This morning, the West Side Market in Ohio City will unveil its newly renovated produce arcade, which has been under construction for months. This section – the eastern wing – is now a climate-controlled environment with newly built stands that boast refrigerated cases, sinks and other amenities that will improve both the vendor and shopper experience.
“We are thrilled to welcome Market shoppers into our renovated produce arcade and are grateful for KeyBank’s investment that made these renovations possible,” says Rosemary Mudry, Executive Director for Cleveland Public Market Corporation (CPMC), the non-profit that manages the Market. “What’s exciting is how this showcases the real vision for the whole project: preserved history, enhanced experiences, and all of our customers’ favorite vendors are still here.”
CPMC has raised nearly $60 million of the total $70 million project budget. In addition to the new produce arcade, work already is underway to overhaul the food storage and preparation spaces in the basement, install new refrigeration systems, and add power generators to prevent frequent power outages.
Still to come are improvements that will greatly enhance the shopping experience. Down the road, visitors will enjoy expanded indoor seating options, a teaching kitchen and event space, and a landscaped courtyard with outdoor seating.
The larger northern section of the arcade, which has been in use during construction, will be renovated as well, transforming into a prepared food hall for local businesses.
“The needs of our vendors are at the core of the Market’s master plan,” explains David Abbott, President of CPMC’s Board of Trustees. “Improvements to the Market’s infrastructure and physical support systems, balanced with layering on new experiences that meet evolving customer demand, will ensure the Market is a place where small business owners can thrive for the next century.”
Until all the dust settles, shoppers can and should expect minor inconveniences to their regular visits, temporary nuisances for the greater good, say organizers.
“While these changes to our arcade are important, they are still changes that will take everyone some time to adjust to,” adds Mudry. “We encourage our shoppers to come to the Market and support their go-to merchants as they adjust to their new surroundings.”
On January 14, there will be an official ribbon cutting ceremony to open the new KeyBank Produce Arcade attended by Mayor Justin Bibb, West Side Market vendors and staff, and other stakeholders.
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