A public market in Federal Way could boost the city’s economy, bring in retail tax revenue, build community connections and put the city on the map, initial results from a feasibility study show.

The Federal Way Public Market nonprofit contracted with world-renowned public market developer Aaron Zaretsky and experienced public market architect Mark Ernst for a feasibility study, using funds allocated by the state.

On May 23, Zaretsky and Ernst presented their initial findings during one of many community conversations to come.

After acquiring as much community input as possible, Zaretsky and Ernst will share their final feasibility study results with the Federal Way Public Market team in July.

The consultants found that a public market in Federal Way could be both highly successful and bring significant benefits to the city. Zaretsky was hired because of his experience planning, managing and/or developing over 65 public markets throughout the U.S. and the world, including Pike Place Market in the 1970s.

The consultants found that a significant portion of the spending power in Federal Way is leaking to nearby Seattle, Tacoma and Kent.

This isn’t due to Federal Way’s smaller size comparatively, he said, but because of the lack of vibrant activity and dining options within the city as compared to others of its size. In the analysis, he compared Federal Way with similar size city Asheville, North Carolina. While their income is lower, they spent a much higher ratio of that income within the city.

It’s easy to see why in the chart laid out by Zaretsky, comparing Asheville’s 53 grocery stores with Federal Way’s 15 grocery stores, or Asheville’s 50 arts and crafts galleries compared to Federal Way’s 4, or Asheville’s 23 live music venues compared with Federal Way’s 1.

Looking through every retail and market-like venue, including everything from hotels to farmers markets to brew pubs to cinemas to live theaters, the report notes that Federal Way is severely lacking in these amenities. This is despite being one of the most culturally diverse zip codes in the entire nation.

Zaretsky shared this comparison not to speak badly about the city, but to point out the immense opportunity and impact a public market could have.

This opportunity is emphasized by the lagging retail sales tax returns in the city in last year’s budget report presented to the council earlier this year. It can also be seen on any Federal Way group on social media where someone asks for a recommendation for an activity — and tips on Tacoma restaurants and Seattle music venues will flood in, but not too many options in Federal Way.

One reason for this is the lack of gathering spaces and places for the community to come together as a whole and get to know each other, they said. The Federal Way comprehensive plan seeks to create more of these types of spaces, including a focus on creating a pedestrian-focused city center through the TC3 project.

“Federal Way is insular…people tend to stay in their own orbits culturally,” Mike Brugato of the Kiwanis Club of Federal Way said at the meeting. He added that the market seems like it could be a “catalyst to bring together all these people.”

Potential impact

How can the public market be one solution for these challenges?

The answer is in the vision statements shared in the materials from Zaretsky, describing a “a vibrant food-focused experience that showcases and celebrates the rich character of Federal Way’s diverse international citizenry,” that will “highlight the unique tapestry of Federal Way and the surrounding South King County / Tacoma region for the enjoyment of all.”

The market would “house individually owned and operated shops, stalls, carts and day tables selling a full array of fresh foods and farm products to take home and a United Nations of prepared foods to enjoy in the building or outside in the surrounding outdoor picnic spaces,” and feature “exciting public amenities” outside, “creating dynamic public spaces for locals and visitors.”

Public markets have very different economic impacts than the other retail structures like malls because people go to them for different reasons, Zaretsky explained.

“What makes public markets work is that they are fundamentally social institutions,” Zaretsky explained. In one study evaluating the difference between mall shoppers and shoppers at a public market, Zaretsky said 94% of shoppers at the mall came because they needed to buy something specific, where that was the motivation for only 23% of public market shoppers.

Despite going with the intention of buying something, shoppers at public markets spent twice as much money as those at the mall by the time they left, he said.

“The rest came for experiential reasons…they came to rub shoulders with people different from themselves,” Zaretsky said.

To complete the feasibility study, Zaretsky and Ernst and the Federal Way Public Market team in general want to hear from community members about what they would want to see in a public market.

Consultants Aaron Zaretsky and David Berg discuss the opportunities a Federal Way Public Market could provide the community. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Karine Roettgers of Explore Seattle Southside, Brett Lowrie of the Federal Way Performing Arts and Event Center and Mike Brugato of the Kiwanis Club of Federal Way. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang/the Mirror