Jimbo Jones
German Village
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I went to the West Side Market in Cleveland for the first time over the Christmas weekend. I was absolutely blown away. The selection was pretty amazing. It makes me wish we had something similar in Columbus.
I know, we have the North Market. But aside from the prepared foods, the West Side Market has it all over the North Market.
DavidF
Elysium Fields
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I've been there a couple of times. I agree that from a selection point of view it's far superior to the North Market (tho I still love the North Market) especially when it comes to produce. As far as the prepared foods go though, North Market wins hands down.
Jimbo Jones
German Village
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I agree that North Market is great, and it's definitely a more relaxed atmosphere than the West Side Market. That said, I thought that the West Side Market was much more a true "market" than ours...and that includes the selection, quality and the vendors.
For the record, my point in raising this topic is that it would be awesome for Columbus to have something similar.
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
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I've never been. Sounds fun
Chris Sherman
East Franklinton
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Jimbo Jones wrote >>
I agree that North Market is great, and it's definitely a more relaxed atmosphere than the West Side Market. That said, I thought that the West Side Market was much more a true "market" than ours...and that includes the selection, quality and the vendors.
For the record, my point in raising this topic is that it would be awesome for Columbus to have something similar.
we do have something "similar" its called the north market... or did you mean "better"?
Jimbo Jones
German Village
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Chris Sherman wrote >>
Jimbo Jones wrote >>
I agree that North Market is great, and it's definitely a more relaxed atmosphere than the West Side Market. That said, I thought that the West Side Market was much more a true "market" than ours...and that includes the selection, quality and the vendors.
For the record, my point in raising this topic is that it would be awesome for Columbus to have something similar.we do have something "similar" its called the north market... or did you mean "better"?
By "similar" I mean a market akin to the West Side Market. So yes, "better" than what we currently have.
Chris Sherman
East Franklinton
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just checking jimbo.
Manatee
The eternal present
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I worked in the North Market for like a gazillion years, and I love it to pieces, but I agree that I prefer the West Side Market. It's apples and oranges though (fittingly); the West Side Market is a creation of lots of little ethnicities over a hundred years or so, Columbus has a more homogenized heritage (notice I am not judging; both have pros and cons) of German and Irish (although today it is certainly growing MUCH more diverse). It's hard to compete with things like an eastern-European food stall that has been around since God was a boy. It's just a different thing altogether, and not something I think could be created from whole cloth in Columbus. It's just a different city.
Jimbo Jones
German Village
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Manatee wrote >>
I worked in the North Market for like a gazillion years, and I love it to pieces, but I agree that I prefer the West Side Market. It's apples and oranges though (fittingly); the West Side Market is a creation of lots of little ethnicities over a hundred years or so, Columbus has a more homogenized heritage (notice I am not judging; both have pros and cons) of German and Irish (although today it is certainly growing MUCH more diverse). It's hard to compete with things like an eastern-European food stall that has been around since God was a boy. It's just a different thing altogether, and not something I think could be created from whole cloth in Columbus. It's just a different city.
That's an excellent point. I don't mean to criticize the North Market. I go there all the time and I love it. But I would like to have a true ethnic market in Columbus.
melikecheese
Merion Village
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I grew up going to the West Side Market. Our family had a few butchers we knew from going weekly. I can still remember going as a kid and getting gifts like key chains for my birthday from the guys. I LOVE smokies and so far I only know I can get them their.
When I moved to Columbus I went to the North Market thinking it would be similar. I remember being utterly disappointed. It took me about two years to get over it and go back, I now know that our Market is less a market and more a food court with shops and a butcher and one fish guy. I like it, I like what it is and love eating there, its just not a "market" like you see around the world.
If you are not familiar with the West Side Market check out the list of vendors and the map:
http://www.westsidemarket.org/vendors.aspx
West Side has 38 meat vendors, mostly selling meats unprepared. North Market, 3, I will count the kick ass Italian meats at the sub shop.
