Planning Your Grand Opening at Midtown Global Market

A Guide for New Midtown Global Market Businesses

Congratulations on your new business!

Friends of Global Market (FOGM) is excited to help you celebrate your Grand Opening and introduce your business to the Midtown Global Market community.

A successful Grand Opening is more than a ribbon cutting—it is an opportunity to tell your story, introduce your products or services, attract new customers, and build lasting connections within the Market and the surrounding community.

We will work with you to develop an event that fits your business, your audience, and your goals.

1. Start With Your Business & Your Goals

We’ll meet with you to discuss your vision for the Grand Opening and help determine the best way to celebrate.

Together, we’ll confirm:

• Grand Opening date and time

• Your goals for the event

• Your target audience and customers

• Preferred event activities

• Your event budget and any shared expenses

• Who will create event graphics and promotional materials

• When logos, photos and other creative materials will be available

• Your soft-opening and official opening dates

Your business should be fully open and operational by the time of the Grand Opening.

Think about what you want customers to remember.

Would you like your Grand Opening to feature:

• A ribbon cutting and photo opportunity

• Food samples or product demonstrations

• Live music or cultural entertainment

• Giveaways or special offers

• Meet-and-greet with the owner or staff

• Photo and video opportunities

• A cultural celebration connected to your business

• A special Grand Opening promotion

• Press Release

2. Let’s Coordinate With the Market

FOGM will coordinate with Midtown Global Market management and appropriate partners to make sure your event works well within the Market.

Depending on the event, we may coordinate:

• Event date and time

• Use of common areas

• Tables, chairs and other equipment

• Sound or microphone needs

• Signage

• Security or additional cleaning

• Permits or insurance requirements, when applicable

• Participation from NDC, Midtown Global Market and Friends of Global Market representatives

• Invitations to community, civic and business partners

Your FOGM event contact will help guide you through these details.

3. Create an Experience, Not Just an Event

Your Grand Opening should give customers a reason to stop, participate and remember your business.

FOGM can help you plan activities such as:

Ribbon Cutting

A traditional Grand Opening ceremony with a ribbon, giant scissors and a great photo opportunity.

Food & Product Sampling

Give customers a taste of what makes your business special.

Demonstrations

Show customers how your products are made, prepared or used.

Music & Cultural Entertainment

Introduce your business through music, dance or other cultural performances.

Special Offers

Consider a Grand Opening discount, giveaway, limited-time special or customer incentive.

Owner Story

A brief welcome from the owner can help customers connect with the people and story behind the business.

We encourage businesses to make their Grand Opening personal, authentic and reflective of what makes them unique.

4. Marketing Your Grand Opening

FOGM will work with you to create a coordinated promotional plan that helps bring customers to the event.

Depending on the event, promotion may include:

• Midtown Global Market social media

• Midtown Global Market website event listing

• Market digital signage

• Media outreach or a media alert when appropriate

• Community and partner outreach

• Promotion to other Market businesses

• Now Open and Grand Opening signage

• Event-day photos and video

• Post-event social media coverage

What We Need From You

To effectively promote your business, please provide:

• Business logo

• High-quality photos

• Business description

• Owner or business story

• Website and social media links

• Grand Opening details

• Special offers or promotions

• Information about entertainment, demonstrations or other activities

• Any graphics or promotional materials you have created

The earlier we receive this information, the more time we have to promote your Grand Opening.

5. Promote Your Grand Opening, Too!

Marketing works best when we promote together.

We encourage every business to actively promote its Grand Opening through its own:

• Social media channels

• Email lists

• Website

• Customer contacts

• Community networks

• Friends, family and business partners

Please share and repost Midtown Global Market promotions when they are published.

You know your customers best. We know the Market. Together, we can reach more people.

6. Event Day

FOGM will help coordinate the Market-side logistics of your Grand Opening.

Before guests arrive, we will work to ensure that:

• Signage is in place

• The event area is ready

• Tables, chairs and equipment are positioned

• Sound equipment is working, when applicable

• Ribbon-cutting materials are ready

• Photo and video opportunities are identified

• Event participants know where and when to gather

Your business team should be ready to welcome customers, tell your story and engage with guests.

7. Capture the Moment

Your Grand Opening is valuable content for your business long after the event is over.

