West Side Market

1979 West 25th Street at Lorain
Cleveland, OH

Submitted by: j marini

Built in 1902, this market's European ambience helps draw shoppers from the greater Cleveland area

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Why It Works

The market is home to over 120 tenants selling produce, meats, bakery, fish, spices, sauces, and some prepared food. 2002 marks the 90th anniversary of the market. It is a public market that draws customers from the greater Cleveland area encompasssing give counties and many suburban cities as well as the most popular place in Cleveland to shop in a place reminiscent of a European market.

What Makes West Side Market a Great Place?

The West Side Market is easily visible by its large clock tower and has been for 90 years. It is easily accessed by public transportation, foot, and car. It is a stop for tourists from near and far. The area surrounding the market is evolving into the culinary district with nearby ethnic restaurants, a brewery, apartments, condominiums, and an upcoming retail area in an historic building with complementary small businesses (home decor, wines, candles, etc.). The West Side Market is the place to shop whether you make $15,000/year or $100,000 a year. It is the place to shop if you are a new citizen to Cleveland or have lived here for 80 years. Cleveland is home to more than 75 different enthnicities and the market is that central place to shop no matter what language you speak.

The area surrounding the market is clean and home to a diverse group of people. It is a place where families come to experience the market and children as well as adults enjoy their shopping experience. People get to know their butcher, the man or woman selling their produce, and get quality products. The market is well kept and very clean. It is a safe place to shop and experience a little bit of Europe.

The West Side Market is generally a place to shop. Special events are held periodically in conjunction with activities going on in the immediate area. Market personnnel work in conjunction with the Ohio City Near West Development Corporation to bring new customers and residents into the area.

Tours are scheduled on a regular basis, especially with local schools and senior/retirement homes. The Market is handicapped accessible and everything is on one floor. I was standing by one of the fish stands talking to a gentlemen who was bitten by a shark in the Black Sea when he was a young man, when a younger man asked where he was from. They discovered they were from the same country and began speaking in their native language. It appears the young man had just arrived from his home country and was excited to find someone he could speak with in his native tongue. This happens regularly at the West Side Market -- no matter where you are from you can find someone from your native country.

History & Background

My mother has shopped at the West Side Market since she was five years old - her parents brought her weekly. She still enjoys shopping here. By the number of older and younger people still shopping at the Market, I know she is not alone.

Contact Info:

Patrick Hearn, market operator

User Comments:

> Add your own comment about West Side Market

06/11/02 Michael Moles said:: This is a gorgeous renovation of a very old market - some of the families have had their stalls for generations. Amazingly, the city was behind it and didn't screw it up. I'm a chef and I love to take people here. People who've spent their whole lives going to suburban supermarkets might not be too hip to it, but people who love food gravitate there, as well as those who just want to buy one head of garlic, 2 apples, not a whole bay, etc. Vendors will sell you any amount gladly and as closing approaches they will pitch you a deal so they're not stuck with it till next day market is open (excluding Fridays, when they're open the next day).
12/13/02 Jim Colleran said:: The West Side Market deserves special attention because it survived a serious deterioration of the surrounding neighborhoods after WWII. The fact that the market continued to operate through some particularly difficult times is a testament to its greatness as a public space. Without it, the recovery of the surrounding area might not have happened at all. These days both the market and the surrounding area are thriving as never before.
03/01/06 Sarah Biegler said:: My family lives in Columbus, but we originated from Cleveland. The West Side Market is a place where my grandma and mother used to take us from the time we were still in a stroller until now. Both of those fabulous ladies have passed away, but our family continues to make the 2 hour trip to the market a few times a year. There's no other place like it; the smells are tantalizing, and the food is even better. The produce and fruit are amazing, and you only get the best quality, even in the dead of winter. It's also the only place that my family shops for our Hungarian smoked sausages that we love so much. I'll continue to shop there, and hope to one day take my children and grandchildren there.
10/14/06 nancy wasen said:: My grandparents lived in the neighborhood and I spent alot of time in Cleveland as a child in the 1950's.As an adult I try and get to this wonderful city as often as possible. I live about an hour south of Cleveland. I love taking newbies to the West Side Market for their first venture. They are always so surprised by the fresh food, different cultures and the great finds. It is always a fun day for all involved. I am grateful to live within an hour of such a gem of a market and city!
07/22/09 Jim Ambrose said:: What a TREASURE! There are not many places left like this in the world. The sights, sounds, and smells of the West Side Market can not be described. They can only be experienced in person. Meats, produce, cheese, pastries, ethnic foods - all crafted lovingly, by hand. In this modern, mechanized, automatic age, it's refreshing to visit a place unhampered by most of the technology that haunts our lives. The architecture bears quiet witness to an honest age mostly free from the politics and self-absorption that pummel us from every side today. Plain yet ornate. Simple, yet engineered. Mundane, yet exquisite. A market for the ages.