January 24, 20214 yr Oy "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 24, 20214 yr Urgh. I’m a big fish-eater and a regular at Kate’s. Going there later, in fact. My hovercraft is full of eels
January 24, 20214 yr It really pisses me off when the city holds onto control of assets like the Market and puts political people in charge of organizations in which they have little or no experience. Even the best intended political hack is not going to be as effective as someone from the industry. Competence and experience always trumps political connections. As long as cities like Cleveland place more value on political control over what's best for the entity we will suffer the consequences. I hate sunbelt growth while we stagnate but I have to admit one of the things they do right is place more emphasis on running their institutions like a business while we too often run ours as political fiefdoms. The Westside Market is a unique Cleveland asset. It had organic strengths but changing demographics and a changing economic environment require a different management structure before it's too late. We know what needs to be done. Unfortunately with the current political establishment I don't see that happening.
January 24, 20214 yr 5 hours ago, cadmen said: It really pisses me off when the city holds onto control of assets like the Market and puts political people in charge of organizations in which they have little or no experience. Even the best intended political hack is not going to be as effective as someone from the industry. Competence and experience always trumps political connections. As long as cities like Cleveland place more value on political control over what's best for the entity we will suffer the consequences. I hate sunbelt growth while we stagnate but I have to admit one of the things they do right is place more emphasis on running their institutions like a business while we too often run ours as political fiefdoms. The Westside Market is a unique Cleveland asset. It had organic strengths but changing demographics and a changing economic environment require a different management structure before it's too late. We know what needs to be done. Unfortunately with the current political establishment I don't see that happening. Philly’s non profit managed Reading Market Terminal (RMT) just announced its new manager this weekend after hiring the previous one (8) months ago. Dude couldn’t cut-it during COVID so he’s gone..in 8 months. Just like it used to be in business, low job performance and it’s time to move on. city managed urban market (CLE) with an inept manager 5+ years vs. non profit managed urban market (PHL) with a didn’t cut it in 8 months(cuz 8 months isn’t quite to inept level). kudos to RMT for at least trying to preempt additional damage to this civic gem. 50,000 weekend visitors at RMT pre-COVID btw. I currently prefer RMT over the WSM. Don’t see a lot of turn over, empty stands, or public drama ie. vendors vs. management. Meanwhile in CLE...how many WSM vendors gone just in the last month? All stating that issues pre dated COVID as we have a (5)+ year “manager” that looks below par on paper and a complete failure in hands-on results. what is the city’s real motivation here? Why is it tolerating a manager who hasn’t even addressed the 2015 issues and has “managed” to only tick-off vendors, and long-term ones to boot? Why is the city deliberately letting this national gem deteriorate? Edited January 25, 20214 yr by CLENYC
January 25, 20214 yr ^ yeah reading market is really nicely run or so it seems to the customer --- for another example the essex market out here in downtown ny has gone back and forth between being run the the city and vendor coop over the years. something weirder than usual seems to be going on with the wsm lately. its for time the city hand it over to try private or coop management.
January 30, 20214 yr On 1/25/2021 at 12:00 PM, mrnyc said: its for time the city hand it over to try private or coop management. You mean like a local grocery chain that has already demonstrated a successful (albeit pre covid) urban grocery and prepared food just across the river on E9th and Euclid?
January 30, 20214 yr 10 minutes ago, originaljbw said: You mean like a local grocery chain that has already demonstrated a successful (albeit pre covid) urban grocery and prepared food just across the river on E9th and Euclid? I’m not sure why you keep bringing this up. It makes zero sense to have Heinens take over WSM. Do we even know if the downtown Heinens is “successful”? I mean, it’s beautiful and we all love it, but I don’t think it would exist if Heinen’s was a publicly traded company. (I’m thankful they are private and care about this city.) Furthermore, it’s a different business model entirely. Running a multi-vendor market is nothing like a single-vendor grocery. WSM needs to be turned over to a NON-PROFIT entity (or co-op) created specifically for the purpose of running WSM. Period. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
January 30, 20214 yr On 1/23/2021 at 10:03 PM, KJP said: Oy Did anyone hear any details on this " Today something happened..." incident?
February 2, 20214 yr On 1/30/2021 at 2:19 PM, Clvlndr in LV said: Did anyone hear any details on this " Today something happened..." incident? Talked to a guy working there. Didn't say anything about the incident. Bit of good news though: He said that if they do leave the market, they plan to just open up somewhere else in the neighborhood. Let's just hope we don't have to get to that point regardless.
February 22, 20214 yr This from a city that also doesn't have a brick streets repair program. It just wants to gloss or pave over everything that gives and retains its character. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 18, 20214 yr Cleveland’s West Side Market targeted for $2.1M in upgrades Robert Higgs - Cleveland.com - May 18, 2021 "Work at the market will include: Replacement of all exterior doors. Improvements to the electrical system. Masonry work needed on the clock tower. New vendor booths. Improvements to the meat preparation area used by several butchers in the market. Better refrigeration and food preparation areas. Upgrades to allow better control of the temperature in the building, which has no heating or air conditioning, to address the heat of summer and cold of winter."
