A little bit of history

     Since opening in 1912, the West Side Market, Cleveland's oldest continuously operating, municipally-owned market, has been an anchor to the historic Ohio City neighborhood.    

     Built to replace the Pearl Street Market, the West Side Market, was one of the three public markets along with Broadway Market and Central Market. All three served Cleveland's growing population in the early 20th century, but only the West Side Market remains.    

     Designed by architects W. Dominick Benes and Benjamin Hubbell, the 30,000 square foot space has a dramatic vaulted Guastavino tile ceiling and a signature clock tower that is 137 feet high. The Seth Thomas Clock Company manufactured the clock. Construction of the West Side Market began in 1908 and opened to the public on November 2, 1912.    

     The total construction cost of the Market was $734,890. Originally, there were 109 stands inside selling meats, dairy products, bread, groceries and ethnic specialty foods. Produce was sold from curbside stands until the outdoor produce aisles were erected a few years later.    

     In 1973, the Market was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2008, the American Planning Association designated the market as on of "10 Great Public Places in America." The Market continues to offers a culturally diverse shopping experience, as it has for generations.

History of our location by decade:
40s The Palace | 50s Mary's Place | 60s Alexander's | 70s-90s West Side Market Cafeteria | 2000s the Cafe with Jimmy & Gus