CLEVELAND'S WEST SIDE MARKET

AMERICA'S BEST FOOD LOVERS' MARKET

Many stalls have remained under individual family control for much of the life of the West Side Market, in a few cases dating back to its 1912 opening. 

The market's tenants and sellers reflect the cultural diversity of the surrounding neighborhood and Cleveland as a whole. 

The current roster of tenants includes those of Irish, German, Slovene, Italian, Hungarian, Greek, Polish, Russian and Middle Eastern descents, among others.

In the September 2010 issue of Food Network Magazine, the West Side Market was named America's "Best Food Lovers' Market."

CLEVELAND'S WEST SIDE MARKET

AMERICA'S BEST FOOD LOVERS' MARKET

Most residents of the neighborhood, and many Clevelanders in general, still do a large portion of their shopping at the West Side Market. 

The market is open to customers Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 7:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m., and Sundays from 12 p.m to 6:00 p.m.

The market attracts tourists from all parts of the United States, who tour the market and learn about its history.

Guided tours are offered.

Its national profile has been boosted in recent years by coverage on various programs produced by the Travel Channel and Food Network.

CLEVELAND'S WEST SIDE MARKET

AMERICA'S BEST FOOD LOVERS' MARKET

Despite the successes of the 1980s, however, the West Side Market t began to face financial straits as Cleveland itself was experiencing monetary struggles. 

A large portion of the Market's subsidies from the city dried up, leaving tenants of the Market to pay higher rents to keep the Market open. 

Yet the Market expanded and was renovated throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century.

A 2004 project enclosed the arcade portion of the market, adding space heating there, and completed major interior and architectural renovations to the main building.

The market's centennial was celebrated in 2012.

CLEVELAND'S WEST SIDE MARKET

AMERICA'S BEST FOOD LOVERS' MARKET

The West Side Market’s profile rose in the latter portion of the 20th century. 

Politicians passing through Cleveland often stopped in to sample the array of foods that the Market has on sale on any given day. 

The Market also began sponsoring major food festivals in the neighborhood, which drew people from all corners of Cleveland and abroad

CLEVELAND'S WEST SIDE MARKET

AMERICA'S BEST FOOD LOVERS' MARKET

In 1915, the permanent building spurred sellers to establish the West Side Market Tenants' Association, a coalition founded to help maintain the market and organize for future improvements and additions. 

This organization still exists at the Market today.

Periodic upgrades accommodated more tenants and maintained and improved the overall conditions.

A fuller, $1.1 million modernization was undertaken in 1953 to add lower-level storage areas and upgrade stalls in the arcade. 

Another renovation, this one for $5 million, took place after the Market was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

CLEVELAND'S WEST SIDE MARKET

AMERICA'S BEST FOOD LOVERS' MARKET

Cleveland architectural firm Hubbell and Benes was contracted to create the new indoor space and, after nearly a decade of planning and construction, the current West Side Market building was finished in 1912 at a cost of nearly $680,000. 

The Neo-Classical/Byzantine building is a brick construct with a large interior concourse that provides nearly 100 stalls for sellers, and an 85-stall outdoor produce arcade that wraps around the side and rear of the main building. 

In addition, the building has a large clock tower, which was easily visible from most of Ohio City in the building's early days.

CLEVELAND'S WEST SIDE MARKET

AMERICA'S BEST FOOD LOVERS' MARKET

Thanks to brisk population growth in Cleveland and Ohio City in the latter part of the 19th century, the market outgrew its space yet again.

In 1902, lands were purchased across the street from the Pearl Market site, to allow for market expansion and eventual construction of additional indoor market space.

CLEVELAND'S WEST SIDE MARKET

AMERICA'S BEST FOOD LOVERS' MARKET

The West Side Market began operating in 1840, across the street from its current location.

Josiah Barber and Richard Lord, prominent businessmen and both former mayors of Ohio City before it was incorporated into Cleveland, donated the tract of land to Ohio City's government, stipulating that the land be used for an open-air neighborhood market. 

The market space became a center of the Ohio City community for the following three decades, and other benefactors donated adjacent lands that allowed the marketplace to expand.

In 1868, a one-story, wooden framed building was erected on the site, and the newly christened Pearl Street Market was opened.

CLEVELAND'S WEST SIDE MARKET

AMERICA'S BEST FOOD LOVERS' MARKET

The West Side Market is the oldest operating indoor/outdoor market space in Cleveland, Ohio.

It is located at the corner of West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue in the Ohio City neighborhood. 

On December 18, 1973, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

INDUSTRIAL CLEVELAND, OHIO -- part 24

STEEL MILLS

Rail car street art dwarfed by hulking old steel mill just south of Downtown Cleveland.

INDUSTRIAL CLEVELAND, OHIO -- part 23

STEEL MILLS

I have no idea what the function was of this rail car.

It looks like it carried something boiling hot, maybe dangerous.

It's preserved at the edge of the parking lot of the Steelyard Commons shopping center.

From the shopping center's site:

Steelyard Commons, located at the edge of Cleveland's industrial valley just south of downtown, has risen from the ashes of LTV Steel's abandoned No. 2 finishing mill. 

The mixed-use shopping center combines retail outlets, restaurants, a playground, and hiking and biking trails--all in the heart of the city.

INDUSTRIAL CLEVELAND, OHIO -- part 22

STEEL MILLS

Fierce, awesome, monolithic...a few steel mills still exist in Cleveland.

INDUSTRIAL CLEVELAND, OHIO -- part 21

THE FLATS

Prince lives.

Eating a Homer Simpson pink donut.

In a larger than life piece of street art.

In industrial Cleveland

INDUSTRIAL CLEVELAND, OHIO -- part 20

THE FLATS

More street art in the Flats district of Cleveland.

INDUSTRIAL CLEVELAND, OHIO -- part 19

THE FLATS

Perhaps the meaning of this graffiti is that art is art.

It shows  a cop arresting Leonardo Da Vinci, presumably for painting the Mona Lisa.

One could surmise this is a Banksy-like protest of arrests for street artists.

INDUSTRIAL CLEVELAND, OHIO -- part 18

THE FLATS

This brick building in Cleveland's industrial zone sports Banksy-like street art.

We're not sure if "Please Reconsider" refers to demolishing the stately, but careworn old building.

We hope it does.

INDUSTRIAL CLEVELAND, OHIO -- part 17

THE FLATS

Brick machine shops, warehouses, small factories -- they all look like they are just waiting for a visionary to turn them into housing, galleries and more.

INDUSTRIAL CLEVELAND, OHIO -- part 16

THE FLATS

What is it about fire escapes that are so charming from a design standpoint?

It's like Urban Designers and Urban Photographers have to love fire escapes the way music critics and independent record store owners have to love Yo Lo Tengo.

INDUSTRIAL CLEVELAND, OHIO -- part 15

THE FLATS

We love our adopted hometown of Miami.
But there are virtually no industrial areas.
No ruins of bridges and smokestacks to preserve as art.
No elegant red brick industrial buildings to convert to artist lofts.

INDUSTRIAL CLEVELAND, OHIO -- part 14

THE FLATS

Cross this bridge under the crooked river that burned, and you will be in Tremont -- one of the most-desirable urban neighborhoods in the Great Lakes region.