A year-round public market in Portland is getting a big boost this weekend.

The food party of the year kicked off Thursday and is a benefit for the James Beard Public Market.

The new home for the market will be the 511 building in the North Park Blocks. The federal building is being taken over by local developer Melvin Mark Company.

It will be set up on the first floor, the rest of the building will be used for housing and commercial development.

"The 511 Building has great potential with the Portland Public Market as an anchor to contribute to the vibrancy and further development of the neighborhood," said Dan Petrusich, president of Melvin Mark.

Planners for the market have looked at locations near the current Saturday Market downtown. Developers will be unveiling plans at the train station.

Friday night, the Taste America benefit will be held at the top floor of the Smart Park near Union Station, featuring cuisine by popular local chefs.

Portland Publilc Market

The James Beard Foundation is named after the Portlander hailed as the “Dean of American cookery” for his work as a chef, author, restaurant owner and all-around food guru of the 20th Century.

Public market supporters envision a space much like Seattle’s Pike Place market, with fresh produce, flowers, meats and seafood, bakeries and cafes run by locally owned vendors.

It would help promote “food tourism” since the Rose City seems to be one of the hottest spots in the U.S. for its’ restaurants and overall cooking scene.

More: NYT names Portland dining destination

A capital campaign begins soon to raise the $8 million it will take to get the market up and running. The plan is to open the market in about three years.