Hell, who doesn't?  From the 6/22/04 Enquirer:

 

Findlay Market needs subsidy

By Kevin Aldridge

 

Cincinnati City Council learned Monday that the city might be able to shed the responsibility of managing Over-the-Rhine's Findlay Market, but not necessarily the cost of operating it.

 

Council approved a master plan in 1995 that called for the city to turn over management of Findlay Market - which it owns - to a private, nonprofit agency. That agency, the Corporation for Findlay Market, was formed in 2001 and is poised to take over management when a substantial portion of the $17 million in renovations is completed this month.

 

Many council members had hoped the agency could sustain itself with revenues from Findlay Market operations. But council's finance committee learned Monday that the city would need to subsidize almost $1 million in operating shortfalls over the next year and a half to help the corporation get on its feet.

oh darn, i was hoping this was about "Flag City, USA"

A blurb from the 6/3/05 Enquirer:

 

 

Marker will recall anti-German bias

 

When the United States entered World War I, anti-German hysteria swept through Cincinnati, the most Germanic of America's big cities. Streets were renamed. (Bremen to Republic, for instance.) German teachers were fired. Conducting public meetings in German was verboten. An Ohio Historical Marker about the hysteria will be unveiled at 11 a.m. Saturday at Findlay Market. The marker will be placed at the Over-the-Rhine corner of Pleasant and Elder streets. Following the unveiling, German music will be played and food will be served. Information: visit www.findlaymarket.org or call (513) 665-4839.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050603/NEWS01/506030414/1056/rss02

 

Findlay Market signs two vendors

 

Kroeger Meats, a longtime merchant at the market, signed a lease after it saw sales growth from the market's new Sunday hours, according to a news release. The retailer sells more than 50 varieties of handmade sausages, specialty bacons and pork products.

 

Paula's Gourmet Deli, a sandwich shop that has operated downtown for 15 years, will also be moving to the market. Owner Paula Kirk said she is closing the downtown shop because of the impending Fountain Square construction. The deli will open in August at 112 W. Elder St., adjacent to the markethouse.

 

Read full article here:

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2005/07/11/daily42.html

I find it amusing how for so long everyone was complaining about how Sunday hours at Findlay will ruin the market and cause it to run out all the long time loyal businesses because there will not be a demand on Sunday to support shopping.  Turns out (as a reasonable person would expect) that Sunday hours are probably the best thing that could have happened to the market, and in 5 years we will be hearing about how vibrant that area is becoming all because of the renovated market (at least lets hope we hear that)

Sunday hours draw crowds to Findlay Market

Some vendors are signing up for long-term

By Tony Cook

 

The controversial decision to open Findlay Market on Sundays is paying off with increased sales, more foot traffic and the addition of a new deli.  The Corporation for Findlay Market lauded on Friday the success of Sunday hours with the announcement that newcomer Paula's Gourmet Deli and long-time vendor Kroeger Meats signed long-term leases last week.

 

"Sundays have brought an entirely new group of shoppers down to the market," said the corporation's director, Bob Pickford, who estimated foot traffic is up at least 20 percent since the corporation opened the 153-year-old market on Sundays for the first time May 22.

 

Read full article here:

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050716/NEWS01/507160340

I find it amusing how for so long everyone was complaining about how Sunday hours at Findlay will ruin the market and cause it to run out all the long time loyal businesses because there will not be a demand on Sunday to support shopping.  Turns out (as a reasonable person would expect) that Sunday hours are probably the best thing that could have happened to the market, and in 5 years we will be hearing about how vibrant that area is becoming all because of the renovated market (at least lets hope we hear that)

 

I objected to the strong-arm tactics the folks running the market were using.  They were requiring long-term contracts with manditory Sunday hours.  That was excessively pushy, just begging their merchants to quit the market, for what seemed to be an effort to compete with Kroger's et al.  I thought that was utterly stupid (see here for my arguments).

What appears to have happened instead is that the market gave a little, didn't require the long-term contracts, didn't make the Sunday hours manditory, and now apparently some of the merchants are giving a little bit too, deciding they'd rather work on Sundays because there's good money to be made.  If this had been the approach from the beginning, I'd imagine there would have been a lot less bad blood.

