GREEN BAY'S PUBLIC MARKET BOONDOGGLE

GREEN BAY'S PUBLIC MARKET BOONDOGGLEGREEN BAY'S PUBLIC MARKET BOONDOGGLEGREEN BAY'S PUBLIC MARKET BOONDOGGLE

COMMUNITY MEMBERS CALL FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ABOUT A PROJECT YEARS BEHIND SCHEDULE AND MILLIONS OVER BUDGET

GREEN BAY'S PUBLIC MARKET BOONDOGGLE

GREEN BAY'S PUBLIC MARKET BOONDOGGLEGREEN BAY'S PUBLIC MARKET BOONDOGGLEGREEN BAY'S PUBLIC MARKET BOONDOGGLE

COMMUNITY MEMBERS CALL FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ABOUT A PROJECT YEARS BEHIND SCHEDULE AND MILLIONS OVER BUDGET

$10+ MILLION OVER BUDGET

NUMEROUS CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, HISTORY OF LAWSUITS & BANKRUPTCIES

CONSTRUCTION THREE YEARS BEHIND SCHEDULE, POSTPONED FIVE TIMES

CONSTRUCTION THREE YEARS BEHIND SCHEDULE, POSTPONED FIVE TIMES

NUMEROUS CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, HISTORY OF LAWSUITS & BANKRUPTCIES

CONSTRUCTION THREE YEARS BEHIND SCHEDULE, POSTPONED FIVE TIMES

NUMEROUS CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, HISTORY OF LAWSUITS & BANKRUPTCIES

NUMEROUS CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, HISTORY OF LAWSUITS & BANKRUPTCIES

NUMEROUS CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, HISTORY OF LAWSUITS & BANKRUPTCIES

BROKEN PROMISES TO LOCAL ARTISTS & COMMUNITY MEMBERS

NUMEROUS CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, HISTORY OF LAWSUITS & BANKRUPTCIES

NUMEROUS CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, HISTORY OF LAWSUITS & BANKRUPTCIES

YEARS BEHIND SCHEDULE & MILLIONS OVER BUDGET

The Green Bay Public Market was first publicly announced by Green Bay-based On Broadway, Inc. and its President & CEO Brian Johnson in January 2022. The project aimed to convert the former Old Fort Square building at 211 North Broadway in the Broadway District (managed by On Broadway, Inc.), developing a 45,000-square-foot public market destination to also be managed by On Broadway, Inc.


The project was announced during Johnson's second re-election campaign for Green Bay Common Council.


On Broadway, Inc. promised to feature over 20 vendors offering locally-sourced foods and amenities such as indoor and outdoor seating, a professional demo kitchen, a second-floor event space, and a co-working space. The development was projected to "generate an impact of $65 million, including spurring over $100 million of nearby development".


As On Broadway, Inc. President & CEO Brian Johnson stated in 2022 in an On Broadway, Inc. newsletter, the "$10-$12 million adaptive re-use development of this property will attract over one million visitors per year and become one of Green Bay's top destinations."

Our $10-12 million adaptive re-use development of this property will attract over one million visitors per year. Without a doubt, 2022 will be a banner year in the Broadway District."

Brian Johnson, President & CEO, On Broadway, Inc., 2022

Years Behind Schedule

The timeline of the Green Bay Public Market has changed five times since the project announcement in 2022.


The initial timeline in January 2022 called for construction in autumn 2022 with an opening in 2023, but by March 2024, Johnson announced in the middle of his third re-election campaign for Green Bay Common Council the timeline had shifted to a target completion of March 2025 in anticipation of the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay.


In October 2024, On Broadway, Inc. held a formal groundbreaking ceremony marking the intensive phase of construction and projecting a 2025 opening. By January 2025, officials confirmed the public market was not possible to open in time for the NFL Draft, citing "construction schedule and complexity issues".


In June 2025, the opening was further postponed to 2026, with the project cost rising to approximately $22 million (from an initial $10-12 million) due to "material cost inflation, layout changes, and delayed contractor bids", according to On Broadway, Inc.

Millions Over Budget

In On Broadway, Inc.'s January 2022 newsletter, the initial project cost was projected to be between $10-12 million dollars.


In August 2024, the Green Bay Common Council approved the creation of a new tax increment financing (TIF) district specifically for the project, named "TID 29 – Public Market".


In March 2025, On Broadway, Inc. requested a $100,000 donation for the Green Bay Public Market from the Professional Football Stadium District Board.


According to an open records requests submitted to the City of Green Bay in 2025, only $7,084,000 of the necessary $14,680,359 had been secured through public funds (committed by the City of Green Bay, Brown County, and State of Wisconsin), private donations, approximately $3 million in requested state budget allocation, municipal tax incremental financing (TIF), and New Markets Tax Credits, leaving $12,363,000 to be secured through loans rather than the projected $4,766,640.


