Helping to create tomorrow’s great food halls, public markets and farmers’ markets

Market Ventures, Inc. is an award-winning planning firm that assists public, non-profit, and for-profit clients with planning, creating, and managing innovative food-based projects and programs.

We have particular expertise in public markets and farmers’ markets, where we blend cutting-edge business practices with a thorough understanding of and appreciation for the unique challenges facing local farmers and small businesses.

Founded in 1996, Market Ventures stands apart from other firms because we are both experienced consultants and hands-on developers and operators. As consultants, we produce accurate, independent analyses and recommendations tailored to meet the individual needs and circumstances of our clients. Our extensive national experience provides a wealth of information about what works and what does not. We pride ourselves in creating the highest quality reports and presentations based on solid quantitative and qualitative research to help our clients make the best decisions.

As developers, we know the pressures of getting projects implemented in the real world. We understand day-to-day operations because we have been market managers and retailers. Our experience – on projects with development budgets ranging from thousands of dollars to millions – offers a healthy dose of practicality to our consulting efforts. 

Services

West Side Market, Cleveland

West Side Market Master Plan and Nonprofit Transition Assistance, Cleveland

Existing & historic markets

MVI creates master plans and revitalization strategies for existing and historic markets. Our projects include the masterplan and successful nonprofit transition of Cleveland’s West Side Market. Among many others, we have assisted the Rochester Public Market, Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, Lexington Market in Baltimore, and Essex Street Market in NYC.

Our experience includes both retail and wholesale markets, including Hartford Regional Market, Central NY Regional Market in Syracuse, and Western NC Regional Farmers’ Market in Asheville.

Union Street Market at Electric Works, Fort Wayne

New markets & food systems

MVI prepares feasibility studies and concept development plans for new markets, food halls, and food system initiatives. Our experience includes the planning and development of Union Street Market at Electric Works in Fort Wayne, IN; Grand Rapids Downtown Market; and Milwaukee Public Market. MVI developed and operated the Portland Public Market and open-air markets in NYC.

People

Ted Spitzer, President, is a nationally recognized expert on food markets and alternative local food systems. His core competencies include feasibility analysis, market research, urban planning, and program evaluation. He has devoted his entire career to local food projects as a planner, developer, retailer, and market operator.

Ted holds a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs and Urban & Regional Planning from Princeton University and a BA in Urban Studies from Columbia University. 

Hugh Boyd, FAIA, Senior Associate, is the country’s most experienced public market architect. Hugh has extensive experience in retail and commercial space design, merchandising, and graphic concepts, with particular expertise in the programming and design of public markets.

Hugh is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, the highest honor in the field, in large measure because of his expertise in public markets and his role in the renaissance of public markets in the United States. He holds a BA in Architecture from Notre Dame. 

Clients

Government

  • Carmel Redevelopment Commission

  • City of Boise, Idaho

  • City of Carbondale, Illinois

  • City of Charlottesville, Virginia

  • City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin

  • City of Fort Wayne, Indiana

  • City of Indianapolis

  • City of Kenosha, Wisconsin

  • City of Lynchburg, Virginia

  • City of Ocala, Florida

  • City of Ottawa

  • City of Overland Park, Kansas

  • City of Rochester, New York

  • City of Santa Rosa, California

  • City of St. Louis, Missouri

  • City of Toledo, Ohio

  • Connecticut Department of Agriculture

  • Empire State Development/USA Niagara

  • Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority

  • Louisville Metro Economic Development Department

  • North Carolina Department of Agriculture

  • NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets

  • Onondaga County, New York

  • Richland County, South Carolina

  • Tioga County, New York

Non-profit

  • Cleveland Public Market Corporation

  • Ohio City, Inc., Cleveland

  • Lexington Market, Baltimore

  • Grand Action, Grand Rapids

  • Reading Terminal Market Corporation, Philadelphia

  • The Food Trust, Philadelphia

  • Downtown Alliance of Salt Lake City

  • FoodChange, NYC

  • Neighbors in the Strip, Pittsburgh

  • Springfield Business Development Corporation

  • Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau

  • French Market Corporation

Foundations

  • Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation, Tulsa, Oklahoma

  • Heinz Endowments, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Libra Foundation, Portland, Maine

  • Danforth Foundation, St. Louis

For profit

  • Ancora Development, Fort Wayne

  • Steiner & Associates, New Albany, Ohio

  • Peaked Mountain Farm, Dedham, Maine

  • Mighty Fine Poultry, Ann Arbor

  • Beauxwright Development, Charlotte

  • Menin Development, Delray Beach

  • Keystone Development, Indianapolis

  • REVA Development Corporation, Jacksonville

  • Westbank Development, Toronto

Awards

  • Grand Rapids Downtown Market; Portland Public Market

  • National Planning Excellence Award for Economic Planning & Development: Grand Rapids Downtown Market

  • Downtown Achievement Award for Economic Development: Portland Public Market

  • American Planning Association Exemplary Economic Development Planning Award: Grand Rapids Downtown Market

  • Community Building by Design Award: Portland Public Market