FOGM may capture:

• Ribbon-cutting photos

• Owner and staff photos

• Customer interactions

• Product and food photos

• Short videos

• Entertainment

• Behind-the-scenes moments

We encourage you to use these images and videos to continue telling your business story after the Grand Opening.

8. After the Grand Opening

The celebration doesn't end when the ribbon is cut.

FOGM may provide:

• Social media recap

• Event photos

• Digital signage recognition

• Partner thank-yous

• Continued promotion of your business

We also want to hear from you.

Please share what you learned from the event, including:

• Customer response

• Attendance or traffic

• Successful promotions

• New customers or connections

• What worked well

• What could be improved

This information helps us continue improving how we support businesses throughout Midtown Global Market.

Your Grand Opening Checklist

Business

☐ Confirm opening date
☐ Confirm Grand Opening date and time
☐ Identify target customers
☐ Determine event goals
☐ Select activities or special offers
☐ Provide logo, photos and business information

Event

☐ Complete event planning information
☐ Confirm location and setup
☐ Determine equipment needs
☐ Confirm entertainment or demonstrations
☐ Confirm speakers and participants

Marketing

☐ Provide promotional materials
☐ Review event information
☐ Share the event with your customers
☐ Promote through your own social media and email channels
☐ Share/repost Market promotions

Grand Opening Day

☐ Business and staff ready
☐ Products/services ready
☐ Special offer or promotion ready
☐ Event area ready
☐ Ribbon-cutting materials ready
☐ Photos/video captured

Let's Celebrate Your Business!

Your Grand Opening is an important milestone—and an opportunity to introduce your business to the thousands of people who visit Midtown Global Market each week.

Friends of Global Market is here to help you make the most of it.

Let's work together to create an event that gets people excited about your business, brings customers through your door and helps you become part of the Midtown Global Market community.

Help Us Promote You

• Follow MGM on social media

• Like, comment on and share Market posts

• Tag MGM when appropriate

• Use approved MGM hashtags and branding

• Send us high-quality photos and video

• Let us know about upcoming events and promotions

• Keep your business information current

• Respond promptly when FOGM requests information or content

• Tag other MGM businesses when collaborating

• Help amplify Market-wide campaigns and events

https://midtownglobalmarket.org/

https://www.facebook.com/midtownglobalmarket

https://www.instagram.com/midtownglobalmarket/

@midtownglobalmarket

Creating Content Together

Great content helps people discover your business—and helps tell the larger story of Midtown Global Market. Friends of Global Market works with vendors to capture photos, video, stories, products, people and experiences that can be shared across our digital and social channels. When you work with us to create and provide content, we can showcase your business while also helping build a stronger, more vibrant story about the Market as a whole. The better we tell your story together, the more opportunities we create to reach new customers and invite people to discover Midtown Global Market.

Helpful Vendor Content Includes:

• Photos of your food, products, space, staff and customers

• Short videos or behind-the-scenes moments

• Introductions to you, your team or your family

• New dishes, products or seasonal offerings

• Special events, promotions and celebrations

• Cooking demonstrations or how-to videos

• Stories about your culture, traditions or business

• Awards, milestones and accomplishments

• Interesting facts or stories about your business

• Collaborations with other MGM businesses

• Upcoming events or activities you're participating in

You don't need to be a professional photographer or videographer. A great phone photo, a 30-second video or a good story can give us something we can work with.

The Midtown Global Market name, logo, graphics, and other elements of the Market’s visual identity are protected intellectual property and are intended to be used consistently to represent the Market.

Businesses located within Midtown Global Market are encouraged to identify themselves as Market businesses and promote their location. However, use of the Midtown Global Market name, logo, or other official branding in advertising, merchandise, signage, social media, websites, or other promotional materials must follow the Market’s branding guidelines and require prior approval.

If you intend to use the Midtown Global Market logo or official branding in:

• Social media posts or campaigns

• Print or digital advertising

• Flyers or promotional materials

• Websites or online advertising

• Videos or other digital content

• Merchandise or products for sale

• Business signage or displays

• Sponsorship materials

• Promotional giveaways

please contact the Midtown Global Market marketing team for approval and the appropriate logo files.

Logo Use

Businesses are not approved to alter, modify, stretch, recolor, crop, or otherwise change the Midtown Global Market logo.

The logo should not be used in a way that suggests:

• Midtown Global Market is sponsoring a product or promotion when it is not;

• Midtown Global Market is endorsing a business, product, or service;

• A business is an official representative of Midtown Global Market; or

• A promotion is a Market-wide promotion when it is actually an individual business promotion.

