West Side Market faces changes to parking, days and hours (photos)

By Michelle Jarboe McFee, The Plain Dealer

on June 16, 2015 at 3:00 PM, updated June 17, 2015 at 7:43 AM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Girding itself for controversy, the city of Cleveland is pushing ahead with a series of potential changes in and around the West Side Market, the venerable public shopping hall that celebrated its 100th birthday in 2012.

 

A broad-based effort to tackle the Market District's parking problems could yield hundreds of additional spaces between now and 2017. Some spaces will be new, while others will result from more efficient use of existing parking in the district. And paid parking, long rumored, will supplant free lots behind the market.

 

That's not all.

 

As soon as Jan. 1, shoppers might be able to pop into the market on Sundays and on Wednesday evenings – the first substantial shift in the facility's days and hours since 1912.

 

MORE:

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2015/06/west_side_market_faces_changes.html

The attitudes of some of the vendors frustrate me.  Why are they trying to compete with the suburban 24 hour grocery store?  That's not their market at all.  They offer a completely different experience that people are willing to travel for.  Those people will pay a few bucks to park for that experience if they must.  They're already spending more on gas to get there.

 

If they want to attract more everyday shoppers from the neighborhood than they need to improve their hours.  You can't have zero evening weekday hours and expect the community, most of which work 9-5, to make purchases there on a regular basis.  And why is this so complicated anyway?  The city should simply state the hours that the building will be open and each individual stand can determine their own operating hours within those building hours.  Why does every stand need to be open for every hour that the market is open? 

If they want to attract more everyday shoppers from the neighborhood than they need to improve their hours.  You can't have zero evening weekday hours and expect the community, most of which work 9-5, to make purchases there on a regular basis.  And why is this so complicated anyway?  The city should simply state the hours that the building will be open and each individual stand can determine their own operating hours within those building hours.  Why does every stand need to be open for every hour that the market is open?

 

I agree completely they need to expand their hours. Though I wouldn't go shopping on a day where only half the stands are open. That is the risk you run making days optional. Availability is important. Factors like parking and price are all secondary if the vendors aren't even open.

 

Could they lower the price per sq ft somewhat to cover the cost of being open additional hours?

I also don't understand the attitude that "a parking garage won't fix it." There are multilevel structures all over urban areas that park tons of cars and allow for shopping at places that don't have big, sprawling lots. Most with a  half hour free parking. If I can go to the santa monica mall and park for free, I can't believe I can't park in the near proximity to downtown cleveland to shop and park for free for at least a little while.

 

As to Hoot's comments, if the stands are not all consistently open when the market is supposed to be open, that's a huge problem. Can you imagine going to Heinen's and sometimes when you go, the deli is closed, and sometimes they're open, but you're supposed to remember which day? A market should have all of it's arms working when it's open and not leave it up to the visitors to try to play a guessing game or memory game of which stand is open which days and which hours.

 

I also completely agree their hours are way outdated and if they want to survive, they need to evolve.

They have to overcome a long standing tradition of open hours due to an agreement with other markets (none of which exist any longer)!

 

I too wonder why this just can't be dealt with easily.

If they want to attract more everyday shoppers from the neighborhood than they need to improve their hours.  You can't have zero evening weekday hours and expect the community, most of which work 9-5, to make purchases there on a regular basis.  And why is this so complicated anyway?  The city should simply state the hours that the building will be open and each individual stand can determine their own operating hours within those building hours.  Why does every stand need to be open for every hour that the market is open?

 

I agree completely they need to expand their hours. Though I wouldn't go shopping on a day where only half the stands are open. That is the risk you run making days optional. Availability is important. Factors like parking and price are all secondary if the vendors aren't even open.

 

Could they lower the price per sq ft somewhat to cover the cost of being open additional hours?

