With temporary outdoor dining and monthly special events, West Side Market is already evolving to meet its guests’ growing expectation

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From the mezzanine, this iconic view of the West Side Market’s interior reveals its 1912 historic architecture inspired by European train stations.

By Mitch Allen

Three of Cleveland’s most popular destinations—the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Art Museum, and the iconic West Side Market—all have a similar number of annual visitors.

The city of Cleveland has owned and operated the West Side Market since it opened in 1912, but in April of this year, it turned operations over to a new non-profit entity called the Cleveland Public Market Corporation (CPMC), which is focused exclusively on the Market’s success. The organization is well on its way to raising funds for a $60 million renovation that will upgrade the aging facilities and improve the guest experience (to view the master plan, visit WestSideMarket.org).

I toured the Market last week with CMPC director of marketing Patrick Evans. “Our vendors need improved infrastructure,” Patrick says, “including elevators that always work and a backup generator for when the power goes out in the neighborhood. But we can’t do these things without major updates to the building, and we’re committed to doing that in ways that maintain the historical integrity of the beautiful architecture.”

Regarding an improved guest experience, Patrick says 30 years of surveys indicate that people want three things: more seating, an outdoor patio, and on-premises alcohol sales. “All that will come with time,” he says. “But we’re not waiting. We’re doing what we can now on a temporary basis to improve the guest experience as we work to provide more permanent solutions.”

Czuchraj Meats has been in operation since 1964.
Vendors provide exemplary customer experience with custom orders.
Ohio City Pasta is one of the Market’s most popular vendors.
The Home Pantry is a newer vendor.

One example is a new temporary outdoor patio located between the Market and the Produce Arcade, where guests can sit and enjoy an al fresco dining experience. The team at CMPC has also added monthly events, including Summerfest, which is coming Saturday, August 24. Merchants will conduct demonstrations outside, including making fresh mozzarella and presenting hot sauce pairings. There will be live music, caprese sandwiches, pop-up vendors, a bazaar, and an outdoor beer garden. Other upcoming events include:

• September 21: Oktoberfest; Great Lakes Brewing

• October 26: Halloween at the Market; Forest City Brewing; trick or treating; pumpkin painting

• November 23: Ohio City Holiday Festival

• December 21: Home for the Holidays; Santa

Renovations will include more outdoor seating for guests. Meanwhile, a temporary outdoor dining area is now located between the Market and the Produce Arcade.


West Side Market visitors are divided into three key segments—people who live nearby and use the market as their primary grocery store, tourists from outside the region, and people like me who live in Northeast Ohio but visit the market only occasionally for holidays, special occasions or when distant family is visiting.

That said, I had so much fun at the market last week that I’m committed to increasing my visits to once a month. “That’s great,” Patrick smiles. “If everyone who shops twice a year would shop once a month, it would do wonders for our vendors.”

Count me in.

West Side Market is located at 1979 West 25th Street in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. Hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit WestSideMarket.org for more information.

NOTE: THE MARKET IS CLOSED ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS.

Categories: Downtown Food & Dining