Historic view of the West Side Market, c. 1912
1 2018-11-30T06:11:16-08:00 Mia Freer 097ab676afdbedd1f694becc76e66e2c5a355215 32292 3 View of the exterior of the building during the year of its establishment. plain 2018-12-01T00:19:55-08:00 Cleveland State University Library Cleveland Press Collection Mia Freer 097ab676afdbedd1f694becc76e66e2c5a355215This page is referenced by:
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History
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A brief overview of the WSM
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The West Side Market opened its doors to Cleveland, Ohio on November 2, 1912. It is the oldest operating market in Cleveland to date. It has served as a core factor of the success of the immigrant population in the city, as the market is a hub for culture and diversity.
The history of the immigrant population, in terms of the West Side Market, actually begins with the Pearl Street Market. The Pearl Street Market was given built in 1868 with a specific purpose. When "two early settlers of Ohio City, Josiah Barber and Richard Lord," were giving the tract of land in 1840, they were going to issue it to the city of Cleveland under one condition... "that it always be kept as a public market site" (Lewis, 28). Needless to say, the Pearl Street Market was created, and Barber and Lord's request lives on today.
As the Pearl Street Market developed over the years and community members became more and more acquainted with its presence, there seemed to be a specific category of people that visited the market more than any other. Immigrants. They were attracted to the market because they found it as a place where they could communicate and interact with others. This is because of the diversity of the cultures that has been seen in this markets food even today. Immigrants were able to talk to the market vendors who sold, produced or made the food that was enjoyed by a variety of cultures, ethnicities, and countries (Lewis, 28). These people found solace within the walls of the Pearl Street Market just as sure as I am that many others do with the West Side Market now.
The West Side Market is located in the Ohio City area of Cleveland, Ohio. For years, this area of Cleveland had been known to be a high crime area. However, "today," in more recent years, due to gentrification efforts, "Ohio City offers visitors...a booming craft beer and dining scene with some 40 eateries" (Harpaz). The booming of the Ohio City area has caused a shift in the demographic of people who frequent this part of Cleveland. It has brought in a lot of millennials and attracted anyone who is interested in variety of cultural cuisine.
The influx of traffic in the Ohio City area has definitely aided in the popularity of the West Side Market. I think it has affected the market in a positive way because location always has an impact on its residents. Having the area surrounding the West Side Market as a hub for diversity in both culture and food, makes the Ohio City area to be almost an expansion of the West Side Market's ideals altogether.
Therefore, the West Side Market has lived up to its 2008 designation "as one of '10 Great Public Places in America' by the American Planning Association and continues to offer an authentic and culturally diverse shopping experience" (West Side Market).
