Is a Micro Market Really Free for an Apartment Community?

Short answer: yes, and here is why

Property managers from Sandy to Lehi ask us the same first question: "What does this cost us?" The honest answer is $0. Cache Markets owns the micro market. We buy and install the fridge, shelving, and tap-to-pay kiosk, we stock it, and we restock and service it. Residents pay at the kiosk with a card or phone, and that is how we get paid.

The model only works if the market sells, so our incentive is the same as yours: put it where residents actually walk, keep it full, and keep it clean.

Who pays for what

What does the property actually give up?

Space

A Cache market can fit in a footprint as small as 30 x 30 inches. Common spots are a clubhouse corner, a lobby wall, a mail or package room, or an amenity floor. The spots that tend to make the most sense are the ones residents pass every day, like a mail room wall or a clubhouse kitchen counter. For more on choosing a spot, see how much space a micro market needs in an apartment building.

Power and Wi-Fi

The market plugs into a standard outlet, and the kiosk connects over the property's Wi-Fi.

Staff time

None for restocking. Your office team does not handle cash, inventory, or refunds. If something breaks, the office just lets us know.

Is there a catch? Contracts, insurance, and cancelling

We start with a short, one-page letter of intent (LOI) so everyone agrees on the spot and the basics before anything is installed. A few points property managers usually care about:

• Insurance: we provide a certificate of insurance (COI) for your location before install.
• Notice to cancel and install timing: agreed with each property and written into the LOI. There is no one-size-fits-all default.
• Revenue share: none by default. The market is a free resident amenity.
• Equipment: stays Cache's. If the market ever leaves, we remove it.

Micro market vs vending machine for residents

A vending machine is a coil-and-glass box with a short list of chips and soda. A micro market is an open, self-serve shop: residents grab fresh food, drinks, snacks, and essentials and pay at the kiosk. That means more variety and a better amenity to show on a tour. The honest tradeoff: a micro market needs a visible spot, like a clubhouse or lobby, while a vending machine can sit almost anywhere. See our micro market vs vending machine comparison.

Do renters want it?

According to the Greystar 2024 Design Survey, which gathered responses from 90,368 renters, 47% of renters are interested in a convenience shop for small purchases, and renters indicated a $53 per month premium for it. For a community competing on amenities, a 24/7 shop in the building is a visible, everyday perk that costs the property nothing to add. See the numbers on our homepage.

Source: Greystar 2024 Design Survey.

In student-heavy areas near UVU and BYU, late-night access matters too: residents who study late or work odd shifts can grab food without driving.

What a free walkthrough looks like in Sandy, Lehi, or Draper

Our site assessment is a short visit to your property:

1. We look at two or three candidate spots with you.
2. We check the outlet, Wi-Fi signal, and foot traffic from the leasing office and mail area.
3. We follow up with a mockup of the market in your chosen spot and a one-page LOI to review with your regional manager or owner.

There is no obligation. If your space is not a fit, we will tell you. We serve apartment communities from Provo to North Salt Lake, including Sandy, Draper, Lehi, and the rest of Utah County.