But without such requirements for long term leases, then there would be no benefit to being open on Sunday and the merchants who remain open would suffer because the others decided not to open up on Sunday. If the market were only 30% open on Sunday because the other vendors did not want to open shop, then the venture would fail and everyone would suffer. If only a few vendors close, we can have success. That is why a mandatory requirement is needed, to ensure the success of all. If a vendor did not want to be part of that arrangement he was free to leave. Other vendors would come take his place. It is a continual natural process and I dont feel sympathy for those vendors who gripe and complain about the new rules. They are always free to go somewhere else

That must not be the case, because it didn't fail, and they didn't force vendors into Sunday hours with long term contracts...at the time, it sounded like you sign and you open on Sundays, or else you're out.  That obviously didn't happen - cooler heads prevailed, merchants who chose not to open on Sundays haven't been summarily booted out - and it appears that things are working out well.  I'm happy with how things happened, and glad they decided to change their minds from the strong-armed tactics.

 

Regarding "They are always free to go somewhere else", I've gotta tweak you a little bit and remind you of this thread!  They're definitely free to go elsewhere, but folks were very up-in-arms when they started talking about doing so!  (Admittedly, they were more up-in-arms about the local government trying to steal our vendors than they were about vendors trying to find the best deal...)

From the 2/17/06 Cincinnati Business Courier:

 

 

Findlay Market signs Italian eatery

 

Cincinnati's venerable public market in Over-the-Rhine will get a new vendor by the end of March.

 

Robert Pickford, president of the Corporation for Findlay Market, said in a news release that Bella Luna Restaurant will operate a take-out stand in the market's north addition. Besides heat-and-serve Italian entrees, offerings will include boxed pasta, pasta sauce, ground coffee by the pound, Italian pastries, olive oils, balsamic vinegars, china and cookware.

 

Bella Luna also has an eat-in location on Eastern Avenue in the East End.

 

© 2006 American City Business Journals Inc.

 

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2006/02/13/daily61.html

 

I ate at Amaretto's once, but haven't been to Bella Luna - that is in the same spot as Amaretto's was, isn't it?  I'll definitely be at Findlay Market before I get out to Bella Luna, so this will be a nice preview!  And a nice place to add to the mix - up-scale restaurant (albeit an outlet version) near a person selling wildflowers on a card table...that's beautiful!

This might have been posted someplace else, and it's just as much about the surrounding areas in OTR as Findlay proper. From 2/25 Enquirer.

 

Sprucing up neighborhood the next step

Findlay Market: What's the future?

Farmers Market proposal reaps vendor complaints

BY DAN MONK | March 23, 2007

 

Whoever said, "Change is good," has never been to Findlay Market. There, change is an ugly, plodding, cantankerous beast.  Vendors at Findlay's Farmers Market are "the torch and pitchfork crowd of the moment," said Bob Pickford, executive director of the Corporation for Findlay Market, a nonprofit that took over management of the historic city-owned markethouse in 2004.

 

Vendors are upset about newly proposed rental provisions that would more than double fees, install new financial incentives to open on Sunday, impose new requirements for liability insurance and bring an end to a decades-old policy in which vendor stalls are assigned by seniority.

 

Read full article here:

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/03/26/tidbits1.html

sweet heaven

Double their fees ?

What for ?

I understand the desire to have the vendors there on Sunday.

People like to shop on Sundays and a majority of retailers are open seven days a week while the market is still pretty much a five day a week affair.

In the discussion of getting a streetcar running up to the market from downtown, has there been any discussion of frequency of trips on Sundays or would it be like the crappy truncated service Metro currently offers ?

 

The insurance companies are ruining the world.

Its actually more like tripling the fees. I will admit that the fees were very reasonable. 

Is there a difference between Findlay Farmers Market and Findlay Market, in terms of where vendors are located?