 

Shopping malls are very strict about the hours their stores are open for this reason. Even for big snowstorms or hurricanes, the people who run the mall decide if and when the stores are allowed to close, and they all do it at the same time. They also have a lot of other miscellaneous rules vendors are expected to follow. I imagine the West Side Market is operating from similar principles.

 

The North Market in Cbus recently went through this and expanded their hours. There was a little bit of grumbling from some vendors and employees but they all are required to follow it.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/content/blogs/the-bottom-line/2015/02/north-markets-new-hours.html

I'll bet they'll try expanded hours on a trial basis, the business will increase by a good margin, and the vendors will suddenly love it.

I also don't understand the attitude that "a parking garage won't fix it." There are multilevel structures all over urban areas that park tons of cars and allow for shopping at places that don't have big, sprawling lots. Most with a  half hour free parking. If I can go to the santa monica mall and park for free, I can't believe I can't park in the near proximity to downtown cleveland to shop and park for free for at least a little while.

 

As to Hoot's comments, if the stands are not all consistently open when the market is supposed to be open, that's a huge problem. Can you imagine going to Heinen's and sometimes when you go, the deli is closed, and sometimes they're open, but you're supposed to remember which day? A market should have all of it's arms working when it's open and not leave it up to the visitors to try to play a guessing game or memory game of which stand is open which days and which hours.

 

I also completely agree their hours are way outdated and if they want to survive, they need to evolve.

 

Actually, if you go to a 24 hour Giant Eagle or Wallyworld you will find that some of the specialty departments are closed during the wee hours.

Well yes. But MOST people would not expect the deli to be open at 9:30 at night or whatever. That's not the same thing as a regular business day or early evening, when the majority of people shop. And is not the same as the deli being open like every other tuesday when it's not a full moon.

Fresh Brewed Tees Announces West Side Market Location

 

Big news, T-shirt fans. Cleveland gear proprietor Fresh Brewed Tees has announced the opening of a new shop located in Ohio City's historic West Side Market.

 

Looking for a job? Fresh Brewed Tees is also in the midst of hiring for the new Ohio City outlet, so there's that too.

 

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2015/11/18/fresh-brewed-tees-announces-west-side-market-location

West Side Market will add Sunday hours starting April 3; parking-lot revamp to begin (photos)

By Michelle Jarboe, The Plain Dealer

Email the author | Follow on Twitter

on March 02, 2016 at 5:00 AM, updated March 02, 2016 at 7:08 AM

 

CLEVELAND – Attention, West Side Market shoppers!

 

The historic food hall will undergo a controversial schedule change next month, adding Sundays to the mix after years of debate and more than a century of consistent hours.

 

Cleveland officials confirmed that the city-owned facility will be open from noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays starting April 3. The city also is preparing to combine and reconfigure two parking lots behind the market, in a project that will contribute to congestion over the next 10 months but, upon completion, will add more than 100 sorely-needed spaces to the district.

 

Those are the headline changes, for now.

 

MORE:

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2016/03/west_side_market_will_add_sund.html#incart_river_home

"It's like everything else in Cleveland," City Councilman Joe Cimperman, who represents the neighborhood, said of consternation about the changes. "The sky is falling, and then you realize what's falling are gumdrops and jellybeans. The end isn't near. The beginning is near."

 

Cimperman believes the changes are necessary to ensure that the market stays relevant and lasts another century.

I tend to agree with Cimperman here. Most of the vendors come off as "I'm doing a service, you should be thanking me" versus "how can I better serve my customers."

 

I'm sure they have valid concerns, but they don't present them well.

Joshua Jones

‏@Josh_CLE

The energy at @WestSideMarket’s first Sunday is electric. I gotta come here more. Maha’s Falafil for #brunch.

West Side Market ‏@WestSideMarket  44m44 minutes ago

We are OPEN! Enjoy music from the Cleveland Cello Quartet while you shop.

