Activities and Resources

About Midtown Global Market

A lot of hopes are pinned on this midtown market with an international flair. It's located on the first floor of the old Sears building - now rechristened the Midtown Exchange - and is part of a large multi-use redevelopment project featuring both lofts and lofty goals.

The market is designed to build a sense of community and ownership among the many diverse ethnic groups that call Minneapolis home; to provide hard-to-find and unusual groceries, prepared foods, and craft items in a family-friendly environment; and also to build wealth and see it reinvested locally. Our verdict: Go. The place is welcoming, interesting, and fun - though there are some empty booths - with weekly offerings including live music, dance classes, Family Night Fridays, and chess, along with kid-friendly events for many holidays. Best of all, with all the food options, there's sure to be something to please everyone in the family!

The market is anchored by Latino and Asian grocery stores (including a United Noodles offshoot), a farm market, and a Holy Land Deli outlet, so visitors can find ethnic ingredients and prepared foods, cheeses, tortillas, pastries, fresh fruits and vegetables, pasta, delicacies, cut flowers, craft goods, and more. Several cafe and seating areas invite visitors to dine in and hang out. Some of the vendors sell items good for spicing up birthday parties, such as pinatas and unusual candies to add to goody bags.

There's a children's play area with a padded floor and plastic play structures; shelves with boxed games for customer use; and tables for backgammon, chess, and checkers in a couple of places. The bathrooms, equipped with changing tables and sinks set apart from the rest of the stalls, almost make diaper changing a pleasure.

Some market vendors also offer services, including watch and jewelry repair, dry cleaning and alterations, and massage.

Tips

Give kids a super sleuthing assignment combined with a history lesson: See if they can find the small unmarked glass square embedded in the floor - it's toward the center of the site, and easy to miss! - then explain that the cement footprint visible beneath the glass is 100 years old, preserved from when the building was first constructed.

Getting There

On Lake Street at Chicago Avenue South. Park free for up to three hours on weekends in the lot or ramp - the lot is also free after 5pm weekdays. The Midtown Exchange ramp is between 10th and 11th Avenues, and the metered lot is on the west side of the building ($0.25/20 minutes). The market is also served by Metro Transit Routes 5, 21, 39, and 53, and accessible by bike and foot from the Midtown Greenway.

Events At  Midtown Global Market

Parent Reviews (1 review)
Average Parent Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Rated by 2 parents

  • 4 out of 5 stars
    Great international options for parents; less adventurous kids can get malt shop food at Andy's, or kids' meals at Holy Land. Fun music on Friday nights with a herd of little kids dancing in front of the stage. Great place to get wiggles out when it's too cold to be outside.
    [Submitted by Mpls mom1/15/09

Rate This Attraction

1 out of 5 stars Don't bother
2 out of 5 stars It's just okay
3 out of 5 stars Has some good points
4 out of 5 stars Good for kids & families
5 out of 5 stars Great for kids & families
0 out of 5 stars I prefer not to give a rating

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