 

impose new requirements for liability insurance

 

Why should the vendors be liable?  Liability insurance should be carried by the market authority or city.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Farmers Market shed is located in the north (main) parking lot it runs perpendicular to the main building that houses the traditional vendors.  The farmers market has specific rules that

only allow farm products to be grown and sold by the farmer renting the stall. The Farmers market will also allow some "cottage" industry folks to sell their stuff as long as they are home based. A good example would be the soap vendor and some baked goods people. The produce people located on the East esplanade are considered "resellers" of their goods. So if you see someone selling in the Farmers market you know, except for maybe when the market shed is mostly empty during the off season, that the products being sold are pretty much theirs. 

As far as the insurance requirement goes, the official word from Findlay Market management is that the market has always required the insurance they have never enforced the policy. They say that the City of Cincinnati requires it. The Farmers did check into this and the City had no idea what we were talking about. On a side not I think its good idea for any business to have some sort of liability insurance.

On a side not I think its good idea for any business to have some sort of liability insurance.

 

I agree.  I would think most businesses, if not all, have some type of liability insurance. 

The Farmers Market shed is located in the north (main) parking lot it runs perpendicular to the main building that houses the traditional vendors.   The farmers market has specific rules that

only allow farm products to be grown and sold by the farmer renting the stall. The Farmers market will also allow some "cottage" industry folks to sell their stuff as long as they are home based. A good example would be the soap vendor and some baked goods people. The produce people located on the East esplanade are considered "resellers" of their goods. So if you see someone selling in the Farmers market you know, except for maybe when the market shed is mostly empty during the off season, that the products being sold are pretty much theirs.   

 

OK, I know where you are talking about.  There were some people there this past Saturday selling things. 

 

I guess there must be some bulk produce source in Cincinnati, for the resellers in the main market  to get their merch.  Do you know anything about that?

For over 100 years they would buy fruits and vegetables in bulk on the riverfront and resell at various markets.  Now, I am not sure where they buy from, but I think Castellini is one place.

I have a friend who is conducting a marketing study for Findlay Market.  She needs as many UC students to fill out the survey as possible.  It is a quick and easy survey, and will take no longer than 5 min to complete!  Please fill it out...this is right up our alley.

 

I will let everyone know whether or not others can also fill it out...or you could always make up the responses for the college related questions.  :laugh:

 

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=483303582718

that survey considers all of off campus housing to be clifton, your friend has never looked at a map.

it does allow you to specify another off-campus housing location.  So then you could fill in Corryville, Clifton Heights, or something else entirely.  But I am giving her the benefit of the doubt, and I'm sure that she doesn't understand the differences in the neighborhoods.

 

Don't worry I'll sit her down and have a chat.

Findlay has right blend for spice vendor

BY LISA BIANK FASIG | April 6, 2007

 

Never underestimate the appeal of buying one ounce of cinnamon for 49 cents.  Such deals have afforded the expansion of the vendor Herbs & Spice and Everything Nice at Findlay Market. The merchant, run by Northern Kentuckian De Stewart, recently moved into a 400-square-foot space at the Elm Street end of the market, twice as big as his former space right across the aisle.

 

Read full article here:

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/04/09/newscolumn3.html

Findlay Market group gets single bid for renovation

BY DAN MONK | April 20, 2007

 

The low-hanging fruit is not yet ripe near Findlay Market.  The nonprofit development corporation that manages the historic city-owned market-house has received only one bid in its hunt for developers willing to renovate 18 properties along Elder, Elm, Race and Campbell streets. And that developer, a joint venture between the Model Group Inc. and GBBN Architects, wants to wait 36 months before it starts construction.

 

The Corporation for Findlay Market hasn't decided whether it wants to redo the search process or try to negotiate better terms from its only bidder.  "I think we've got a quality project. Now, the question is, 'How do we get it implemented?'" said Bob Pickford, the corporation's president.

 

Read full article here:

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/04/23/tidbits1.html

Mr. Pig, Findlay Market favorite, dies

BY ALLEN HOWARD | May 5, 2007

 

Those who ate barbecue cooked by Mr. Pig will tell you that if you never tasted it, you haven’t tasted real barbecue.  “I used to buy it just about every week,’’ said Kim Whitehead, formerly of the West End who now lives in Woodlawn. “He really could burn. And I especially like his sweet, spicy barbecue sauce.’’