In June 2025, the budget had reportedly risen to $22 million, over double the initial project cost.

• Green Bay Public Market was announced in 2022 with projected opening in 2023 • Development is managed by On Broadway, Inc. and President & CEO Brian Johnson • Construction has been postponed five times, three years behind schedule • Project is $10+ million over initial $10-12 million budget

1 Million Visitors Per Year Now Only 200,000 Visitors Per Year

Despite On Broadway, Inc.'s promise in their January 2022 newsletter for the Green Bay Public Market to attract over one million visitors per year, Green Bay Public Market officials asserted in August 2025 they only promised for the development to attract one million visitors to the public market in the first five years. They stated on social media, "We have stated it is one million visitors in the first five years, which is based on garnering a portion of the 6.5 million visitors Greater Green Bay sees in one year."


One million visitors to the public market in the first five years averages out to 200,000 visitors annually, an 800,000-visitor annual shortfall, according to Johnson's initial projection.

Green Bay Public Market announcement by Brian Johnson in On Broadway, Inc.'s January 2022 newsletter

CONCERNS OVER CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette in September 2024, Brian Johnson is both the president and CEO of On Broadway, Inc., the developer and manager of the public market, and a member of the Green Bay Common Council, serving as president of the Common Council since 2024. Johnson reportedly committed to abstaining on any Common Council vote related to City of Green Bay funding for the public market due to the possible perception of a conflict of interest.


In his place, Garritt Bader, a member of On Broadway, Inc.'s board of directors, negotiated the development agreement terms and TIF district request with the City. As an On Broadway, Inc. board member, Bader oversees Johnson's salary. Bader is also the principal of GB Real Estate Investments, LLC, a Green Bay-based housing and mixed-use redevelopment firm with properties in the Broadway District and throughout Green Bay District 9, the district Johnson represents in his position on the Common Council.


According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette in March 2018, Johnson rented a single-family house during his first campaign for Green Bay Common Council in 2018 from "Brian Johnson, LLC", a limited-liability company created and solely owned by Garritt Bader, whose private development projects are frequently voted on by the Green Bay Common Council. "Brian Johnson, LLC" held a mortgage on the property. The arrangement has been speculated to be due to Johnson's numerous mortgage foreclosures in 2006 and 2012.


On Broadway, Inc.'s announcement in January 2022 included both a public market component and a second-phase apartment complex on the City-owned parking lot behind Old Fort Square. The "Broadway Market Apartments" were projected to include 90 units and retail on the ground floor, costing a projected $21 million. In the newsletter, Johnson remarked he had "recruited a private developer who is committed to a $21 million investment to construct approximately 90 workforce apartments."


The private developer has not been publicly named.

We have recruited a private developer who is committed to a $21 million investment to construct approximately 90 workforce apartments."

Brian Johnson, President & CEO, On Broadway, Inc., 2022

CONCERNS OVER FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette in March 2018, Johnson has never tried to conceal his close friendship or business relationships with Garritt Bader or other parts of his personal history, including him being sued repeatedly for unpaid bills. In addition to an eviction in 2014, numerous creditors have filed legal actions against Johnson to collect money, according to court records, including:

  • a lawsuit against Johnson by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for over $20,000 in tax warrants in 2006
  • mortgage foreclosure and bankruptcy filings in 2006
  • a tax warrant against Johnson by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development for $4,300 in delinquent unemployment compensation in 2012
  • mortgage foreclosure and bankruptcy filings in 2012
  • a lawsuit against Johnson by Shipbuilders Credit Union to garnish over $10,000 in his wages in 2013


Despite numerous bankruptcies, mortgage foreclosures, tax warrants, and lawsuits against Johnson – who serves as both the president and CEO of On Broadway, Inc. and a member of the Green Bay Common Council – the Green Bay Public Market continues to request public funds and solicit millions of dollars in donations from community members and corporate donors under Johnson's financial direction. Community members continue to raise serious concerns about his financial leadership over a multi-million-dollar public-private development project.

BROKEN PROMISES TO LOCAL ARTISTS

As part of the marketing and merchandise strategy for the Green Bay Public Market in October 2024, On Broadway, Inc. was criticized by Green Bay artists and community members on social media for hiring local marketing agency Element for an undisclosed amount to create logos and mascot "characters" which were speculated to be generated with artificial intelligence. In response, On Broadway, Inc. confirmed numerous times the logos and characters were "absolutely not AI-generated" and they had "100% confidence the [mascot] characters were not generated with AI".


Due to mounting pressure on social media, the Green Bay Public Market admitted with a public apology: "We misspoke in saying the character images were not generated by AI. The stock images were, in fact, AI-generated but were modified by a local graphic designer."


The Green Bay Public Market also promised to "lean in" on hiring local artists. "Opportunities for local artists are coming," wrote the Green Bay Public Market on social media. "Supporting local artists is at the core of our mission at On Broadway, Inc., who owns and manages the [Green Bay] Public Market."


