The Sound of Ideas Community Tour: The Future of the West Side Market

The Sound of Ideas Community Tour brings 90.3 WCPN ideastream\’s radio show out of the studio and into neighborhoods across Northeast Ohio to talk directly with residents about issues that are important to them.

Cleveland\’s West Side Market has been a treasured landmark for more than a hundred years. But it is struggling and those who love the market are concerned. Longtime vendors have closed, leaving vacancies that detract from the market\’s vibrancy. The aging building, owned and operated by the City of Cleveland, needs upgrades that were neglected for years. The city says it is plowing millions into the building and has a plan to attract vendors, but many say a better plan would be for a nonprofit to manage the place with input from a board made up of representatives of City Hall, vendors, customers and market experts.

What are the best ideas to help the market achieve its potential and keep it going for another century? The Sound of Ideas aims to find out by kicking off its 2020 Community Tour, hosted by Mike McIntyre, in the market district. Community leaders, market tenants, neighbors and customers will share thoughts about the future of this iconic institution at 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 28 at Market Garden Brewery, next door to the West Side Market on West 25th Street.

The event is free and open to the public and, as always, those in attendance are invited to ask questions and share thoughts throughout the discussion.

ideastream is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.