Cleveland 19 News ‏@cleveland19news  3m3 minutes ago

4 #WestSideMarket stores closing. #WSM #CLE http://buff.ly/2h0FHjv

^ that's so weak. Adversity in the business world, and you quit? Think bigger, change up your game plan, evolve.  I guess the weak will be phased out. I'm sure someone will take those spots.

i thought that the soup place just opened up in past two months. With the Souper Market just across the street, I'm not surprised if they didn't fair well.

After visiting dozens of markets in Europe over the last couple of years I think a key to the future of the West Side Market is more prepared to order food stands that also serve alcohol.  It was amazing the number or places that you could sit and grab a drink or small plate of food in the markets in Europe and it's something I'd love to see adopted here.  Especially since the market is becoming more of a tourist destination than a daily market I think the vendors are missing potential sales to an entire segment of consumers.

After visiting dozens of markets in Europe over the last couple of years I think a key to the future of the West Side Market is more prepared to order food stands that also serve alcohol.  It was amazing the number or places that you could sit and grab a drink or small plate of food in the markets in Europe and it's something I'd love to see adopted here.  Especially since the market is becoming more of a tourist destination than a daily market I think the vendors are missing potential sales to an entire segment of consumers.

 

Totally agree. 

^ Something like Torvehallerne in Copenhagen. Lets do it and start developing the parking lots while we are at it  :wave:

After visiting dozens of markets in Europe over the last couple of years I think a key to the future of the West Side Market is more prepared to order food stands that also serve alcohol.  It was amazing the number or places that you could sit and grab a drink or small plate of food in the markets in Europe and it's something I'd love to see adopted here.  Especially since the market is becoming more of a tourist destination than a daily market I think the vendors are missing potential sales to an entire segment of consumers.

 

I think the authenticity of the West Side Market being a market that hasn't been tainted with tourist-trap stuff is a lot of what makes it a tourist destination.  I would be wary of messing with that.

After visiting dozens of markets in Europe over the last couple of years I think a key to the future of the West Side Market is more prepared to order food stands that also serve alcohol.  It was amazing the number or places that you could sit and grab a drink or small plate of food in the markets in Europe and it's something I'd love to see adopted here.  Especially since the market is becoming more of a tourist destination than a daily market I think the vendors are missing potential sales to an entire segment of consumers.

 

I think the authenticity of the West Side Market being a market that hasn't been tainted with tourist-trap stuff is a lot of what makes it a tourist destination.  I would be wary of messing with that.

 

Anecdotally, whenever I bring visitors to the WSM for the first time, they almost always comment on the lack of prepared to order food available. They all think the place is cool, but don't really see a reason to spend much time there besides a quick walk through.

^This sounds like a joke about millennials.

After visiting dozens of markets in Europe over the last couple of years I think a key to the future of the West Side Market is more prepared to order food stands that also serve alcohol.  It was amazing the number or places that you could sit and grab a drink or small plate of food in the markets in Europe and it's something I'd love to see adopted here.  Especially since the market is becoming more of a tourist destination than a daily market I think the vendors are missing potential sales to an entire segment of consumers.

 

From what I gather this will be the essence of the food hall at Van Aken

After visiting dozens of markets in Europe over the last couple of years I think a key to the future of the West Side Market is more prepared to order food stands that also serve alcohol.  It was amazing the number or places that you could sit and grab a drink or small plate of food in the markets in Europe and it's something I'd love to see adopted here.  Especially since the market is becoming more of a tourist destination than a daily market I think the vendors are missing potential sales to an entire segment of consumers.

 

I think the authenticity of the West Side Market being a market that hasn't been tainted with tourist-trap stuff is a lot of what makes it a tourist destination.  I would be wary of messing with that.

 

Anecdotally, whenever I bring visitors to the WSM for the first time, they almost always comment on the lack of prepared to order food available. They all think the place is cool, but don't really see a reason to spend much time there besides a quick walk through.