One local artist on social media rebutted, "You cannot be an organization who touts opportunities for artists and uses Al-generated images at the same time. Actions speak louder than words." A number of local artists offered to create a new logo for the project, with one artist offering to collaborate with the organization to create new, original mascot characters free of charge.


Despite the controversy, On Broadway, Inc. held a groundbreaking ceremony in October 2024 and unveiled a line of branded merchandise featuring the initial AI-generated logos and characters.


To date, On Broadway, Inc. has not unveiled any new logos or mascot characters for the public market, including any created by local artists.

Green Bay Public Market social media comments in October 2024

We have 100% confidence the [mascot] characters were not generated with AI. They are absolutely not AI-generated."

Green Bay Public Market, 2024

STAFF, BOARD MEMBER & VENDOR LOSSES

Since the announcement of the Green Bay Public Market in 2022, numerous key On Broadway, Inc. board members and staff members have reportedly stepped away from the organization. In 2025, On Broadway, Inc.'s Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Vice President of Operations, and Special Events Manager all left the organization, leaving the project without consistent leadership.


The Green Bay Public Market has since reportedly lost all initial vendor/merchant commitments, and all vendors/merchants have been removed from the Green Bay Public Market site, leaving the project without any confirmed tenants.

Unaddressed Business Concerns

Property owners in the Broadway District are taxed annually with a Business Improvement District (BID) assessment to support the operations of On Broadway, Inc. Broadway District business owners and customers have raised concerns over the perceived competitive advantage of Green Bay Public Market vendors/merchants and the perceived conflicts of interest related to On Broadway, Inc. owning and managing commercial property and leasing to select businesses.


Community members also continue to raise concerns over the parking limitations in the Broadway District and the capacity for the district to facilitate 200,000 customers annually, previously projected to be one million visitors annually.

Green Bay community members continue to raise concerns about their tax dollars and the Green Bay Public Market project.

FACING THE FACTS

Green Bay community members continue to raise concerns about their tax dollars and the Green Bay Public Market project. Contact your local press and news media outlets (news@nbc26.com, fox11news@wluk.com, tips@wearegreenbay.com, news@wbay.com, jbollier@gannett.com) and Green Bay Common Council President and On Broadway, Inc. President and CEO Brian Johnson (brian.johnson@greenbaywi.gov, brian@onbroadway.org) to call for transparency and accountability with the attached list of facts:


Repeated Delays, Missed Deadlines & Years Behind Schedule

Since its 2022 announcement, the Green Bay Public Market project timeline has changed five times, missing the 2025 NFL Draft and postponing construction by over three years.


Doubling Costs & Millions Over Budget

Originally projected at $10–12 million, On Broadway, Inc.'s project costs for the Green Bay Public Market ballooned to $22 million by mid-2025 due to inflation, redesigns, and delays.


Funding Shortfalls

By 2025, only $7 million of the required $14.6 million in necessary donations had been secured for the Green Bay Public Market project, with over $12 million now required to be financed via loans.


Disputed Visitor Projections

On Broadway, Inc. originally promised over one million visitors per year to the Green Bay Public Market but recently revised their projection to one million visitors over five years – an 800,000-visitor annual shortfall.


Conflict of Interest Concerns

Brian Johnson is both president and CEO of On Broadway, Inc. and member of the Green Bay Common Council, raising conflict of interest concerns for him and his close friend and On Broadway, Inc. board member Garritt Bader, who oversees Johnson's salary, purchased a house for Johnson to run for political office, and negotiated financial deals with the City of Green Bay on behalf of the project.


Financial History & Management Concerns

On Broadway, Inc. President and CEO Brian Johnson has a public record of bankruptcies, foreclosures, tax warrants, and lawsuits spanning a decade and prompting serious concerns about his financial leadership over a multi-million-dollar public-private development project.


AI-Generated Branding Controversy

Green Bay Public Market officials initially refuted, then admitted, its public market logos and branding graphic designs were AI-generated, raising criticism from local artists and community members about On Broadway, Inc.'s commitment to local artists.


Staff, Board Member & Vendor Losses

By 2025, On Broadway, Inc. and the Green Bay Public Market lost key staff (including its CFO, COO, and VP of Operations), board members, and all initial vendor commitments, leaving the project without confirmed tenants or consistent leadership.


Community & Business Concerns

Local businesses and community members raised concerns over parking limitations for visitors, BID taxation, competitive advantages for Green Bay Public Market vendors, and conflicts of interest related to On Broadway, Inc. owning and managing commercial property and leasing to businesses in the Broadway District.


Lack of Transparency

The developer behind a proposed $21 million apartment complex component to the Green Bay Public Market has not been publicly named, and updated project timelines and plans for filling funding gaps have not been announced by On Broadway, Inc.

Provided Courtesy of Green Bay Citizens for People, Not Politics