Farmer's markets and places to buy fresh veggies from local farmers and shop owners, within walking distance from home or work, makes living and working near there so much nicer.
I see some vacant retail locations downtown that sit that way for a really long time, six, maybe seven years, with signs of their lack of occupancy, many I'd walk by EVERY time I went out downtown.
Could the city cut some deal with owners of retail locations that sit vacant, maybe give them a tax break or some other incentives, maybe cover some basic utilities, security and sanitation, that would entice the shop owner to allow "markets" to operate there until leased? When they lease it, the market moves to another vacant location.
If it's a large location, maybe operate like a flea market with a lot of different vendors always changing, smaller locations might just focus on being a retail coop for a bunch of farmers selling potatoes, corn and tomatoes, maybe.
The city pays or paid, not sure of the current situation, something around 700K per year just for the Tower parking garage to allow people to park there free on two floors, evenings and weekends. Imagine what half that could do for a downtown market !!!