 

Paul Sebron – widely known as Mr. Pig – died April 30 at his home in East Walnut Hills of heart complications. He was 54.  For more than a dozen years as one of the main merchants on Findlay Market, Sebron was a barbecue icon. The smell of ribs cooking on several barrels at his place on Elder Street set the ambiance for Findlay Market shoppers every week.

 

Read full article here:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070505/NEWS01/305050023

This is sad news. The guy obviously had been in bad shape for a  while. His cooking or his recipes were good but his business style was anything but corporate America. :-)

I had no idea he was so young.

Students work to give Findlay a boost in sales

BY TIMOTHY KOOY | UC NEWS RECORD

May 16, 2007

 

CINCINNATI - Students from the University of Cincinnati's College of Business and McMicken College of Arts and Sciences are teaming up for the Findlay Market Cross-disciplinary Learning Experience.

 

Since the beginning of the Spring Quarter, four marketing students and four public relations students have been gathering and analyzing data in preparation for a proposal to Findlay Market executives on how to boost business.

 

The cross-disciplinary experience is the second collaborative effort overseen by Professor Maribeth Metzler of the communications department and Professor Andrea Dixon from the marketing department.

 

They previously worked with marketing, communications and electronic media students on a larger project for Procter & Gamble.

 

"I feel the project was quite successful, the students learned a great deal and got excellent experience," Metzler said.

 

This time, along with the addition of Professor Sharon McFarland, Metzler and Dixon are advising a smaller project, but one with historic ties to the community.

 

"Students need to learn how to work on initiatives and in environments similar to what they will face upon graduation," Dixon said. "They profit from being exposed to students working from different paradigms. This service learning initiative fulfills both of these dimensions."

 

While Findlay Market may reap some of the benefits of the students' work, students said the reward for them is the work itself.

 

"We do more promotion, they do a lot of studying, shopping, patterns and targeting specific demographics," said Kelly Gade, a third-year communications student and participant in the project. "I know that PR and marketing go hand-in-hand a lot in the real world and I was excited to get experience with a real client."

 

The group is preparing to give a presentation to Bob Pickford, CEO and Cheryl Eagleson, marketing director, among other Findlay Market executives on how to bring UC students, graduates, staff and faculty to the market in greater numbers.

 

Jeremy Drury, a fourth-year marketing student, said that based on nearly 1,000 survey hits and recorded consumer shopping experiences, the group has been able to narrow their target group to UC faculty and staff.

 

This group is "the demographic ranked highest in feasibility and should provide the Findlay Market with a potential, repeat customer who can spend a target amount of money, per visit, but most importantly a customer who wants to experience European-style shopping at its finest," Drury said.

 

Hannah McKee, a fourth-year marketing and international business student, said she has learned a lot from working with students from a different college, especially about promotion.

 

"[The PR students] are great with coming up with actual events and strategies," McKee said. "They see the bigger picture."

 

Of the four components involved in marketing, promotion is the only aspect Findlay Market has any control over, Dixon said.

 

The other three components, product piece, pricing and distribution, are all outside of their control. The vendors determine the product and pricing and distributing outside of the market would be self-defeating, Dixon said.

 

The student group had originally planned a promotional cook-off that features culinary students and faculty competing to cook dishes using items found at Findlay Market.

 

While they decided to cancel the event itself, they do plan to include the idea in the presentation to Findlay Market executives May 30 at 4 p.m. in room 608 of Lindner Hall.

Ok, this is me being very objective and positive about Findlay Market and their Marketing dept. Thank God they are actually doing something to promote the market outside of their e-marketing through their web site!  

At Findlay on Saturday and parking on one of their lots seemed harder to find.  I ended up parking at a meter.  Grant it it was probably the busiest time to go (about 10:00 am on a Saturday) but I never used to have trouble finding a spot and I've had parking issues the last few weeks.  Has there been a marked increase in business? Am I just imagining parking lots more crowded than in months past?  Anyone one else notice anything or is it just me?

