A Cleveland Gem – The Westside Market

by Jeeves · February 7, 2017

Cleveland has really become the comeback city. When I moved here in 1983 it was quite frankly a scary big city. Tower City Center a large downtown shopping and restaurant center was just opening and was the start of the downtown revitalization efforts of the 1980’s. May Company, Higbee’s and Halle’s all had their anchor locations on Public Square or near there on Euclid Avenue. Sadly today though there are no large department stores left downtown and Tower City has seen better days and it is under plans for revitalization and renovations now that downtown is once again a destination for Clevelanders, northern Ohioans and tourists alike. Downtown Cleveland is again making itself over again. This all on the heels of some great events that have transpired lately, our beloved CAV’S winning the 2016 NBA championship, the Republican National Convention being held here and the Indians making their way back to the World Series and almost…winning it – have all been positive for the city.
However; one great venue in the city hasn’t changed much over the past 105 years since opening in 1912 on West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue in the Ohio City neighborhood, The Westside Market. I absolutely love a trip to the Market and never pass up the opportunity to go there. This is the quintessential way an urban market should be; loaded with plenty of ethnic and local stalls offering everything from produce to spices and anything in between. The outside shed houses the fruits, vegetables and every produce known to man-kind. It’s always fun to watch and listen to the little ethnic women haggle the vendors over prices. I have learned one valuable lesson when purchasing produce, insist on the produce you can see and touch, don’t allow the vendor to just grab something from behind the stall, a few times I have arrived home to discover badly bruised or quite overripe fruit and the same for vegetables. The pretty stuff is at eye level and insist on getting what you can see and touch, if the vendor gripes, simply move on – because there are plenty of stalls to spend your money. Every time they will concede and bag the produce you hand them, they simply don’t want to lose a sale. Inside is a plethora of stands filled with fresh meats, poultry, baked goods, spices, ethic cuisine, coffee and teas – you name it, you can find it here. I do have my favorite stands of course and will give them a shout out! My absolute go to stand every visit is Meister Foods (stand A-4, A-5) located on the Lorain Avenue wall. The BEST pierogi in my opinion in all of Cleveland is at his stand. They are fresh made and ready to fry once you get home. Meister’s offers sweet and savory varieties along with a great assortment of cheese, puddings, salads and even cabbage and noodles. My favorite bakery is Vera’s Bakery (stand F-10, F-11) this stand offers the best and most delicious Hungarian baked goods. Spano’s Bakery (stand H-6. H-7) has the most syrupy and decadent baklava and other Greek pastries. My daughter Sydney and I always have to hit Frickaccio’s (stand A-8) for an “almost” like West Virginia pepperoni roll or a local Cleveland favorite a pizza bagel. If you’re hungry there are many stands inside offering bratwurst, gyros and anything else you might be hungry for, maybe a Turkish coffee. We always have a snack and like to eat at the Great Lakes Brewing Company across Market Square for a truly delicious meal and hand crafted beer – if that is your thing. Trust me a visit to the Westside Market and Ohio City neighborhood is a great way to spend a Saturday and in a city that is no longer “The Mistake on the Lake

Located at 1975 West 25th Street – Cleveland, Ohio
Hours: Mon & Wed 7am-4pm / Fri & Sat 7am-6pm
Sundays (limited vendors) 10am – 4pm