North Market
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The North Market is an indoor market located in Columbus, Ohio, USA.
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[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.
[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 |