Parking would improve greatly if dowtown residents were able to use a streetcar to get there.

 

thomasbw notes a 15.2 to 1 economic impact from such a system

We went both Friday and Saturday, and noticed that is seemed more crowded than usual.  Fridays are not usually this crowded.  We parked in the south lot ok.

I know that the weekend earlier in the year with the OTR AleHaus was one of the top 5 weekends ever.  Talking with Bob it sounds like the count is up across the board (I don't remember exact numbers, though).

I'm sure that the drop in crime (and the reporting of that drop) has helped a decent amount.  Perception is a BIG deal, and the perception of OTR is slowly, but surely starting to change for the better.

Findlay Market adds parking lot, buildings

BY STEPFANIE ROMINE | October 4, 2007

 

Findlay Market is expanding with the addition of a parking lot and two newly renovated buildings for which it is actively seeking tenants.  The city of Cincinnati has amended its lease agreement with the Corporation for Findlay Market, allowing the market to add buildings at 111 and 113 W. Elder St. and the former parking lot of Globe Furniture Galleries at 1712 Logan St.

 

The parking lot, between Elm Street and Central Parkway, is a lot Findlay Market shoppers have been using for years, said Bob Pickford, Findlay Market's executive director.

 

Read full article here:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071004/BIZ01/710040317/1076/BIZ

Those buildings look great. I think they'll encourage some more rehab on the south side of the market. Activity tends to focus on the north side of the market house, because of the layout, but there's no reason the same couldn't happen on the south side and a bit down Pleasant.

 

Great project by the City and the Corporation.

Wine store to open in Findlay Market

Business Courier of Cincinnati

 

Over-the-Rhine's Findlay Market is adding Market Wines to its eclectic mix of food and drink offerings.  Market Wines owner Michael Maxwell said the store, set to open March 29, will stock a selection of wines that pair well with food, as well as organic wines, microbrewed and imported beers, and wine accessories.

 

Read full article here:

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/03/10/daily29.html

Yay!  Finally a wine store at findlay.  Be sure and tell them we want Christian Moerlein, Hudy, Sam Adams stocked in their cold beer department.

Don't forget about Burger!!!! :wink:

They've already committed to carrying all of the delicious Moerlein products  :drunk:

Solar panels would cast historic Findlay Market in modern light

BY LISA BIANK FASIG | March 14, 2008

 

The historic Findlay Market has always relied on the energy of merchants and supporters to keep it humming; soon it might rely on energy from the sun.  The Over-the-Rhine marketplace is awaiting approval of a federal grant, as well as engineering clearance, to have 112 solar panels installed on the east and west wings of its roof. The panels, valued at roughly $100,000, would be donated by Duke Energy and require an added grant from the state to help underwrite related costs.

 

If installed, the solar units would generate about 2,000 kilowatt hours of power a month - about twice the amount used by the average household. That would offset electrical use at Findlay by only a small percentage, since it uses so many refrigerators, but the panels would demonstrate the 155-year-old market's progress over the years, said Robert Pickford, president and CEO of the Corporation for Findlay Market.

 

Read full article here:

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/03/17/story10.html

Market Wines is now open.  It is a soft opening . . but I bought wine there on Saturday.

I went there, it will be a great addition

From [email protected]:

 

Hopefully, the Cincinnati Streetcar will someday enable Findlay Market to remain open for business in the evening.  Until then, one store has decided to test the idea this Thursday.

 

Thursday, July 24, 5:30p.m.- 8:00p.m. - Belgian Beers and Waffles!

 

Market Wines is located at 128 W. Elder St. directly north of the main market building. There's a big, free parking lot that you enter from Findlay Street between Elm and Race.

 

The cost will be $15 and will include a waffle from "A Taste from Belgium" with some toppings to compliment each beer.  This idea seemed like a fun thing to do but Jean Francois Flechet (owner of A Taste of Belgium) told me that July 21st is Belgium National Day so all the more reason to celebrate with a few cold ones! Space is limited so reservations are recommended. The beers to be sampled are:

 

Augustijn Abbey Ale

St. Bernardus Triple

St. Bernardus ABT 12

Gulden Draak

Sounds like fun.. His waffles are really good.

