Staff Trip to Ohio Markets: The Takeaways.May, 2012

The NewBo City Market

The NewBo City MarketFrom May 15-17, 2012, the staff of NewBo City Market traveled to Ohio

to harvest information and ideas from 3 established public markets. Part of the purpose was to gather images and concepts to make the idea

of a Public Market clearer to potential NewBo City Market merchants and guests.

Markets

We visited 3 markets:

Markets

We visited 3 markets:

North Market, Columbus

Markets

We visited 3 markets:Westside Market, Cleveland

North Market, Columbus

Markets

We visited 3 markets:Westside Market, Cleveland

2nd Street Market, Dayton

North Market, Columbus

North Market

North Market has a very strong vendor marketing support system in place.

There is a banner and a corresponding pamphlet for each and every vendor.

North Market

They get a lot of support from their community, especially from 3 major annual

events.

North Market

They get a lot of support from their community, especially from 3 major annual

events.

They used to do many more frequent events, but found fewer, bigger events to be more

profitable and easier to manage

North Market

They get a lot of support from their community, especially from 3 major annual

events.

They used to do many more frequent events, but found fewer, bigger events to be more

profitable and easier to manage.

North Market

They get a lot of support from their community, especially from 3 major annual

events.

They used to do many more frequent events, but found fewer, bigger events to be

more profitable and easier to manage.

North Market

They get a lot of support from their community, especially from 3 major annual

events.

They used to do many more frequent events, but found fewer, bigger events to be more

profitable and easier to manage.

Their graphics are very strong as well.

North Market

Pasta

Beer & Wine

Produce Meat

North Market

Soups & Sauces

Varied dining options

Also: ice cream, olives, sausages, waffles & crepes, cookware, sushi, flowers, fish,

popcorn, chocolate, spices, bread, hot sauces, and much more

North Market

Takeaways from North Market:

• This is a very old (over 100 years), established market in a relatively new building (1996).

• There is a great product mix, with some overlap but not a whole lot.• They are in a very hip & trendy part of town, called “The Short North,” very close

to the center of downtown and surrounded by restaurants, shopping, bars and nightclubs. The population of Columbus is 787,000 (1.8 mil metropolitan).

• The merchants are very well established and there is very little turnover.• North Market is a shopping AND dining destination – groceries, a snack, a meal;

as a gathering and meeting spot it is an area favorite.• It feels as though every single person in Columbus absolutely loves the North

Market.

Westside Market

The Westside Market in Cleveland is celebrating its 100th

anniversary this year in a beautiful, vaulted space built for the purpose.

Note the consistency of display & signage from merchant to merchant

Westside Market

The crepe stand is popular

Meat and Fish make up at least ½ the market.

Westside Market

There’s plenty of prepared ethnic food, though very little concern about healthful ingredients.

Ready to cook fresh pasta is popular too.

Westside Market

This innovative bike rack is a good example of finding the opportunities for public art.

The produce was relegated to an annex, and it was several

vendors hawking the same ol’-same ol’ from off a produce

truck. Kinda disappointing.

Takeaways from Westside Market:

• People in Cleveland like their meat.• When multiple produce merchants all sell the same thing, the result is subpar

product selection, a lack of local authenticity, and a lot of infighting between merchants.

• Look and feel are nearly as important as variety and quality of flavors.• NewBo City Market needs popcorn.• Most common customer suggestion is that the market be open on Sundays.• Both markets (North and Westside) had plenty of pasta and bread

Westside Market

2nd Street Market

Dayton (141K) is right around the same size as Cedar Rapids (126K). The market building is a former freight house, much like the farmers’ market in Davenport.

2nd Street Market

While small, the market looks very big because it is long and narrow.

Looking east from center

Looking west from center

Some of the booths were permanent, built-in affairs, while some more closely resembled farmers market booths with just a table and a chair.

2nd Street Market

Their in-house marketing support is strong as well.

2nd Street Market

This clock and directional map in the center also serves as a great meeting spot.

2nd Street Market

Types of vendors

included not just food, but also

things like plants and

garden supplies,

organic stuff for babies,

and decorative

gifts.

2nd Street Market

They have lots of open, flexible space, with overhead doors for when the weather is nice.

The NewBo City Market

The goal is not so much to copy…

Westside Market, Cleveland

2nd Street Market, Dayton

North Market, Columbus

…As to learn and to adapt these ideas to what CR needs…

…To make The NewBo City Market America’s next great

public market.To get involved, contact Kurt@NewBoCityMarket.com