 

It's an outstanding facility, but your guests are right. It's not cheaper or better products to do your grocery shopping there.  With new butchers popping up like Ohio city provisions, saucisson and organic grocers,  it's not at all convenient to do general shopping there. Personally, I go to the market for 2-3 stands: Ohio city pasta, pierogie palace and pork chop shop.  Everything else is pretty easily replaceable.  There are some fun options to get prepared foods for sure, but there is a lot more opportunity to improve

After visiting dozens of markets in Europe over the last couple of years I think a key to the future of the West Side Market is more prepared to order food stands that also serve alcohol.  It was amazing the number or places that you could sit and grab a drink or small plate of food in the markets in Europe and it's something I'd love to see adopted here.  Especially since the market is becoming more of a tourist destination than a daily market I think the vendors are missing potential sales to an entire segment of consumers.

 

I think the authenticity of the West Side Market being a market that hasn't been tainted with tourist-trap stuff is a lot of what makes it a tourist destination.  I would be wary of messing with that.

 

I took the suggestion as an expansion type of thing, leaving the old Market as is. Maybe that's just where my mind went, I immediately thought of a Torvehallerne type of set-up, on a portion of the lot just north of Market Ave.

I don't want to see it turn into a tourist trap, but the WSM should revisit their roster of vendors and do more to attract new stalls that are making unique locally sourced or made products.  The bakeries, dairies, and meat stands already do ok(but far from perfect) at this, but the fruit and veggie stands need a better business model. Right now it's 20 vendors selling the same mix of things they picked up from the food terminal right in a row, each trying to catch your attention by calling out to you as you pass.  Making it into more of a farmer's market would give more reason to shop there as opposed to the local grocery.

 

I also think they should investigate getting some local breweries, wineries, etc in.  Either with their own spaces, or with a specialty retailer selling only local products.  There's so much food and beverage entrepreneurship happening in Cleveland.  The WSM doesn't need to turn touristy, it just needs to keep up with that.

All I know is that the instant I walked into Quincy Market and saw a Starbucks on the left, I turned around and left.  Regardless of whether it's a chain or not, the appearance of a tourist trap can be a huge turnoff, especially if that's not the experience you're expecting.  I do think the fruit and veggie stands could be improved, and I do agree with X on pretty much all points about trying to attract local products.

X is right.  more local specialty spots and the ability to sell alcohol in a responsible fashion.  Places like Red Lotus, Brewnuts, Cleveland Bagel Co., The Shaker Square Mushroom man, these places would elevate the market as more unique.  The produce section is pretty awful.  I hate when they shout at me. There is nothing special about that produce either, unless you make your way to the back hallway.

Talk about workforce participation rate, inflation, border security, ISIS, etc. all you want. The reason this nature is currently viewed negatively is because we no longer appreciate meat. I salivate every time I walk through there, and if gorge myself to death, then so be it... that's the way I want to go.

 

But in all seriousness, I think mixing the millenial-preferred sustainability-driven shops with the good old fashion butchers and bakers would do the place some good. Though, it certainly would not address the cost issue, especially when Dave's is .25 miles away.

Contract awarded for pay-to-park, coming soon to West Side Market lots. Looks like it will cost $300 thousand for install.

 

From 12/21 City Record

Resolution No. 500-16.

By Director Cox.