The Market may require changes to materials that do not meet branding standards.

Merchandise

Businesses may not produce or sell merchandise featuring the Midtown Global Market name, logo, or official branding without prior written approval from Midtown Global Market. Any proposed merchandise should be submitted to the Market for review before production.

Questions & Approval

If you are unsure whether your planned use of the Midtown Global Market name, logo, or branding is appropriate, please contact the Midtown Global Market marketing team before publishing, printing, producing, or distributing the material.

When in doubt, ask first. This helps protect the Midtown Global Market brand while making sure our businesses have the tools they need to promote their connection to the Market.

Speak for Your Business

When posting about your business and your relationship with Midtown Global Market, speak on behalf of your own business—not on behalf of Midtown Global Market.

Businesses are encouraged to say that they are located inside Midtown Global Market and to share their individual experiences, products, services, and promotions.

However, do not represent your business as speaking for Midtown Global Market or make statements about Market policies, operations, events, or decisions unless you have been authorized to do so.

Media, Promotional Materials & Official Market Information

• Midtown Global Market cannot guarantee news media, influencer, or social media coverage of any specific business, product, service, promotion, event, or activity. Marketing opportunities are evaluated based on available resources, media interest, timing, and overall Market priorities.

• Businesses may only speak on behalf of their own business. Tenants should not represent themselves as speaking for Midtown Global Market or make statements on behalf of the Market unless specifically authorized to do so.

• If a member of the news media, content creator, or other outside organization asks you to comment on Midtown Global Market operations, policies, management, finances, security, other businesses, or other matters outside your business, please refer them to the Midtown Global Market management/marketing team.

• Promotional materials distributed inside Midtown Global Market should be appropriate for the Market and comply with Market policies. Businesses need approval before distributing materials that promote a Market-wide event, use official Midtown Global Market branding, or could reasonably be interpreted as an official Market communication.

• Businesses are responsible for ensuring that their promotional materials contain accurate information, including dates, times, prices, locations, contact information, and promotional terms.

• The official Midtown Global Market website, social media channels, and communications from Market management should be considered the authoritative sources for Market-wide information. If you see conflicting information or are unsure about a Market announcement, please contact Market management before sharing or reposting it.

If you are unsure whether something should be presented as a business communication or an official Midtown Global Market communication, please check with Market management before publishing or distributing it.

Midtown Global Market has a photo gallery is a royalty-free source of high-resolution and approved images that may be used in print, broadcast or electronic media. Please credit Midtown Global Market with use of all photos.

Vendor Marketing & Advertising Expectations

Friends of Global Market invests in promoting Midtown Global Market and creating opportunities to increase visibility for our businesses. At the same time, each vendor plays an important role in marketing and advertising their own business. Vendors are expected to actively promote their business, maintain current and accurate information, use their own social media and digital channels, promote their events and offerings, and participate in Market-wide promotional efforts when appropriate. FOGM's marketing efforts are most effective when they are combined with strong, consistent promotion from each individual business. When we all promote the Market and our businesses together, we create greater visibility, stronger customer connections and more reasons for people to visit Midtown Global Market.

When we promote your business or a Market-wide initiative, your participation and amplification help extend that reach and bring more people through the doors. Together, we can create a stronger, more visible Market and help one another succeed.

Weekly Music Programming

Friends of Global Market helps bring live music and cultural experiences to the Market on a regular basis, creating a welcoming atmosphere for shoppers while providing opportunities for local musicians and performers to connect with the community. Our weekly music programming adds energy and personality to the Market and encourages visitors to stay, explore and discover our businesses. Vendors are encouraged to help promote upcoming performances, welcome performers and audiences, and take advantage of these opportunities to create connections with customers. Music is part of what makes Midtown Global Market more than a place to shop and eat—it helps make it a place to gather, experience culture and connect.

Weekly performances include:

Live Music Lunch on Thursdays from Noon-2pm
Saturday Sounds on Saturdays from Noon-2pm.

MIDTOWN GLOBAL MARKET: MN STATE FAIR TASTE BOOTH

As part of Midtown Global Market mission, we partner with the Minnesota State Fair to support Midtown Global Market (MGM) vendors at the Minnesota State Fair (MNSF) in Midtown Global Market’s Taste Booth.

