1 PIX = 1K WORDS / MOON OVER FLORENCE, OREGON

A pale moon hangs above the Siuslaw River Bridge in Florence, Oregon, as sunset washes the waterfront in gold. Completed in 1936, the bridge’s graceful arches frame a quiet coastal evening. Across the river, forested shores meet sweeping sand dunes, while old pilings punctuate the water beneath the fading light.  
Photo: PAS/PillartoPost.org

 

THE FOODIST / MILWAUKEE’S MARKET OF MANY TEMPTATIONS

 

The sensible way to enter the Milwaukee Public Market is hungry. The dangerous way is hungry with a shopping bag. Between the seafood, Wisconsin cheeses, fresh pastries, empanadas, spices and wine, a visitor can assemble lunch, plan dinner and begin negotiations with dessert before making a complete circuit of the building. 

 At 400 North Water Street in the Historic Third Ward, the market gathers independent merchants beneath a tall, light-filled roof. Counters and display cases turn the ground floor into a compact geography of appetite. 

Upstairs, the Palm Garden provides communal seating: everyone can choose a different meal and still meet at the same table. The market currently advertises 19 independently owned merchants and seven bars. 

Choosing is part of the entertainment. Wisconsin deserves first consideration. West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe carries more than 200 varieties of cheese, along with handmade sausages, brats and Bavarian-style meats. There are sandwiches and Bloody Marys, too. This is a useful place to explore the state’s cheese-making reputation beyond the familiar supermarket block—and to buy provisions for a picnic or a hotel-room supper. 

St. Paul Fish Company supplies a different kind of temptation. Its downtown menu ranges from oysters on the half shell and lobster bisque to shrimp-and-sausage gumbo, fish tacos and fish fries. The Maine lobster roll comes on butter-toasted brioche. Walleye and cod give visitors a route into the fish-fry tradition, while the seafood counter serves those who would rather take the ingredients home and cook. 

 A few steps can change the continent. 

Aladdin offers Middle Eastern dishes, pita wraps, combination plates and freshly made baklava, with choices for vegans as well as meat eaters. Thai-namite combines Thai cooking with sushi. Margarita Paradise serves taqueria-style food, homemade chips and salsa, and margaritas. La Masa brings an Argentine-inspired empanada bar to the market, with more than 20 varieties spanning savory, vegetarian and dessert fillings. 

Its murals and floral ceiling installation add another splash of color to the food hall. Other appetites have their advocates. 

David Alan Alan’s Smokehouse & Saloon provides barbecue; Forage Kitchen emphasizes fresh ingredients and wholesome meals. Foltz Family Market/Commission Row Produce combines groceries with wood-fired pizza, sandwiches, calzones and pasta. 

A group can arrive with thoroughly incompatible cravings and leave having settled the matter without a committee meeting. 

 Then comes the sweet course. C. Adam’s Bakery, a market tenant since 2005, makes chocolate-chunk cookies, carrot cake, French macarons and other treats from scratch. Freese’s Candy Shoppe brings a Wisconsin candy-making tradition to the mix. 

Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co., a Milwaukee small-batch roaster founded in 1999, supplies the coffee. A pastry and a cup make a perfectly respectable first visit—provided one possesses the discipline to stop there. 

 For the home cook, the browsing can be as rewarding as lunch. The Spice House sells freshly ground spices and seasonings. Oro di Oliva offers in-store tastings of more than 70 olive oils and balsamic vinegars, allowing customers to compare before buying. 

Thief Wine Shop & Bar offers bottles from around the world and a place to enjoy a glass. These are souvenirs with a practical future: something to open, pour or sprinkle when Milwaukee is several states behind you. 

 The building itself merits a pause. 

Completed in 2005, the 36,800-square-foot market was designed by The Kubala Washatko Architects. Its steel, glass and brick give contemporary form to the Third Ward’s industrial heritage. The open interior leaves the building’s structural frame visible above the stalls, while generous glazing admits daylight. The great neon name above the west entrance gives the market a readily recognizable face. 

 Environmental considerations were built into the design. Daylighting and natural ventilation reduce reliance on artificial lighting and mechanical systems; high-performance glass and sun louvers help control heat gain. 

The project received Milwaukee’s Mayor’s Urban Design Award in 2005 and an AIA Wisconsin Merit Award in 2006. Its architecture gives the merchants room to work and the public room to linger. There is also a way to take the experience beyond browsing. 

Upstairs, Madame Kuony’s Kitchen honors Milwaukee culinary teacher Liane Kuony and hosts cooking classes. Most are demonstrations unless otherwise specified, with recipes and tastings included. 

Check the schedule before visiting; a lesson can turn an afternoon’s appetite into a skill that survives the trip home. The best plan is to make a reconnaissance lap before ordering. Find the seafood, inspect the pastry case, investigate the cheeses, then decide where lunch should begin. Leave a little room and a little time. At the Milwaukee Public Market, the next good idea is usually only a counter away. 

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VISITOR INFORMATION 400 N. Water Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. General hours: Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Individual merchants may keep different hours. Details and class reservations: milwaukeepublicmarket.org. RESEARCH SOURCES https://milwaukeepublicmarket.org/ https://milwaukeepublicmarket.org/vendor-listing https://milwaukeepublicmarket.org/about-us/about-us https://tkwa.com/milwaukee-public-market/ https://www.stpaulfish.com/downtownfoodmenu/ https://milwaukeepublicmarket.org/vendors/west-allis-cheese-sausage-shoppe https://milwaukeepublicmarket.org/vendors/la-masa https://milwaukeepublicmarket.org/vendors/oro-di-oliva https://milwaukeepublicmarket.org/vendors/c-adams-bakery Food offerings and visiting information checked October 4, 2026.