Whereas, under Board of Control

Resolution No. 502-15, adopted

December 16, 2015, under the authority

of Ordinance No. 226-15, passed

by the Cleveland City Council on

April 13, 2015, as amended by Ordinance

No. 1351-15, passed December

11, 2015, the Director of Public

Works entered into an agreement

with Link2Park, Inc. dba Linkology,

City Contract No. CT7008 PS2016*007,

to replace existing parking access

and revenue control equipment that

has exceeded its useful life with

updated equipment and software

providing the latest technology, revenue

control and reporting features,

for both Willard Park and Gateway

Garages, for the Division of Parking

Facilities, Department of Public

Works, for a period not to exceed

two (2) years for fees of

$1,046,178.16; and

Whereas, Board of Control Resolution

No. 333-16, adopted July 20,

2016 under the authority of Ordinance

No. 540-16, passed by Cleveland

City Council on May 23, 2016,

amended Resolution No. 502-15 to

add the West Side Market Parking

Lot as a third site for installation

of updated parking access and revenue

control equipment and software

under Contract No. CT7008

PS2016*007 and to increase the fees

payable under the agreement by

$332,248.00 to $1,378,426.16; and

Whereas, Linkology’s technical

and fee proposals, respectively

dated April 13, 2015 and July 21,

2015, for the above-mentioned parking

revenue and control equipment

agreement required the City to enter

into a separate contract with Payment

Express US LLC (PX) for use

and license of the credit card readers

installed in Linkology’s equipment

at Willard Park Garage, East

Gateway Garage and the West Side

Market Parking Lots; now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Board of

Control of the City of Cleveland that

the Director of Public Works is

authorized to enter into a written

contract with Payment Express US

LLC (PX) for the above-mentioned

services, based upon the technical

and fee proposals from Link2Park,

Inc., dba Linkology, respectively

dated April 13, 2015 and July 21,

2015, which contract shall be prepared

by the Director of Law, shall

provide that the total payment to

Payment Express US LLC (PX) for

use and license of the credit card

readers shall consist of not to

exceed $27,920.00 per year for software

compliance updates, hardware

maintenance and support fees plus

transaction and various other fees,

all presently projected to total

$83,760.00 for the term, assuming the

City’s exercise of the renewal

option, and shall contain such other

provisions as the Director of Law

deems necessary to protect and benefit

the public interest.

Yeas: Directors Langhenry, Davis,

Interim Director Szabo, Directors

Cox, Gordon, McGrath, Acting Directors

Cosgrove, Ebersole, and Director

O’Leary.

Nays: None.

Absent: Mayor Jackson, Directors

Dumas, West, and Fumich.

The city's new lease for West Side Market vendors included a ban on talking to reporters. Are you kidding me? https://t.co/J1356UkwFn

The city's new lease for West Side Market vendors included a ban on talking to reporters. Are you kidding me? https://t.co/J1356UkwFn

 

Because who cares about the 1st amendment?

 

Chuck Hoven will become a criminal evidently:

https://plainpress.wordpress.com/2017/01/11/brothers-produce-at-the-west-side-market/

" Saturday, December 17, 2016, West Side Market, W. 25th and Lorain Avenue: David Gentille and Sam Shaw sell fresh produce at Brothers Produce. Gentille says business is down 70% due to West Side Market parking spots being taken by other area businesses. “I have never seen it this bad,” said Gentille."

Per the article- they're already rewriting that; it's not uncommon for a business to have a policy to direct media inquiries to a specific department or person. Of course, the way it was written in the first place...  :roll:

CLEVELAND’S WEST SIDE MARKET IS A NATIONAL TREASURE

By PHOEBE CONNELL

Published On 04/10/2017

 

Thrillist and Chobani have launched a content series devoted to our shared belief in food’s capacity to inspire us, bring us closer together, and even occasionally change the world. And if you’re talking about what you believe in, what better city to spotlight than Believeland?

 

A nyone who has spent more than, oh, say, five minutes with me knows that I harbor an unwavering, some might even argue stridently irrational, love for my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. The fact that I no longer live along the shores of Lake Erie merely adds an émigré’s fervor to my devotion. Friends and acquaintances regularly forgive (I think?) my constant musings on subjects including but not limited to: the 1995 Indians starting lineup, the 30 Rock Cleveland episode, LeBron James, our underrated art museum (and other cultural institutions), and the safety issues associated with eating Lake Erie perch (many).

