The market would offer sole operator artists, crafts people, jewellers, woodworkers, food producers, clothing designers and others a place to manufacture their goods during the week and sell them to the public at weekends, real estate agent Martin Dillon said yesterday.
The tenants would lease their own partitioned space and operate the public market as a co-operative.
The concept would be similar to Auckland's Victoria Market and those in various Australian cities, he said.
"Ours would be smaller, but would have the potential to expand."
A privately-owned, multi-storeyed building in central Dunedin was the likely venue, he said.
He would not identify the building, saying the proposal still required Dunedin City Council resource consent.
Mr Dillon said he was regularly approached by small operators looking for spaces to rent.
"Over the years, several people have come to me saying they need a place, but there is nothing available.
"This building has plenty of space, good access, good parking and it would be warm.
"It would bring the corners and pockets of artisans already working around the city together under one roof."
So far, 12 people had expressed interest in leasing spaces, including one from Central Otago.
He hoped up to 40 people might lease spaces.
It would be next year before the market opened, Mr Dillon said.
"It is impossible to do it this side of Christmas."
