A rundown wreckers car yard will soon be transformed into a small business playground that is determined to bring life back into the struggling industry.
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The site backs onto the banks of the Murrumbidgee and aims to connect with Wagga City Council's Riverside precinct and the walking track.
The development will be over three stages with the first to be completed by summer and will form part of the Meccanico Espresso & Wine bar.
Developer Danny Russell said the concept will tackle the common challenges faced by businesses locally, including rent, staffing and overhead costs.
"We want to be a marketplace for small businesses, not franchises, and that's why the rents will be more affordable, but the spaces are tighter," Mr Russell said.
"What works well in business is what they call the cluster effect ... we want convenience here, where people can get their fruit and veg, their bread and good coffee.
"We'll also have 30 new car parking spaces which will help the car parking issue."
Stage one will feature the wine bar, a few market stalls offering arts and craft, the laneway and courtyard, a gelato area, Nutshell Nursery and a smoking butcher run by Wagga Free Range Pork.
Mr Russell said the business model is a different concept and will be a more affordable option for potential owners.
"The market stall owners won't have to set up and pack away, they're permanent, and there will only be one staff member operating all stalls," he said.
"They will pay rent and give us 10 per cent of the sale; staffing is a huge overhead cost for small businesses.
"We're passionate about being a small business, just local people, having a go and giving people a local offering."
Stage two is expected to be completed by mid-next-year and the developer said Scooter Flowers will be joining as well as hopefully a baker, a barber shop and other market stalls.
"The concept was inspired by The Grounds of Alexandria ... this area we felt had great potential with the river being so close and this area of town picking up," Mr Russell said.
"We saw potential with the huge parcel of land - nearly 3000 square metres - but we didn't realise the massive challenge that was coming our way.
"I've been on this property and project for about five years ... it was on the contaminated lands register, so that is what has taken a lot of time and money to get to this point."
The site was given the all clear after a series of detailed and comprehensive soil tests.
The proposed Riverside Apartments on Sturt Street, which is going through council, will back onto the new walking track that will flow and link with Cadell Place.