Findlay Market Grateful For Generous Grant

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=08cdbe71-3f38-47ee-aeef-1dea15689c4d

Last Update: 12:52 pm 

 

Web produced by: Alyssa Bunn

Contributor: Julie O'Neill

Photographed by: Jeremy Glover

 

Ohio's oldest public market will continue to thrive and expand for years to come, thanks to a generous grant.

 

Cincinnati's premier marketplace has just won a $100,000 marketing grant that will be matched by $200,000 worth of promotional support from Clear Channel Communications and WEBN.

 

The Barefoot Advertising Agency is offering the non-profit grant in an effort attract more businesses and shoppers to the market.

 

"In 2007 we measured a 23 percent increase in visits to the market and this grant is going to let us continue that work in a much bigger way. We don't have the resources to do main stream conventional advertising and this grant will allow us to do that," says Bob Pickford, CEO of the Corporation for Findlay Market.

 

Findlay Market is the only surviving public market of nine once owned by the City of Cincinnati.

 

It now operates as a non-profit, which allowed it to qualify for this grant.

 

 

This is FANTASTIC news!

One shop keeper mentioned that he once hoped that there would be a sign on I-75 like the ones showing the exit for the ballpark.  This will be much better advertising than that.

Grant gives ad campaign power to Findlay Market

http://www.pulsedt.com/blogs/default.asp?Display=2652

 

Historic Findlay Market is re-emerging as a destination and a neighborhood shopping stop.

 

"Findlay Market has come through a comprehensive renovation. It has survived some lean years. It has survived the civil unrest of 2001," says Robert Pickford, President and CEO of the non-profit Corporation for Findlay Market "It is growing. It is adding new vendors."

 

In short, says Pickford, "We believe that Findlay Market is enjoying a new era."

 

Coinciding with that re-birth comes a commitment from a professional marketing agency, Barefoot, that recently selected Findlay Market for a $100,000 grant in billable agency time. The grant is matched by Clear Channel Communications, the radio and outdoor advertising giant and its local WEBN radio.

 

This, says Pickford, is the kind of support that Findlay Market has never before attained, due to budget constraints.

 

Behind-the-scenes work is already taking place, as Findlay Market corporation's insiders further inform Barefoot ad agency about the market and its history in Cincinnati.

 

By spring 2009, the message will be finalized, in whatever form, and the people of Greater Cincinnati will hear more about Findlay Market.

 

"We will reintroduce the people of Cincinnati to their public market," says Pickford.

 

The timing seems to be perfect.

 

Findlay Market has measured an increase in visits since April 2005. And in 2007, the market saw a 23 percent hike in visits. Since July 4 of this year, says Pickford, the market has experienced two new record-high tallies of visitors during the weekend.

 

"We know that there are more people coming," he says.

 

Some of those customers are people who have begun to move into the urban core and want to go shopping close to their homes. But many come from elsewhere.

 

"The market really draws from a broad spectrum of the area," Pickford notes.

 

With Barefoot, the Corporation for Findlay Market hopes to reach every visitor and potential visitor, and that includes those people whose grandparents and great-grandparents used Findlay Market as a shopping staple way back when

in the times that Over-the-Rhine had a population of some 40,000 residents.

 

"There are, still, those long-ago connections to the market," Pickford reminds.

 

And the recent up-tick of patrons to Findlay Market reflects a nationwide trend.

 

"Farmers markets and public markets are experiencing a resurgence in popularity and patronage," Pickford notes.

 

There is an interest in shopping local, buying fresh, and experiencing shopping as a lively, social atmosphere rather than simply as a chore that must be accomplished.

 

Doug Warple, CEO of Barefoot, commented in a public statement that Findlay Market is a Cincinnati "gem."

 

"We look forward to opening more people's eyes to all it has to offer and what it means for the continued renaissance of Over-the-Rhine," Warple said.