The Milwaukee Public Market tallied its millionth customer for the year on Monday, pushing it up into the top tier of most popular Milwaukee attractions.
“To have such a large number of individuals entering the Market is not only a measure of our vendors’ success, but also a measure the market’s impact in the Historic Third Ward,” said Ron San Felippo, chairman of the area’s Business Improvement District (BID), which owns the market.
According to San Felippo, the market has accomplished both its goals of providing local jobs and drawing visitors to its neighborhood.
“Besides creating nearly 400 direct and indirect jobs, the market was intended to become a major destination to the Historic Third Ward,” he said.
To count visitors, the public market added wireless pedestrian-traffic tracking devices on each doorway. Staff evaluated totals bimonthly and cut the totals in half to account for visitors entering and exiting.
The millionth customer, Megan Bengard, of Nashville, received a gift basket with a $50 gift card to the market, a gift certificate for a cooking class, the Chefs at the Market cookbook, two market t-shirts, a market apron and tote bag.
The public market is comprised of 18 locally-owned private vendors specializing in food and beverages.