June 12, 20214 yr "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 17, 20213 yr How about investing in the West Side Market, not just sports teams? The tenants are understandably pissed. Saturday is a big-money revenue day for them...... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 2, 20213 yr Op-ed: The West Side Market is a cultural institution. Let's fix its problems before it's too late. When I was six or seven years old, I thought the most prestigious university in the world was WSMU. At every family gathering, my uncle would invariably invoke the lessons learned at WSMU to settle any argument. It wasn’t until I was a little older that I learned WSMU was not a college at all, but instead my uncle’s euphemistic reference to the hard-scrabble education one gains by working for decades at the West Side Market. the rest... https://www.thelandcle.org/stories/op-ed-the-west-side-market-is-a-cultural-institution-lets-fix-its-problems-before-its-too-late?fbclid=IwAR2JGKrkqvgAVksPCf4Qp94FwN0237cpcSPDjTNyMbKjiigGaZEWpoTvHRg
August 17, 20213 yr West Side Market diversifies tenant mix with new pop-up stalls Michael Indriolo - TheLand - Aug. 16, 2021 "West Side Market shoppers accustomed to the usual produce stalls in the arcade just northwest of the main building found something new this past weekend: Bonsai trees, Puerto Rican-style ice cream, and organic urban-farmed veggies. Those new stalls popped up as part of an effort to diversify the West Side Market with new entrepreneurs and local businesses. Spearheaded by the city of Cleveland with support from The FARE Project (Food Access Raises Everyone), the new Day Stall Vendor program grants local entrepreneurs temporary spots in the produce arcade on weekends. Although this free program only runs from Aug. 7 to Aug. 28, the city has eyes on a future long-term day stall program."
December 15, 20213 yr "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 15, 20213 yr I think Bibb is going to be a breath of fresh air for Cleveland in many ways. This is one of them. West Side Market for certain needs a level of service and care that the City of Cleveland itself isn't able to and competent enough to provide, and really should never have been in the business of providing in the first place.
December 15, 20213 yr This report is not surprising - at all. One can view the Jackson years as a mixed bag. While he deserves much credit for maintaining fiscal responsibility (rare in these times) he routinely came up short when it came to vision. As an old school rust belt big city mayor he displayed the misguided belief that the city should hang onto institutions (like the airport and WSM) even when it was obvious that an outside entity compromised of professionals steeped in their field would likely have better results than favored political cronies. It remains to be seen what kind of mayor Bibb will be but if he can come close to matching his rhetoric we will all be the beneficiary's of a stronger and more vibrant city.
December 15, 20213 yr Being fiscally responsible is table stakes as a Mayor. That's like making sure your check book is balanced.
December 15, 20213 yr 41 minutes ago, newyorker said: Being fiscally responsible is table stakes as a Mayor. That's like making sure your check book is balanced. It is what it is… 😉
December 15, 20213 yr ^ Of course being fiscally responsible SHOULD be something every mayor takes seriously...but many don't. Hey, I SHOULD have hair on my head but I don't. That's right...it is what it is.
December 29, 20213 yr Cleveland Mayor-elect Justin Bibb tasks transition leader with the future of the West Side Market https://www.ideastream.org/news/cleveland-mayor-elect-justin-bibb-tasks-transition-leader-with-the-future-of-the-west-side-market "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 28, 20223 yr https://ca.permitcleveland.org/public/Cap/CapDetail.aspx?Module=PublicHealth&TabName=PublicHealth&capID1=22CAP&capID2=00000&capID3=000EF&agencyCode=COC&IsToShowInspection= Jack Frost Donuts food service application at the West Side Market... Edited January 28, 20223 yr by downtownjoe
January 31, 20223 yr Well that's interesting and potentially game changing. Wouldn't Jack Frost donuts be the first non-indepedent to set up shop? If so does that mean the Market will be changing the type of merchants operating there? I'm not sure what to make of this news. It could be the beginning of the end for the Market or the end of the beginning as additional chains take over.
January 31, 20223 yr 34 minutes ago, cadmen said: Well that's interesting and potentially game changing. Wouldn't Jack Frost donuts be the first non-indepedent to set up shop? If so does that mean the Market will be changing the type of merchants operating there? I'm not sure what to make of this news. It could be the beginning of the end for the Market or the end of the beginning as additional chains take over. While I’ll (embarrassingly) admit that I’ve never heard of Jack Frost before, it certainly seems like it’s a Cleveland independent and original that’s a perfect fit for the market. Am I missing something? Jack Frost Donuts: Our Story Edited January 31, 20223 yr by brtshrcegr
January 31, 20223 yr Jack Frost is definitely an independent. And definitely not the first vendor with a separate store to open a stand at the market. Noodle Cat, Michael’s Bakery, and Orale all come to mind.
February 13, 20223 yr So, I was doing my Super Bowl shopping at the WSM when I had a (literal) “Oh sh*t” moment…. And for as much as we pile on the WSM (deservedly so) those were some of the cleanest public bathrooms I’ve ever used. Props to them. They …. saved my ass.
