GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – A $10+ million project will transform the Old Fort Square in downtown Green Bay into a Public Market.

“When this concept was being brought to Green Bay, it was an absolute ‘yes’ we wanted to be a part of it,” said Celeste Parins, co-owner of Voyageurs Bakehouse. Along with Ben Cadman, the bakery owners are a bit of a success story for what’s happening along the downtown stretch of Broadway.

“To have this area transformed and just to have an area like that is new and polished in downtown Green Bay is exciting,” Cadman said.

Their bakery, at 340 N. Broadway, Suite 110, opened in 2020. The duo says they plan to open a new concept at the market.

“Public markets around the world are always vibrant community spaces that attract locals and tourists alike,” said Cadman.

They hope what happened to them will happen to others when the market finally opens in 2023.

“We got started in a shared kitchen, which is amazing that there will be that sort of space here,” said Parins. “We really believe in being able to bring a concept to the community to test it out, and see if people are interested.”

For Green Bay native, and brewery owner Jen Gentry, she knew it was a good fit for her and her husband, too.

“To see what’s happening in Green Bay, but especially what’s happening on Broadway, I just couldn’t pick a better place,” Gentry told Local 5’s Barrett Tryon.

Gentry, and husband Peter, started One Barrel Brewing Company in 2012 in Madison. They recently expanded into Door County. The couple plans to open a new taproom at the market, which is the first time the brewing company will be in Green Bay.

“We hope that our involvement in the Green Bay Public Market will help fuel the success of neighboring vendors and businesses and continue the positive evolution of the Broadway District as a whole,” said Gentry.

The project will also include an apartment development. The apartment development will be on the city-owned parking lot behind Old Fort Square. The apartment phase of the project is reportedly expected to cost $21+ million.

Construction on the apartment portion is expected to begin either late fall 2022 or early spring 2023.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Gentry. “I’m seeing Madison and Door County growing exponentially and having something like this where you can just stop and try all sorts of different kind of food.”

Something the mayor agrees is uniquely Titletown.

“Green Bay is all about creating interesting spaces and places and a public market is absolutely something that will be attractive, not just to the residents here in this community, but to people all around the country,” said Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich.

The Public Market redevelopment will reportedly attract over one million visitors yearly to downtown Green Bay, according to the On Broadway district board.

More information can be found on downtown Green Bay’s website.