The Taste Booth is owned by Midtown Global Market, LLC. and operated by Friends of Global Market with support to vendors for general operations, licensing, Minnesota State Fair tickets, parking stalls and cooler parking licensing.

Eligibility to participate at the Minnesota State Fair thru the Market: - Participant is current with all MGM, LLC lease obligations – NO past due rent or other past due financial obligations with MGM, LLC or Friends of Global Market. - Participant’s menu, pricing and marketing commitments will need to be fully approved by Midtown Global Market and Minnesota State Fair. - Participant agrees to fully cooperate with MGM staff, 2nd party vendor and Minnesota State Fair representatives. - Participant agrees to fulfill ALL Minnesota State Fair obligations. - The Midtown Global Market Taste Booth shall remain open during Minnesota State Fair hours, 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (closing at 8:00 p.m. on Labor Day). - Participant agrees to work with 2nd party vendor to rent equipment including all cooking equipment, tables, coolers (including cooler/freezer in parking lot).  

Participant is responsible for paying their share of all expenses including but not limited to: admission tickets for staff, insurance, licensing and fees, cups, storage, parking stalls, Midtown Global Market Fees, Minnesota State Fair Fees, marketing and PR, signage, etc.

Midtown Global Market divides the 12 days of the fair between 2 vendors, 6 days each.

MN Department of Health Special Event Food License is an additional required license to operate at the Fair.

Participants are required to purchase all cups and lids directly from the Minnesota State Fair.  
Minnesota State Fair Fees: 15% paid daily no later than 2pm the following day onsite at the Minnesota State Fair Sales Office (based on total sales less sales tax). • Midtown Global Market Fees: 5% is paid to Friends of Global Market, LLC after the participant’s scheduled time at the Minnesota State Fair. This fee is 5% of total sales, less sales tax. Participants will also receive an invoice for all outstanding or additional expenses. Payment is due within fifteen (15) business days after the assigned schedule.

Participants shall occupy the booth according to the schedule and agree to work together, per the Code of Conduct in their Midtown Global Market, LLC lease agreement, to ensure a smooth transition during the State Fair.

Important Dates

·       Tuesday, November 24, 2026  -   Vendor Application process opens

·       Friday, January 8, 2027 - Vendor applications due

·       Friday, January 29, 2027 – MGM Decisions are made to submit to MNSF for approval.

The Friends Zone

The Friends Zone is a flexible space at Midtown Global Market designed to help Market businesses connect with customers, showcase what they do, and create new opportunities.

Businesses can use the Friends Zone for small events, meetings, workshops, demonstrations, tastings, classes, pop-ups, private gatherings and other customer-focused activities. It can also provide a more intimate setting to introduce a new product, teach customers something about your business, or bring your community together. The Friends Zone gives Market businesses another place to grow their audience and promote their business.

Market Events & Opportunities

Friends of Global Market creates and supports events, programs and special opportunities that bring people together and help showcase the businesses, cultures and entrepreneurs of Midtown Global Market. Throughout the year, vendors may have opportunities to participate in market-wide celebrations, cultural events, holiday programming, demonstrations, workshops, community events, promotions and other special activities. We encourage vendors to get involved, share their ideas and take advantage of opportunities that can introduce your business to new customers and strengthen connections within the Market community.

Tours & Demos

Friends of Global Market helps create opportunities for visitors, students, community groups and other guests to experience Midtown Global Market in a deeper and more personal way. Tours, demonstrations and educational experiences can give vendors an opportunity to share their business, culture, food, craft, knowledge and personal story directly with an audience. Vendors may be invited to participate in scheduled tours, food demonstrations, workshops or other special experiences, and we welcome ideas from vendors who have something unique to share. These opportunities not only introduce people to your business—they help visitors understand the people, cultures and entrepreneurial stories that make Midtown Global Market special.

Community Events & Community Resource Events

Friends of Global Market creates and supports community events that bring people together, celebrate culture, and strengthen connections between Midtown Global Market, its businesses and the broader community. Our Community Resource Events go a step further by connecting visitors with organizations, services, information and resources that can support individuals, families and entrepreneurs. These events provide vendors with opportunities to welcome new audiences, participate in community activities and build relationships with organizations and potential customers. We encourage vendors to participate when appropriate, help spread the word and consider how their own business, expertise or resources can contribute to these community-focused experiences.