 

I’m not blind to the fact that my civic enthusiasm is fueled by a heavy mixture of nostalgia and loyalty. It is safe to say that most of my talk is decidedly hyperbolic. In most cases I embrace the spirit of exaggeration, all the while knowing that it is just that. But when it comes to Cleveland, there is one topic that I know I am never in danger of over-selling, simply because it lives up to all of the praise I heap upon it: the West Side Market.

 

MORE

https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/clevelands-west-side-market

West Side Market Welcomes 8 New Tenants, Bringing Occupancy to 94 Percent

https://m.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2017/09/15/west-side-market-welcomes-8-new-tenants-bringing-occupancy-to-94-percent

freshwatercleveland.com

West side story: The West Side Market enters a new era at 94 percent occupancy

Beth Phillips Synk | Thursday, September 28, 2017

6-7 minutes

 

Cleveland’s most notable food institution is enjoying a renaissance. In mid-September, the West Side Market welcomed eight new retailers, bringing the market to 94 percent occupancy. That’s just the latest in a string of changes at the 104-year-old market in recent years. These changes have created benefits and challenges alike for the market’s vendors and the diverse customer base they serve.

 

Among the Market's new retail faces are Ora Bell's, the Market's first African-American family-owned business, and candy shop B.A. Sweetie, which is opening its first off-site location in Northeast Ohio in over 25 years. Also new on the block are Lakewood Plant, Piccadilly Creamery, Matthew Produce, English Treats, Avant Gardens, and Prince Produce.

 

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/features/wsmarket092817.aspx?utm_source=Emma&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=West+side+story%3a+The+West+Side+Market+enters+a+new+era+at+94+percent+occupancy&utm_content=Newsletter&utm_campaign=ICYMI%3a+The+reinvention+of+Kinsman%2c+plus+a+new+Who%27s+Hiring+in+CLE

New Proposal for Produce Arcade at West Side Market Calls for Major Repurposing

https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2019/02/06/new-proposal-for-produce-arcade-at-west-side-market-calls-for-major-repurposing

From Alan Glazen’s FB:

 

For those following the West Side Market Story, you can have access to the final proposal V3.0  for the Makers & Famers Hall, which we submitted to the city, and received a five word response:  

 

DOES NOT FIT THE TEMPLATE.  

 

You can read the entire proposal, but in summary, it included a $500,000 investment from our 501C3 corp, a complete re-do of the near vacant n/s produce section, addition of chairs, tables, food, drink, samples, education, every food product made in Cleveland, and much more.  

 

Plus, 100% of net profits would go to the actual WSM tenants association. 

 

PM me if you'd like to read the proposal so you can fully understand what we're up against when it comes to this iconic public marketplace.

So I was on the tour of the WSM/Parking Lot put on by Cleveland 2030/GBC last night and wow, I wasn't going to put it on blast, but all I kept thinking was the city is woefully incompetent at managing the market. Aside from the parking lot tour, the actual interior part of the tour seemed like a PR/hitting back campaign on the part of Felicia Hall towards the vendors which included not taking any type of blame for the loss of vendors (saying it's from generational turnover/lack of interest on the part of the vendors children, etc.).

 

My favorite quote from Ms. Hall (which was echoed repeatedly) was "it's not my job to market their businesses", speaking of the vendors, and that she sees the city as more of "a landlord" than a partner, which is so so wrong. Additionally, she made the comment that at the end of the day she's a manager.

 

Ms. Hall spoke in platitudes and buzzwords such as turning the mostly vacant wing of the produce hall into an *incubator*, and also working with CSU to get the vendors into the *social media* sphere, and a seemingly empty idea of turning the old locker room into a demonstration kitchen.

 

The market needs an actual MARKET MANAGER in charge, with experience in other public markets and one that is open to not just being a landlord- the market wouldn't be anything without the vendors and it sure sounds like the city doesn't realize that and refuses to accept that. All I kept thinking was "don't BS a BS'er", it was easy to see right through the words (hence my frustration in this rant...). 

