Public Market Goals
- Provide a flexible, low-overhead vendor space, in an attractive, indoor, downtown location for local entrepreneurs to sell their goods or services directly to the consumer, bypassing the middleman.
- Allow vendors the opportunity over time to enhance, evolve, and refine their products and their business skills to optimize profitability.
- Foster creation of place - a physical environment interconnected to soul and spirit. Nurture fellowship, interaction, diversity and tolerance.
- Benefit neighbors before corporations and keep the Coulee Region producing! Encourage localism: promote local artistry, crafts, trade, farmland production and overall ingenuity and creativity; a region that produces can sustain itself indefinitely.
- Facilitate synergy between the Main Street Station retail businesses, the vendors, the community as a whole, and the Earth itself.
- Promote availability of high quality, locally grown, nutritious, fresh food for customers.
Operations
- Days of Operation. Main Street Station is open Tuesday - Saturday (and some Sundays), year-round.
- Hours of operation / Set-up and break down. Spaces are open for business all day from 9:00am to 6:00pm or in two half-days: 9am to 1:00pm and 1:30pm to 6:00pm. Stall set-up may begin at 8:00 am Monday - Saturday. Midday setup begins at 1:00pm (11:30am on Sundays). All day-vendors need to break down and be prepared to leave the Market within 30 minutes of closing.
- To Reserve a Space: go to the Vendor Sign in Page and sign up as a new vendor or call the manager at 608-637-1912 or 608-606-0159 to sign-up over the phone. We will mail you a vendor packet, or click here to download the application. You may also sign up in person at the market; same-day rental of space is, of course, dependent on space availability. After approval by the management, you may reserve a single vendor space, for a full or half-day, and do so for multiple days. If desired, you may also reserve a space on an indefinite monthly basis. That space then becomes exclusively yours until you opt out.
- Rental Fees. Please see space rental fee table below. Limited vendor space services are also available:
- Electrical service: $2.00 per day; $20 per month
- Phone access, when available: $3 per day; $35 per month (exclusive of long distance)
- High-speed Internet access, when available: $3 per day; $39 per month.
- Performers, with manager ok, may use the market free of charge, provided they are not selling goods or services.
- Promotional discount vendor space fee rates may be granted at times by market management. These fees are subject to change at any time. Generally, for special events, (such as our annual Old Fashioned Holiday Fair), standard spaces fees will apply (see table below). [These shows often sell out -- in addition, we spend significantly more on advertising/promotion].
- All fees shall be paid with cash, check or money order, made out to "Main Street Station”. Refunds on prepaid fees will be made at the discretion of the Market management.
- Vendor Spaces. Vendors may select space location by choosing from available spaces. Spaces rented on a monthly basis are unavailable to other vendors whether the paying vendor is present or not. Subletting of monthly spaces is prohibited. Space size varies; please see the Main Street Station Market Map for details.
- Furnishings: No equipment, tables, seating or other furnishings are provided by the Market, however, limited carts and tables may be available for rent. Please see the market manager for details. Paid monthly vendors may indefinitely leave items in their space. Main Street Station may not be held liable for theft or damage to vendor items left in the market.
- Display Guidelines: All vendors must keep their displays and merchandise within their assigned space. Please no duct tape or other strong adhesive tape on market surfaces (it will ruin the paint)! Pedestrian flow may not be congested due to a vendor's display. Displays or signs may not impede visual access to adjoining stalls. All products must be clearly labeled with prices. Displays, product demonstrations, and/or marketing techniques may not interfere with the normal conduct of business by other vendors and Market tenants – vendor use of any market common elements (e.g. lampposts, benches, windows/doors) is strictly prohibited.
- Parking. The Public Market cannot provide parking directly for vendors. Limited parking is available in the United Methodist Church parking lot (across from the Market on Center St), except on Sundays, during other church functions, or as posted by the market manager.
- In the event the Market site is unavailable as a result of fire, flood, government intervention, damage, or any other cause beyond the reasonable control of Main Street Station, Main Street Station shall not be liable and shall not be obligated to indemnify or reimburse the vendor for any loss arising as a result.
