The West Side Market.
The different neighborhoods in Cleveland have unique names and the Market sits in a neighborhood known as Ohio City. It's one of the oldest and most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in Cleveland and sits just over the Cuyahoga River from downtown Cleveland.
Early promotional postcard
The West Side Market was built in 1912 as it had outgrown it's public market space that had occupied the opposite corner since 1840. The markethouse cost $680,000 to build and provided room for 100 interior stalls, an outdoor arcade with 85 stands and a large clock tower. The Market, designed by the prominent Cleveland architectural firm, Hubbell and Bennes, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973 and underwent a $5 million renovation.
Most of the prices can't be beat and the vendors are friendly and often flirty. On a recent trip, a young cutie behind the deli counter looked at me and said, What's your pleasure, gorgeous? I almost switched my order from hard salami to bologna so I wouldn't blush.
A large number of the stands are family operated and have been around for generations so there's always a familiar face when you come back. Whatever your pleasure, the West Side Market will have it.
Be sure to put this on your itinerary the next time you're in town. And would you pick me up some cannoli, please?
Yep, that's Al Roker.
You are making me Way too hungry!
ReplyDeleteSecretia
So cool. I peed a little about the hard salami comment. What a treasure. I like these C Cleveland posts. I will come there someday and be all like "hey I know that place!" Now I must EAT!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is wayy cool. I have always lived in small towns and have never seen anything like this! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI wish there were a huge market like that in Auckland!! We have weekly farmers markets around the city, but they are mostly outdoor and the number of stalls is limited, let alone that none of them has a beautiful, permanent building like the West Side Market!
ReplyDeleteYou are selling Cleveland so well they really should pay you! All of the posts and pictures have been divine, but you absolutely had me at "ravioli!"
ReplyDeleteI love C Cleveland! That Market looks FANTABULOUS!
ReplyDeleteHey Chrissy! Damn, what a beautiful building - and that ceiling! Oddly, both inside and out it reminded me of the main ferry building in San Francisco (http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/history.php). Even odder, they now use that as an indoor market! Cracking pictures, thank you =) Indigo
ReplyDeleteThe deli guy was correct!
ReplyDeleteChrissy, believe it or night I have never been there - at least not that I remember. Rumor has it then my grandma took me there when I was a little kid and tried to leave me - maybe that is why I never went back. I pictured it quite differently. But now I hear the cannoli calling my name...
ReplyDelete@Secretia,
ReplyDeleteSorry! That place has that effect. You can never go there hungry.
@Mark Price,
I'm glad you're liking them. Now, go eat!
@KaLynn,
It is a really cool place.
@Cookie and Cinnamon's Mum,
It's really an amazing building and it's not limited by the weather which is a huge plus.
@Jules,
I really do love Cleveland. It gets a lot of unfair press.
@adrienzgirl,
Fantabulous. I love that word!
@IndigoWrath,
It is such a stunning building.
@R. Jacob,
Stop, you're making me blush...
@Phillipia,
No way, you've never been? What's up with your grandma??
Thank you for introducing me to this landmark. I will check it out whenever I make it to Cleveland!
ReplyDelete