operation. 

Indoor Market Hall

‍These markets operate inside a dedicated market building, which makes it easier for them to operate year-round, especially in geographies with variable seasonable weather conditions. While operating inside can offer vendors and customers amenities such as storage space, bathrooms, and indoor seating, along with stable operational conditions no matter the season, the ongoing maintenance of a physical building comes with additional costs and challenges. In light of this, the cost of rent for a permanent stall tends to be significantly more than for a covered or open-air market. And while many indoor market vendors operate out of a permanent stall, most markets also offer day table opportunities for temporary pop-up vendors. Some market halls even operate their own adjacent open-air market (or partner with an open-air market operator) as a way to expand product offerings, create more opportunities for vendors, and increase visitorship to the indoor market.

Market District

Market districts evolve out of established markets, slowly adding and incorporating different market forms over time, including open-air markets, covered markets, and clusters of street vendors. These districts tend to be anchored by an indoor market hall, and the density of market activities within a small area bolsters activity and foot traffic to the benefit of all district vendors and businesses, both indoors and out. Market districts can also spur new or support existing privately-owned related uses and programming in the area, such as restaurants and shops. With this mix of uses, programming, and people, market districts tend to be vibrant, well-visited destinations for locals and tourists alike. 

When successful, public markets help strengthen the local economy by creating economic opportunities and upward mobility for entrepreneurs, acting as small business incubators, and providing startup retail space through direct-to-consumer sales. They can revitalize communities by increasing access to healthy local foods, bridge urban and rural landscapes, and create lively, inclusive public gathering places that welcome cultural exchange. Public markets also serve as third places—places that are not your home or workplace—and help strengthen social infrastructure that combats loneliness and social isolation. In times of recovery after crises, public markets support local resilience by creating natural spaces for people to access resources and reconnect with their community. These distinctive public spaces offer endless possibilities for strengthening communities in meaningful ways. Learn more about the power of public markets.