The West Side Market Is in the Middle of a Major Transformation

The West Side Market has towered over Ohio City for more than a century. Now, it gets a much-needed facelift.

n ongoing $70 million renovation adds a prepared food hall, courtyard, venue and teaching kitchen. In January, the market debuted a refreshed produce arcade, with redesigned vendor stands, refrigeration, an HVAC system and new lighting.

“It’s a totally new format. You can actually interact with the customers more,” says Brian Gaal, who manages A&J Produce, which has operated at the West Side Market for more than three decades. “Everything is brand new. Everything works.”

Plump vegetables, fruits and fragrant bouquets and herbs are now at eye-level for shoppers to peruse.

“It really highlights the full vision of what the project is intended to do for the Market, which is to preserve the historic architecture, enhance systems and restore aging infrastructure,” says Rosemary Mudry, the executive director of Cleveland Public Market Corp., which manages the West Side Market. ”Completion of the produce arcade has helped build trust in the project as the community can actually see the vision come to life.”

Up next: a gut renovation of the basement. While most funds have been raised, Cleveland Public Market Corp. is still collecting a remaining $12 million to finish the entire building by early 2028.

“I think when it’s complete,” Mudry says, “we will be the best public market in America.”

For more updates about Cleveland, sign up for our Cleveland Magazine Daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox six times a week.

Cleveland Magazine is also available in print, featuring immersive stories, helpful guides and beautiful photography and design.