Retailers and vendors hoping to become part of the Midtown Global Market, the 58,000-sf market portion of the development, will have an opportunity today from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to add their name to the growing list of tenants who have inked pre-rental agreements. Thus far, Bymore Meats, Cafeteria La Loma, Golden Thyme Coffee Cafe, Holy Land Grocery, Jakeeno's, Taqueria Los Ocampo, Minnesota Meat Specialties, Mapps Tea & Coffee and Salsa a la Salsa have been confirmed as signed tenants.

The Global Market will occupy the first-floor, Lake Street side of the Midtown Exchange project and will feature a worldwide variety of fresh and prepared ethnic food in stalls and booths of various sizes, mixed with restaurants and small specialty grocery stores to reflect the minority populations in Minneapolis, including recent immigrants from Latin America, Africa and Asia; older immigrant groups from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; and African American and Native American business owners.

The space allows for more than 60 vendors to offer the finest selection of produce, delicacies, prepared foods, grocery items and unique gifts from around the globe. Representatives from the Neighborhood Development Center, which is heading up the market component, said 12 contracts have been signed to date, boosting occupancy slightly north of 25%.