Mercado Central is a member-owned cooperative

Mercado Central is located in Minneapolis and is a member-owned cooperative of 48 Latino businesses who aim to recreate an authentic Latin American marketplace. The market is located on the first floor of the building and opened in 1999 as a small business incubator for Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurs and a cultural center for the Minneapolis community. The 28,000 square foot second floor is used as office space.

The center was developed over a three year period by the Latino Graduate of the Neighborhood Development Center's small business training class; the center was designed and implemented by ten entrepreneurs to fill the building with shops and restaurants. By being an incubator the centre supports services to start-up businesses and helps them succeed from the small space they start in to a larger shop, perhaps a storefront.

Dining at the central is available at 6 restaurants, a coffee shop, smoothie shop and bakery, which offer visitors the savory and authentic flavors of Mexico and Latin America. Foods available include Taco al Pastor, Pupusa, Chicarrone and Queso, Tomales de rajas - cheese and peppers - and strawberry `atole'. Mexican coke tastes different from American coke due to the different use of corn and sugar in the mix.

There are over 40 retail stores at the centre offering visitors a chance to purchase artisan crafts from Latino culture, high quality groceries, flowers, books, leather, clothing and accessories. A full-service beauty salon, travel agency and insurance broker are also located in the centre.

The business has had many partners to ensure the project is a success; these partners include Project for Pride in Living, Interfaith Action, Hispanic Organizing and Outreach Council, Whittier CDC and the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association.