West Side Market
The West Side Market is a historic institution that we must preserve and protect for future generations. Mayor Bibb’s administration is focused on making immediate investments to upgrade facilities and support vendors to drive growth at the West Side Market.
TRANSITION PROCESS
Following national best practices, the City of Cleveland is maintaining ownership of the building and preparing to transition management and operations to a non-profit focused exclusively on Cleveland’s iconic public market. The transition includes two related initiatives:
- Establishment of the new non-profit, carefully considering board and staff responsibilities and leading to tax exempt status, selection of a diverse, skilled, and representative board, and hiring of key staff.
- A new Master Plan for the Market that addresses merchant mix, stall layout, building infrastructure, program development, and financial modeling—resulting in an implementable plan that will guide the new non-profit once it assumes operational responsibility.
For more information about the planned transition, read our FAQs and explore the West Side Market Revitalization Plan.
CLEVELAND PUBLIC MARKET CORPORATION
Board Members
Amanda Dempsey, previous West Side Market Manager
Ann Zoller, Senior Advisor, Strategy Design Partners
Carrie Carpenter, Senior Vice President, Regional Manager of Corporate Affairs, Huntington National Bank
Colette Jones, Chief Marketing Officer, Cleveland Foundation
David Abbott, retired president of The George Gund Foundation
Dr. Don Malone, President of Cleveland Clinic's Ohio Hospitals and Family Health Centers
Henry Hilow, Attorney, Hilow & Spellacy
Jason Russell, Vice President, Operations and Leasing, Bedrock Detroit
Kerry McCormack, Ward 3 Councilmember
Ramat Wiley, Culinary Creative and Owner of Adun Spice Company
Randy McShepard, Vice President of Public Affairs and Chief Talent Officer, RPM International, founder of Rid-All Green Partnership
Shelly Cayette, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Cleveland Cavaliers
Tanisha Velez, Owner, Cleveland Fresh Microgreens
Tom Nagel, retired from DB Schenker
Tom McNair, Executive Director, Ohio City Inc.
Job Opening
Cleveland Public Market Corporation is excited to launch the search for its Executive Director. The full position profile can be found here. Interested candidates should contact Waverly Partners at CPMC@Waverly-Partners.com.
WEST SIDE MARKET MASTERPLAN: PHASE 1 REPORT
Cleveland’s iconic West Side Market will soon transition from city to nonprofit management. Since its establishment in 1912, West Side Market has been owned and operated by the City of Cleveland. In 2022, the administration of Mayor Justin Bibb initiated the process of establishing a new, independent nonprofit organization to assume responsibility for Market management while the city would retain ownership of the real estate and facilities. Read more about the West Side Market Masterplan below.
Read More
West Side Market Advisory Committee Meetings
PROGRAMS & IMPROVEMENTS
In early 2022, the Bibb Administration passed legislation in partnership with Cleveland City Council to cap rental rate increases, expand lease options and open the door for alcohol sales to support vendors and drive growth at the West Side Market. The approved legislation:
- Allows the City to enter leases for up to three years with one, three-year option to renew.
- Permits short-term leases, which would allow the West Side Market to consider daily pop-up events, seasonal vendors, and food trucks.
- Charges prepared food vendors the same rate as traditional (butcher, meat, vegetable) vendors. Currently, prepared food vendors pay a 60% premium on space compared to traditional vendors,
- Repeals the City of Cleveland ordinance that prohibits alcohol sales at West Side Market stands.
- Increases food access programs such as Produce Perks at the West Side Market.
- Launched a pilot program in partnership with Food Access Raises Everyone (FARE) and Produce Perks Midwest to increase food access at the West Side Market.
- Expanded CLE Public wi-fi to the Produce Arcade; and
- Secured re-appropriation of $500,000 from the State of Ohio Capital Budget to fund future renovation projects at the West Side Market.