Brookfield, Wis. – On Saturday, city officials and developers will break ground on the Brookfield Public Market, a new specialty market slated for the former Boston Store location in the Brookfield Square Mall area. The project is being promoted as a transformative development for a mall that has struggled with high vacancy rates.
Project details and timeline
Visit Brookfield, one of the development partners, says about 85% of the market’s tenant space has already been secured. The developers surveyed roughly 45 public markets across the United States and gathered community input to shape a market that highlights local vendors and Wisconsin-made products. The public market is scheduled to open during the first quarter of 2028.
City involvement and potential expansion
Earlier this week, the city announced a $28 million agreement that could allow it to purchase part of the Brookfield Square Mall property. While the city is not obligated to complete the purchase, officials are exploring mixed‑use options for the underutilized mall, which currently has many vacant retail spaces, including an empty food court. The agreement does not cover the adjacent Movie Tavern and WhirlyBall facilities.
Community and economic impact
“I think it’s definitely one of the most important corridors in the state of Wisconsin. I’m a little partial, right? I love Brookfield – but I feel like it’s that Main & Main corner. It’s very critical to massive intersections. Moorland and Bluemound Road,” said Nancy Justman, President and CEO of Visit Brookfield. The new market is expected to draw shoppers back to the area, create jobs for local entrepreneurs, and provide a venue for Wisconsin artisans to reach a broader audience.
Next steps
Construction will begin this weekend, with exterior design plans subject to minor adjustments based on the city’s recent property negotiations. The public market will join other recent Brookfield initiatives aimed at revitalizing the downtown corridor and supporting family‑friendly, faith‑centered community life.
Information for this story was gathered from Visit Brookfield, the City of Brookfield, and prior FOX6 News reports.
Original reporting: FOX6 WITI – local news — read the source article.