I'd be happy if I could buy some smokies in Columbus.
gk
columbus, ohio
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Jimbo Jones wrote >>
I went to the West Side Market in Cleveland for the first time over the Christmas weekend. I was absolutely blown away. The selection was pretty amazing. It makes me wish we had something similar in Columbus.
I know, we have the North Market. But aside from the prepared foods, the West Side Market has it all over the North Market.
Here's a little history of the West Side Market. There are only three or four of its kind left in the country.
drew
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gk wrote >>
jarsloth wrote >>
In the North Market you also don't have vendors yelling at you; it's a kindler, gentler shopping experience.That's because the West Side Market and Cleveland in general is more east coast; Columbus, Midwest.
I don't think so.
They're yelling because they have so much competition within the market - it's amazing to me how much redundancy there is within the building. The fruit and vegetable vendors in particular are almost comical - maybe 20 stalls in a row, all selling the same stuff from the same suppliers (look at the boxes ;-)). Everyone yelling their sale prices because, hey, that's the only real differentiator.
You talk to the vendors, none of them are sourcing locally. It's buy cheap, sell cheap. Quantity over quality.
As much as I love the WSM building, I'll take the North Market over it any day.
alison
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The old North Market was more like the West side Market in Cleveland -- when I moved to the neighborhood in 1992, I used to ride my bike over to the Quonset hut every week to get cheap groceries. It was a nice reminder of Findlay Market in Cincinnati, where you could eat great for cheap.
The new North Market is a wonderful place, but the emphasis on ready-to-serve and upscale items separates it from a true farmer's market.
cyclist II
Short North & Peach District
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Went to the West Side Market yesterday for the first time. Maybe 80-100+ vendors. Most of them identical, but still many of the non-produce vendors were offering a few different products. There were maybe 5 prepared food places: hot dogs, gyros, crepes, brats. Awesome train station style building with a huge vaulted ceiling with tiles.
I highly recommend, plus the Ohio City neighborhood looks cool. The building just to the southwest of the WSM had gilded crenelation!
racheltb
clintonville
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Pros for West Side: pirogi place, number of stalls, architecture, proximity to great lakes brewing co
Pros for North Market: emphasis on local sourcing, more seating, better lighting, proximity to short north restaurants
The markets are two completely different beasts in my opinion and I find it hard to say which is 'better'.
gk
columbus, ohio
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racheltb wrote >>
Pros for West Side: pirogi place, number of stalls, architecture, proximity to great lakes brewing co
Pros for North Market: emphasis on local sourcing, more seating, better lighting, proximity to short north restaurants
The markets are two completely different beasts in my opinion and I find it hard to say which is 'better'.
I agree. The North Market is more of a food court than actual market. The West Side Market is constantly cited as one of three or four of its kind left in the country; the others are in Philadelphia and Seattle.
hungrywoolf
Victorian Village
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Jimbo Jones wrote >>
Manatee wrote >>
I worked in the North Market for like a gazillion years, and I love it to pieces, but I agree that I prefer the West Side Market. It's apples and oranges though (fittingly); the West Side Market is a creation of lots of little ethnicities over a hundred years or so, Columbus has a more homogenized heritage (notice I am not judging; both have pros and cons) of German and Irish (although today it is certainly growing MUCH more diverse). It's hard to compete with things like an eastern-European food stall that has been around since God was a boy. It's just a different thing altogether, and not something I think could be created from whole cloth in Columbus. It's just a different city.That's an excellent point. I don't mean to criticize the North Market. I go there all the time and I love it. But I would like to have a true ethnic market in Columbus.
They aren't all under one roof but I am constantly amazed at how many different ethnic grocery stores/ markets we have in Columbus.
Off the top of my head: Indian, Mexican, African, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Eastern European, Cambodian, Middle Eastern, Dominican and Korean.
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