Oh, for cryin’ out loud—
Strib presents jaded view of Global Market

BY SID PRANKE

Perhaps it was just an unfortunate headline that seemed to spell out “doom” for Midtown Global Market in a recent Star Tribune article (“A World of Hurt at Midtown Global Market,” 1/4/07). But it ran as the lead story on the front page of the paper, and it sounded an inappropiate and just-plain-wrong death knell for the market, which is only 6 months old.

I visited Midtown Global Market last spring, when it was still under construction. Seeing the market come alive in June—with people, businesses, food and entertainment—has been exciting. The neighborhood surrounding the market has been spruced up, and there’s a new Transit Center. Any time there’s a new development, it takes a while to find the right mix, and that’s another reason why the Strib article was so over the top.

The restaurants at the market are just wonderful (Holy Land Deli and Everest are two of my favorites), and I love the organic fruits and vegetables at Farm in the Market. More parking improvements are in the works.
Patricia H. Brown, Midtown Global Market manager, said they were very put off by the Strib headline and the article, so much so that they drafted a response to share with the community. Following is an excerpt:

“With the Midtown Global Market, the City of Minneapolis and its partners are attempting something that has never been done before: a community marketplace that empowers diverse local entrepreneurs, rather than simply turning a profit. The City of Minneapolis has supported the Midtown Global Market from the start and has a long-term commitment to this project and the neighborhood.”

“We have exceeded expectations in our leasing rates and traffic,” says Executive Director of Neighborhood Development Center Mike Temali. “As with any new business venture, there is an expected growth period. The trends are all positive.”

Manny Gonzalez, owner of Manny's Tortas, adds, “Rome was not built in a day. The Global Market is a great vision and we are well on the way to being successful. We know that it takes time.”
The Midtown Global Market is a shining jewel in our community. Please show your support by visiting the restaurants, the businesses and the Service Center to help keep it growing strong.