
The Midtown Global market is partly owned by the Cultural Wellness Center, and exists to promote the economic, social, and cultural assets of Minnesota and celebrates the healthy foods, arts, crafts and other aspects of our diverse heritage. The market provides mouth-watering tastes, locally made art, international entertainment, fresh produce, meats and baked goods and a wide variety of restaurants under one roof.
In the early 2000s, the City of Minneapolis was searching for a use for the vacant Sears building on Lake Street. Neighbors and local Latino business owners convinced City officials the historic building should be saved and, ultimately, reflect the ethnic diversity of the neighborhood and the entrepreneurial energy of the businesses on Lake Street.
The Neighborhood Development Center (NDC), Latino Economic Development Center and other organizations worked with small businesses on Lake Street to fill empty storefronts by providing training and start-up loans. Fearing the former Sears building would become a large “big box” store that would drive out local business, neighboring entrepreneurs looked to NDC for support in creating space for small businesses to start and grow.
Midtown Global Market subsequently took shape through the extraordinary efforts of a wide range of people. Entrepreneurs, community organizations, the City of Minneapolis (under visionary leadership from Mayor Rybak), countless donors, lenders and tax credit investors all worked tirelessly to make the project a success. Midtown Global Market opened for business on May 15, 2006. The Neighborhood Development Center and the Cultural Wellness Center own the Market and continue to offer business support services to the merchants. Eighteen of the original businesses are still here.
Today, Midtown Global Market is a vibrant economic and cultural center where the community gathers. Home to over 45 businesses spanning over 22 cultures, the Market provides a global experience to its visitors with an extraordinary variety of tastes, arts, and crafts as well as music and dance programs throughout the week. Over 1.5 million patrons visit Midtown Global Market each year.
Midtown Global Market

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Pick up your Grab-N-GO Meal at CWC
Community Health Hub Kitchen located inside the Midtown Global Market
Inside the Midtown Global Market

INSIDE OF EVERY HUMAN BEING IS A SPARK. WE IGNITE THAT SPARK