Stall Fees |
A 7’x5’ |
B 7’x6.5’ |
B+ 7’x6.5’ |
C 7’x8’ |
D |
Food |
Alley |
½ day |
$8 |
$10 |
$12 |
$15 |
$25 |
n/a |
$10 |
Full Day |
$12 |
$15 |
$18 |
$22 |
$35 |
$40 |
$15 |
Monthly |
$99 |
$125 |
$150 |
$199 |
$250 |
$290 |
$125 |
These fees are subject to change – see market manager for latest pricing. |
Vendor Requirements and Recommendations
- Insurance. Vendors are responsible for their own liability and product insurance; insurance, however, it is not mandatory. "Viroqua Main Street Station" should be listed as an additional insured on the policy, if a policy is obtained. FYI: such liability insurance may be added, at times, as a rider onto existing home-owner’s insurance or other personal insurance policies. Personal “umbrella” insurance coverage may be an alternative. Please consult with an insurance professional.
- Application: All vendors must complete an application. Upon review and approval by market management, the vendor will be notified and then may reserve market days. Copies of all applicable licenses, permits and insurance certificates must be submitted to the market manager. Application for space rental in not a guarantee of approval. Download vendor application here.
- Product quality: all items sold in Main Street Station should be of the highest quality. The vendor will withdraw any item deemed inferior quality, in the sole opinion of the market manager. Rummage sale and flea market items, if applicable, are exempt.
- Laws: All vendors are required to comply with local, state and federal laws and regulations, including but not limited to those pertaining to food handling, licensing and sales tax. The following vendors must provide a copy of their Dept of Agriculture License: Sliced or cut-up fruit and/or vegetables / Cakes, pies, candied apples, lefse, baked goods, jams, jellies / Eggs, dairy product / Meat, fish / Processed rabbit or poultry /Cheese curd
- Sampling Procedure: all sampling offered by vendors must meet the following criteria:
- Samples must be in a rigid, tight container until served
- Samples of processed food must be prepared in a licensed commercial kitchen
- All vendors giving samples must provide a waste container for use by the public. Dispose of waste properly.
- Honey, sorghum, maple syrup, and apple cider must be sold in clean, not-previously used containers. All containers must be labeled with information as to name, address and net contents. These items do not require a license.
- Any vendor selling by weight must use a certified scale.
- Vendors are responsible for keeping their selling space clean and neat at all times. Day Vendors should leave their space as they found it, and remove any and all waste from the premises.
- Vendor resources:
Market Participation & Trade Guidelines
Main Street Station maintains the right to determine and limit the goods that may be sold in vendor spaces, in keeping with the goals described above and the overall operation of the Public Market. Exceptions to the following limitations may be granted on a case by case basis.
- In general, no mass produced art or crafts-type items are allowed. These items are simply unfair competition to hard-working, local artisans, and not in the spirit of the public market. Some exceptions may be made for unique, specialty imports, or other special circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
- One of the market's chief goals is to promote small-scale merchants who create, grow or otherwise enhance the items they sell, thus keeping money circulating in our local economy. Therefore, Corporate, franchise or other such large-scale businesses are greatly restricted from renting space, advertising or soliciting in Main Street Station. On case-by-case basis, one or two vendors per day selling corporate/franchise based items may be permitted. They must however 1) Have items on-hand for immediate sale and 2) Their sole focus in the market should not be the solicitation of customers for home or other shows OR to obtain new recruits for their business.
- Strong preference for space rental will be granted to vendors who create, produce, grow, design, enhance, cook, collect or otherwise make what they sell. Service-based vendors, likewise, are also favored.
- Musicians and other entertainers may perform in the market, after consultation with the market manager, without charge. Tips are allowed, but a space fee may apply if there the performer has items for sale.
- Viroqua Farmers Market members are given preferred status.
- In general, the actual business owner, grower, artisan, etc should be present in the market and available for direct customer interaction.
- Profane, objectionable, illegal and/or dangerous items are expressly prohibited.
- Flea market and rummage sale type products/vendors are discouraged, except on Sunday “Treasure Hunt” market days.
To contact the market manager call 608-637-1912 or email
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These rules are subject to change - see the market manager
Happy Selling!
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