Grand Rapids Downtown Market
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 The Downtown Market, visible in the foreground | |||||||||
| Location | Grand Rapids, Michigan | ||||||||
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| Opening date | September 2, 2013 | ||||||||
| Architect | Hugh A. Boyd Architects | ||||||||
| Website | downtownmarketgr | ||||||||
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The Grand Rapids Downtown Market is a public market in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Opened in 2013, the market currently has over twenty tenants present and can host over fifty outdoor vendors for a farmers market.[1][2]
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Beginning in the 1990s, Grand Rapids began to experience renewed growth following a partnership between local wealthy philanthropists and the city, especially with the creation of non-profit Grand Action, which focused on downtown development.[3] In 2010, Market Ventures performed a feasibility study that supported the construction of a market in Grand Rapids citing the presence of over 12,000 farms located in surrounding counties, with inspiration for the market being drawn from Eastern Market, Faneuil Hall, markets in Grand Central Station and San Francisco Ferry Building.[3]
Recognized as the first LEED Gold certified market in the United States, it was designed by Hugh A. Boyd Architects and cost $32 million ($40,201,143 in 2022).[4][5] Many of the materials present in the market were reused from previous structures that existed on the property.[5] Ground source heat pumps also provide heat for the structure while outdoors, a snowmelt system exists on the ground to maintain safe and convenient use during colder seasons.[5]
The Grand Rapids Downtown Market opened on September 2, 2013, and attracted 30,000 people on its opening day.[6][7] One of its first vendors was Tacos El Cuñado.[8] In its first year, the market experienced $5 million in sales.[4] In 2015, Slows Bar BQ entered as an anchor tenant, leaving the market in 2023.[9]
Grand Rapids Christkindl Markt
In November 2023, the market announced the opening of a Christkindl Markt with free entry that has food vendors, a German-style beverage hall, live entertainment and curling lessons.[10][11] Mugs used for beverages at the market are desgined in Grand Rapids and constructed in Germany, with the thousands of mugs taking ten months to be delivered to Grand Rapids.[11] For the 2024 Christkindl Markt, about 250,000 people visited the market during the six week period.[11] In 2025, The Independent listed the Grand Rapids Christkindl Markt in its list of "Twelve of the best US Christmas markets", writing "Grand Rapids has come late to the Christmas market party ... But it’s making up for lost time with a grand European-style Christmas village at the Downtown Market that features more than 60 artisan and food vendors."[12]