The indoor market is designed to showcase the variety and quality of food grown, produced or caught in Massachusetts and throughout New England. This opportunity offers prime retail space for local producers in the heart of Boston’s emerging Market District.
OVERVIEW
The Boston Public Market is managed by the Boston Public Market Association (BPMA) – a 501 (c) 3 organization whose mission is to operate a permanent year-round market that supports local food producers, provides fresh, healthy food to consumers of all income levels, and educates the public about food sources, nutrition, and preparation.
In 2012, BPMA was designated by the Commonwealth as the developer and operator of Boston’s Public Market: a 28,000 square-foot indoor retail location on the ground floor of the Haymarket T-station building abutting both Boston’s Greenway and Government Center. The Market is located at 100 Hanover Street.
We strive to bring in the highest quality food products from the most local sources. We seek out businesses that educate customers about their products and production while representing the variety of interests and diversity of backgrounds within our community. Favorable consideration is given to businesses with product lines that offer a variety of price points.
All vendors are required to accept EBT/SNAP/HIP/WIC payments for all qualifying product categories. Market management assists vendors through the setup of these payments and promotes opportunities for recipients of EBT/SNAP/HIP/WIC.
LOCAL SOURCING
This market is focused on local sourcing. Vendor offerings must be grown, raised, or produced in New England. For fast casual food vendors, preference is given to those that plan to use a mix of locally sourced products in their offerings.
All vendors will be asked to confirm production standards, sourcing, and code compliance prior to lease signing. BPM vendors are also subject to annual scheduled and random inspections.
THE INDOOR MARKET
The indoor year-round vending floor accommodates up to 45 permanent vendors’ retail locations. Vendors can lease a designated space with water and electric utility hook-ups in which they may create their own retail environment with furniture, fixtures and products. Rentable space is modular and able to accommodate concepts that range from as little as 50 square feet to up to 800 square feet.
Permanent vendors operate for full market hours, and can apply for a delayed open on a case-by-case basis.
SEASONAL FARMERS MARKETS
BPMA’s seasonal farmer market runs from June-November at Dewey Square on The Rose Kennedy Greenway for vendors who may not be able to make a longer commitment or offer products year-round. Space will be available for lease by season. These vendors will be held to the same local sourcing standards as permanent vendors (products must either originate or be produced in New England). Preference is given to agricultural products and specialty food items.
VENDOR SELECTION
The BPM seeks vendors who offer product freshness, consistency, uniqueness, ethnic diversity, and a wide variety of price points. We are committed to maintaining excellent product diversity and curating a mix of vendors that allow each to be successful.
Prospective vendors will be evaluated across three categories: Product Quality, Local Sourcing and Business Plan. Within each category, applicants’ vending concept will be reviewed on a broad set of standards.
1. Product Quality standards will including taste, freshness, consistency, price point(s), ethnic diversity, and uniqueness.
2. Local Sourcing will be evaluated in an effort to create a marketplace that best reflects the variety of our local New England community. Location of production, and in the case of fast casual concepts, the origin of ingredients will be taken into consideration.
3. Business Plan/Operations criteria will include a vendor’s experience, financial plan, staffing, vending plan, business size and current number of sales outlets, and impact on local economy.
LEASE AND RENT STRUCTURE: “FINANCIAL INTEREST”
We view our vendors as our business partners. Our job is to foster an overall market assortment that best attracts regular foot traffic by a variety of customers. We provide the cleaning, maintenance and repair, general building services and loading area, the advertising and marketing of the Public Market, the upkeep of all common areas, and ongoing community programming and promotional activities. We ask all vendors to participate in market management, maintain high standards of customer service and product quality, and meet their financial obligations.
Leases and rents will differ by vendor based on their location in the market, the size of the stall, length of lease term, initial build-out of the stall, the type of product, and whether the vendor is a start-up or an experienced business. Rents will be a combination of a base rent per square foot and a percentage of sales.
As part of the application proposal, vendors are required to submit a statement of “Financial Interest.” We ask vendors to reflect a financial offer (or rent structure) that they feel is both profitable for them and fair for the rest of the marketplace. While it is important, financial interest is just one piece of many criteria we will look for in the proposal review process.
VENDOR APPLICATION PROPOSAL
1. INTENT TO APPLY. All vendors interested in leasing space must submit their “Intent to Apply” form submission here.
2. VENDOR PROPOSAL. All vendors who submit an Intent To Apply will receive a Vendor Proposal Guide.
3. LEASE NEGOTIATION AND STALL DESIGN. All vendors we partner with at the market will enter the third stage of the process and engage in lease negotiations and stall design. A deposit will be required to reserve space.
