North Market

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The east entrance to the North Market features its distinctive rooster and sunbeam logo.

The North Market is an indoor market located in Columbus, Ohio, USA.

1 History
2 The Market today
3 List of current North Market merchants
4 External links

[edit] History

Ohio’s capital city, like many others in 19th century America, built a series of public markets to facilitate agricultural and industrial as well as retail trade around the middle of the 1800s. The city’s Central Market was built between 1849 and 1850 at Town and Fourth Streets to serve as a municipal building as well as an economic market, and was soon joined by a West Market, on South Gift Street, and an East market, at the intersection of Mt. Vernon and Miami Avenues. The North market, constructed at Spruce and High Streets on the city’s north side, was constructed in 1876. [1] Historically, city ordinances and a city-employed Market Master established and enforced rules governing fees, location of stands, and other standards. By the mid-20th century, changing demographics and shopping preferences, coupled with a series of fires left Columbus with only one public market, the North Market, which after a 1947 fire was housed in a Quonset hut erected by the Merchant’s Association. [2]

In 1988, a group called the North Market Development Authority was established as part of a movement to restore the market and the market concept to its former status as a vital part of the Columbus community. The suburbanization of the city had dealt the downtown area an economic blow, but the success of the movement to preserve Columbus’ German Village neighborhood provided an example that large-scale neighborhood rehabilitation was possible in the capital city. In 1982, the North Market District was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places by the Columbus Landmarks Foundation and in December 1992, Nationwide Insurance sold the NMDA the former Advanced Thresher farm machinery warehouse located just behind the market’s original High Street location. The rehabilitated warehouse, financed by $5 million raised by NDMA from corporate and city sources, reopened as the new North Market in November 1995.

The market’s interior contains a mixture of produce, retail, and food stands.

[edit] The Market today

The market can be thought of as a concept somewhere between a shopping mall and a supermarket. Its retail space is leased out to independent merchants and artisans who operate within the market. The current 36 merchants are a mixture of delis, bakeries, pastry shops, ethnic food restaurants, specialty goods stores, and produce stands. One million shoppers visit the North Market every year, and many regular customers develop personal relationships with the owners and operators of the market’s businesses.

The North Market sponsors an outdoor farmers market during growing season (April through late October-November), where several independent merchants sell their goods.

The area surrounding the market has continued to prosper, with the building of the architecturally significant Columbus Convention Center across High Street and growth of the nearby Arena District and Short North neighborhoods fueling a housing and retail boom. The North Market is set to add a bell tower similar to the one that adorned the 1876 building by November 2006.

[edit] List of current North Market merchants

A Touch of Earth – Coffee, tea, and bulk foods and spices
Barry’s New York Style Deli – Known for the large size of its sandwiches and for having “The Best Corn Beef Sandwich west of the Hudson River” according to local publication Columbus Alive
Best of the Wurst – A deli famous for its bratwursts
Better Earth – Natural products general store and gift shop
Better Earth Beyond Beads - Handmade jewelry
Bluescreek Farms Meats – Butcher’s shop featuring handmade meatloaf and sausages
Bubbles Tea & Juice Company – Smoothies, tea, and juices with a focus on healthiness
CaJohns Flavor & Fire - Award-winning salsas, sauces, rubs and dips
China Market – Chinese food and Asian market
Curds and Whey – Gourmet food emporium with a large selection of cheeses; owner Mike Kast has been called “The Donald of the Market” for having owned a number of the businesses inside over the years
El Paraiso – Mexican restaurant and grocery
Expressly Benevolence – A gourmet bakery with a focus on vegetarian/vegan and healthy baking
Firdous Express – Highly-rated Mediterranean restaurant that came transplanted to the Market after having operated for a time on Ohio State campus
The Fish Guys - Fresh seafood and sandwiches
Flavors of India – Named “The Best Source for Real Indian Food” by the Columbus Dispatch
Gatterdam Eggs – Having originally opened at the Central Market in 1916 and moving to the North Market in 1968, Gatterdam Eggs holds the title as the oldest operating business in the market and is notable as well for its “honor system” in which customers take a dozen eggs and leave the money in a metal box attached to the stand
Grapes of Mirth – Wine and beer merchant specializing in smaller labels
The Greener Grocer – Specializing in eclectic, fresh, and local produce
Heil’s Family Deli – The oldest deli at the Market is known for its potato salad, often said to be the best in Columbus, but also serves a variety of sandwiches
Jeni’s Fresh Ice Creams – Ice cream artisan Jeni Britton has quickly become one of the most well-known foodies in the Market with her acclaimed signature flavors, including Dark Cocoa Gelato, Wild Berry Lavender, and Salty Caramel
Jose Madrid Salsa – Seller of a variety of salsas, including popular fruit varieties; known by customers for its extensive sampling table in front
Lac Viet Market – Vietnamese food and groceries
Market Blooms – The Market’s resident florist since 1990
Mozart’s North Market Bakery – The North Market location of this popular local chain specializes in coffee and European-style pastries
Nida’s Sushi – Asian restaurant and grocer that specializes in Pad Thai, billed as the best in Columbus
North Market Cook Ware - High quality cookware, bakeware, kitchen gadgets, utensils and coffee and tea accessories
North Market Poultry and Game – Free range meats and prepared food
Omega Artisan Bakery – High quality bakery that fills the air in the Market with the smell of baking bread
Pam’s Market Popcorn – Gourmet popcorn seller
Pastaria – Italian eatery voted the best takeout in Columbus by Citysearch.com
Pastaria Seconda – Grocer and seller of prepared food by the Pastaria cooks
Pure Imagination Chocolatier – Large selection of artisan chocolate prepared by chocolatier Daniel Cooper
Sarefino’s Pizzeria and Italian Deli – Italian eatery known for its calzone and Stromboli as well as excellent pizzas and sandwiches
The Source by Wassertrom – Store specializing in discount dishes, service ware, and glasses

Flags above Benevolence Bakery	Sarefino’s Pizzeria and Italian Deli	North Market Blooms is the market’s resident florist shop	The Best of the Wurst is known for its sausages
The Market’s east entrance and parking lot	Looking down the front street side of the Market with evidence of the housing and retail boom associated with the area’s resurgence