Edited August 21, 20195 yr by GISguy
Added some pix

1 minute ago, GISguy said:

So I was on the tour of the WSM/Parking Lot put on by Cleveland 2030/GBC last night and wow, I wasn't going to put it on blast, but all I kept thinking was the city is woefully incompetent at managing the market. Aside from the parking lot tour, the actual interior part of the tour seemed like a PR/hitting back campaign on the part of Felicia Hall at the market vendors and not taking any type of blame for the lack of vendors (saying it's from generational turnover/lack of interest on the part of the vendors children, etc.).

 

My favorite quote from Ms. Hall (which was echoed repeatedly) was "it's not my job to market their businesses", speaking of the vendors, and that she sees the city as more of "a landlord" than a partner, which is so so wrong. Additionally, she made the comment that at the end of the day she's a manager.

 

Ms. Hall spoke in platitudes and buzzwords such as turning the mostly vacant wing of the produce hall into an *incubator*, and also working with CSU to get the vendors into the *social media* sphere, and a seemingly empty idea of turning the old locker room into a demonstration kitchen.

 

The market needs an actual MARKET MANAGER in charge, with experience in other public markets and one that is open to not just being a landlord- the market wouldn't be anything without the vendors and it sure sounds like the city doesn't realize that and refuses to accept that. All I kept thinking was "don't BS a BS'er", it was easy to see right through the words (hence my frustration in this rant...). 

 

It also needs to find a way to turn visitors into cash. The place is MOBBED on weekends but vendors are still struggling - as John Taffer says, "once they're through the door, make it irresistible to stay"

1 minute ago, YABO713 said:

 

It also needs to find a way to turn visitors into cash. The place is MOBBED on weekends but vendors are still struggling - as John Taffer says, "once they're through the door, make it irresistible to stay"

 

Totally agree, for what it's worth, she did mention the issue with vendors not policing themselves (*cough cough produce terminal*), but I've got a couple ideas on my own that can hopefully help folks understand the geography of the space and vendors (I'll share it on here of course! just need to find the time).

1 minute ago, GISguy said:

 

Totally agree, for what it's worth, she did mention the issue with vendors not policing themselves (*cough cough produce terminal*), but I've got a couple ideas on my own that can hopefully help folks understand the geography of the space and vendors (I'll share it on here of course! just need to find the time).

 

75% of the produce vendors are snake oil salesman with fruit

I agree the city shouldn't be sitting on its hands.  In my mind the best angle for growth is some focus on vendors selling prepared foods.  Across the county there's a trend of developers building food halls where people can select a variety of high-end ready-to-eat food.  (In some ways these are just fancy food courts.)  These are just attempts to re-create what actually exists at the West SIde Market.  Adding some space in the market for seating would be great.  And I'm not saying all vendors have to convert to only making prepared food.  This just seems like a way to build on the Market's strengths while doing what eaters want.

1 hour ago, YABO713 said:

 

75% of the produce vendors are snake oil salesman with fruit

 

And they're all selling the same stuff. No differentiation among products.

3 hours ago, YABO713 said:

 

75% of the produce vendors are snake oil salesman with fruit

Do you mean in their statement of where it's sourced? Or??

25 minutes ago, Robuu said:

Do you mean in their statement of where it's sourced? Or??

 

No I mean selling tourists and suburbanites a pound of strawberries for $2 only for them to get home and realize all of the strawberries on the inside of the box are rotted out. 

49 minutes ago, YABO713 said:

 

No I mean selling tourists and suburbanites a pound of strawberries for $2 only for them to get home and realize all of the strawberries on the inside of the box are rotted out. 

 

Not all of the vendors are that dishonest. 

 

I've had that same experience with Costco recently.  And I generally give Costco high marks for quality.

1 hour ago, Foraker said:

 

Not all of the vendors are that dishonest. 

 

I've had that same experience with Costco recently.  And I generally give Costco high marks for quality.

 

I know - I have a produce stand that I go to regularly. That's why I said 75% in my initial comment