This feature was made possible through a partnership with the Milwaukee Public Market.
It’s hard to believe that The Milwaukee Public Market has been a part of the city’s landscape for two decades. But it’s true. The vibrant Market celebrated its grand opening on October 15-16, 2005.
At that time the building held 24 indoor retail stalls and 19 outdoor farmer's market stalls. With a focus on fresh food, vendors like El Rey featured freshly baked bread, produce, meats, cheese and prepared foods from brands like Sushi-A-Go-Go and The Soup Market.
20 years later, the Public Market is a bustling urban culinary destination that anchors the Third Ward’s dining and retail scene. The two-story market showcases 19 vendors offering finds from artisan Wisconsin cheese to seafood, spices, wine and a wide variety of prepared foods. Four vendors – St. Paul Fish Company, C. Adam’s Bakery, West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe and Aladdin – have been fixtures since 2005.
In addition, the market serves as a community gathering place, a destination for cooking classes and events and a popular tourist destination. Its distinctive architecture, prominent location and memorable signage has made it an iconic element in both the Third Ward and the city’s overall landscape.
And yet, despite being a local destination for two decades, there’s always something new to discover at the Milwaukee Public Market.
Here are 20 fun facts about the Market that you might not know!
1. It's a little bit French
The Market was modeled after Les Halles Centrales, the traditional central market in Paris, France that operated for more than 100 years before it was torn down in 1971. Designed by Kubala Washatko Architects Inc., it also took inspiration from buildings on Commission Row, the one-block stretch in the Third Ward where fruit and vegetable brokers – including Jennaro Brothers, Machi Produce, Catalano Produce, Spicuzza Banana Co. and Palmisano Produce – operated.
2. You can come by at 7 a.m.
Pop in for a cup of coffee at Anodyne (which opens at 7 a.m.) and you can experience the Market at its most quiet and peaceful. Take a seat in the second-floor Palm Garden, relax and then watch as the market comes alive (most other vendors open at 10 a.m.)
3. Abe Lincoln bathed there
Well, sort of. In 1859, while he was campaigning for the presidency, Abraham Lincoln took a “long and leisurely” bath in the former Cross Keys Hotel, the future site of the Milwaukee Public Market.
4. It's a popular wedding venue
The Market has hosted 246 weddings and rehearsal dinners over the past 20 years. That includes the nuptuals of Executive Director, Paul Schwartz, in 2016.
5. Have you seen the airplane?
Look up above the St. Paul Fish Market and you’ll see a vintage Cessna that was upcycled from an airplane boneyard and installed in the market around 2010. Originally it had a sign attached that said: “Fresh Fish Flown in Daily.”
6. Got $55K for Scotch?
There's a bottle at the Market for you. While well-priced wine is the main draw at Thief Wine, proprietor Phil Bilodeau also stocks an impressive collection of spirits and rare brews. Among the bottles in his inventory is a bottle of Highland Park 54 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whiskey. It's one of only 225 bottles made and the only bottle allocated for Wisconsin. It also retails for $55K. Whoever purchases the limited anniversary edition bottle also receives access to a special private distillery tour and tasting for two, as well as a one night stay (plus dinner, breakfast and lunch) in Orkney, Scotland.
7. Get your knafeh chocolate
Aladdin Owner Azmi Alaedin travels home to Jordan every year to glean inspiration for the restaurant. That means there’s always something new to try. Right now he's carrying the viral Dubai Knafeh Chocolate Bars. The delicious milk chocolate marvels are packed with pistachios and kataifi, crispy shredded phyllo pastry.
8. The Market's gone global
For the first time in more than a decade, the International Public Markets Conference will be held in the U.S. The conference, which has been previously hosted in locales including Toronto, London and Barcelona, will be co-hosted by the Milwaukee Public Market right here in Milwaukee in June of 2025.
9. Café Benelux is a vendor
Cafe Benelux is part of the Milwaukee Public Market. It’s true. The Public Market District extends beyond the main building and includes the Riverwalk Commons (home to pickleball courts and a site for market programming like the Riverwalk Commons Concert Series) and Cafe Benelux, which is considered to be one of the Market’s 19 vendors.
10. There are jello shots?
Well, if you're having a craving, Thainamite carries a Japanese sake-based sparkling jelly drink that’s fruity, mildly sweet and very likely to remind you of a Jello shot.
11. A florist to celebs
Bette Midler was among the clients served by florist Bobby Simonsen, owner of the Market’s Marius Bell Floral, who began his floral career in Los Angeles, California.
12. Dreams really do come true
The co-owner of Freese's has worked there most of her life. Wendy Matel began working at Freese’s Candy Shop when she was 16 years old. Today, she and her husband own the iconic candy shop, which has a history that dates back to 1928.
13. The mascot has a name
Rocky is the name of the rooster that decorates the Milwaukee Public Market logo. He’s even got his own tee shirts.
14. Eat a ribeye at the Market
Hungry for a ribeye? A New York Strip? A tenderloin? You can pick out your own steak, have it cooked for you and then eat it right onsite at the Foltz Family Market.
15. What's up with the VW bus?
The ‘71 Volkswagen bus parked inside the Market was Emily Ware’s first vehicle. She drove it until it suffered an engine fire, unaware that its destiny would be to serve as the counter for her On The Bus restaurant inside the Milwaukee Public Market.
Note: Just days after this article was published, On the Bus announced its closing at the Market.
16. That's a lot of cheese
You can find over 400 varieties of cheese at the West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe at any given moment. Nearly all of them are from Wisconsin.
17. Vendors help MPS kids
The Market is one of the sites for the Milwaukee Public Schools’ School to Work Transition Program. Over the years, numerous students from the program have been hired by market vendors including St. Paul Fish Co., Margarita Paradise and the Foltz Family Market.
18. Get your beer from a pickup
In the summer, you can get beer from the 1941 vintage Ford pick-up truck parked on the southern side of the Market. The truck was retro-fitted with eight draft lines by Draft & Vessel owner Nathaniel Davauer and local artists Nicholas Hardrath and Brandon Mingawith in 2019 and it forms the foundation for the Market’s Beer Patio (AKA Draft Patio).
19. Taste over 70 oils & vinegars
You can taste over 70 world-class olive oils and balsamic vinegars before you buy them at Oro di Oliva in the Market. Even better, their olive oils are sourced from private olive groves and exceed the standards created by the International Olive Oil Council (IOOC) and the California Olive Council (COOC).
20. Who's Madame Kuony?
In the 1970s, students were known to drive as far as 200 miles one way for a single culinary class with Madame Liane Kuony, a Belgian immigrant who operated restaurants and cooking schools in Fond du Lac and Milwaukee. The dynamic, outspoken chef, sometimes called “Wisconsin’s Julia Child,” passed away in 2005, the same year the Milwaukee Public Market opened. Madame Kuony’s Demonstration Kitchen on the second floor of the Market was dedicated in her memory by her devoted culinary students.
Watch for more fun 20th anniversary features on the Milwaukee Public Market at OnMilwaukee all year long.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