February 13, 20223 yr 1 hour ago, YABO713 said: So, I was doing my Super Bowl shopping at the WSM when I had a (literal) “Oh sh*t” moment…. And for as much as we pile on the WSM (deservedly so) those were some of the cleanest public bathrooms I’ve ever used. Props to them. They …. saved my ass. I was there yesterday as well. If you saw a guy walking around with a women on crutches, that was me.
February 25, 20223 yr Progress - proposed legislation for WSM: When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
February 25, 20223 yr Ah Dohar Meats, how I miss you. Granted West Side Market is more similar to Reading Terminal than Pike Place, but boy wouldn't it be nice if it mirrored the latter. It could be a hell of a draw.
February 25, 20223 yr 1 hour ago, Boomerang_Brian said: Progress - proposed legislation for WSM: It’s nice to finally have a mayor that cares about the WSM
March 22, 20223 yr Alcohol sales, pop-up stalls, other West Side Market reforms win approval from Cleveland City Council https://www.cleveland.com/news/2022/03/alcohol-sales-pop-up-stalls-other-west-side-market-reforms-expected-to-win-approval-from-cleveland-city-council.html So awesome to see this pass! Very much needed and exciting change to help stabilize and advance the Market - and hopefully just the first of plenty more to come.
March 27, 20223 yr It's been in the works for a while, masonry repairs and a lighting upgrade, approved last May. https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/in-depth/vision-for-west-side-markets-future-takes-shape-as-repairs-upgrades-are-approved Quote Additionally, the public investment will help fund masonry repairs and a lighting system upgrade to the market's tower as well as improvements to the meat prep areas and enhanced vendor booths.
April 3, 20223 yr Short interview with Jess Trivisonno gives some insights on some changes that may be coming to the market. West Side Market Senior Strategist Jessica Trivisonno Shares Her Vision for the Future. https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/news/articles/west-side-market-senior-strategist-jessica-trivisonno-shares-her-vision-for-the-future
June 12, 20223 yr Is anyone watching closely to see what they are doing on the tower? It almost looks like they are replacing the brilliant orange brick with a bland, flat brick…
July 29, 20222 yr Mayor Bibb Launches West Side Market Master Planning, Begins Transition to Nonprofit Operation Thursday, July 28, 2022 — Cleveland — Following national best practices, the City of Cleveland is transitioning the management and day-to-day operation of the West Side Market to a nonprofit focused exclusively on the iconic institution. The City will maintain ownership of the market. The transition includes two related initiatives: 1. Establishment of the new nonprofit, 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. An agreement between the City and nonprofit will clearly delineate roles and responsibilities for maintenance, capital projects, and operations. 2. Preparation of a 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 nonprofit once it assumes operational responsibility. The City of Cleveland will continue operating West Side Market during this transition period, as it has since 1912, laying the groundwork for the new nonprofit’s success. Jessica Trivisonno, Senior Strategist for the West Side Market, will facilitate master planning in partnership with Market Ventures, Inc., the country’s most experienced public market consulting group. Master planning and nonprofit formation will be informed by customer surveys, focus groups, and an advisory committee composed of vendors, government officials, community stakeholders, and local experts. This decision comes after years of advocacy from West Side Market vendors and the community to transition operations of the West Side Market to a nonprofit operator. “The West Side Market is a critically important anchor institution for Greater Cleveland and has been recognized as one of America’s best public markets. I am thrilled that after years of advocacy, Mayor Bibb has made the Market a top priority from day one of his administration,” said Ward 3 Councilman Kerry McCormack, whose ward includes the West Side Market. “I fully support the plan to convert the Market to an independent nonprofit operation, as this approach has proven to be a best practice across the country.” The Jackson administration began a West Side Market Revitalization Plan in 2019. The plan was completed in February 2022 and recommended the City of Cleveland create a Master Plan for the long-term sustainability of the West Side Market. “Master planning for the West Side Market is key to ensuring this transition is successful. The West Side Market is a Cleveland jewel that has so much potential for growth and community impact,” said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “We will have a strong strategy and specific solutions to problems that have challenged the Market before we hand operations off to a nonprofit to lead the West Side Market in its second century.” The three-phase Master Plan will take approximately 10 months to complete. Leadership from Market Ventures, Inc. will meet with the United West Side Market Tenant’s Association in August to provide an overview of the process and meet with West Side Market vendors one-on-one to discuss each business and their space and business needs. “At the end of the day, a public market’s success depends on the success of each Market merchant. The City is taking the right steps to carefully plan for the transition, to include the merchants and other stakeholders in the planning process, and to create the playbook so the new nonprofit can hit the ground running,” said Ted Spitzer of Market Ventures, Inc. The Bibb administration will continue working with partners to identify opportunities to improve operations at the Market to increase the number of vendors, bring more visitors to the Market, and update infrastructure while the master planning and transition process takes place. https://mayor.clevelandohio.gov/mayor-bibb-launches-west-side-market-master-planning-begins-transition-nonprofit-operation
October 11, 20222 yr anyone have any idea how much longer the exterior work is suppose to last? I can't find much online and the scaffolding at street level has been annoying so I'm just curious how much longer it will need to be there.
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