The West Side Market
By: Dominick Ferlito & Mallory Gordon
THIS IS CLEVELAND
By Sarah Roberts & Briana Contreras
The city of Cleveland can mean a variety of things to many different people. To some, it is known as the "mistake on the lake," to others it is "believeland," but to many it is just plain home. Recently, this city has seen a strong sense of pride return. Between raising the world’s best basketball player of his time, LeBron James, to the several movie shoots that have taken place here in the past couple of years, the variety of different restaurants and much more that downtown life offers ― Cleveland has certainly grown a bit bigger in the eyes of America.
Along with these recent glimpses of fame on a national scale, Cleveland also finds a large amount of pride within its own city limits. With the recent resident-deemed motto “All-In”, Cleveland has been stressing the sense of unity that comes from living in this underdog town. Many Ohioans agree that this Northeastern metropolis hasn’t always had the best reputation in the past, but what city doesn’t have its flaws? With the ups and downs of the city’s local sports teams, crime-based areas, harsh weather conditions and problems dealing with pollution, many have been blind to the beauty that Cleveland truly has to offer.
Although this city may have a few defects, it’s not all that Cleveland is known for. The chief town was created on the shores of Lake Erie in 1836 and evolved to eventually share the most mesmerizing pieces of history that Cleveland still holds today. It possesses the country’s largest performance center outside of New York — Playhouse Square — and holds the title as the “Home of Rock ‘n Roll” — birthing the careers of many rock ‘n roll icons and sharing musical talents with not only Cleveland, but the world. This city is filled with art, history, diverse cultures, breathtaking geography, and many features that other cities may have.
What makes the city of Cleveland so unique and different from other U.S. cities is the unity and spirit of its citizens who are brought together by its standout features. The citizens have built Cleveland for what it is today and continue to make it prosperous.
THE STORY
This Is Cleveland
The West Side Market
The Chbeir family has a passion for hot dogs. Emile and Florence Chbeir own Johnny Hot Dogs at the West Side Market where they serve hot dogs, burgers, and breakfast. Emile and Florence emigrated to the United States from Lebanon in the 1980s and bought their first stand at the Market in the mid 90s. The Chbeir’s have owned a couple different stands throughout the years, but Johnny’s has been home for them for the past 10 years.
“I pretty much grew up in the market,” Elena, the Chbeir’s youngest daughter, said. “The stuff I could tell about what we would do...being stuck there all day as kids helping Dad at the stand.”
There is nothing fancy about Johnny Hot Dog, it’s a classic hot dog stand that stays true to its’ history. Photo: Mallory Gordon
The historic West Side Market has origins dating back to the 1840s with the markethouse being built in 1912. The market has become a landmark for Clevelanders and a sight to see for tourists and visitors.
The Market is located in Ohio City on West 25th St. and Lorain. There isn’t much you can’t find there—they feature clothing stores, produce stands, bakeries, candy stores and more. Get there early on Saturdays though, during peak hours it becomes almost impossible to move because there are so many visitors.
Johnny’s has been at the market since the day the markethouse opened in 1912. Johnny’s is touted as the oldest hot dog stand in Cleveland, and is known around the city for their classic franks.
The "Hot Dog Hall of Fame" features some of the famous people that have eaten at Johnny's over the years. Photo: Mallory Gordon
Johnny’s is a classic, no frills hot dog stand. It looks the same as it has for the past 30 years. The décor give Johnny’s a nostalgic feel that emphasizes simplicity.
Over the years they have had several other family members who owned stands as well. Currently, Florence’s sister and brother-in law own a stand: Harb’s produce.
Like the Chbeir’s, many of the Market vendors’ families have been associated with the West Side Market. By all accounts, the West Side Market has a family feel. And that’s probably the reason it has long been an icon in Cleveland.
“My parents have a business where all kinds of people come to them, tenants and other customers, so they get to know who they serve and they aren’t shy of asking questions and getting to know people,” Elena said. “All the stands are pretty much family businesses, so all the tenants have gotten to know each other over the years.”
The market is home to over 100 different vendors, of abundant ethnic diversity offering all sorts of different products.
Ohio City has always had a welcoming feel to the many immigrants of the city. Cleveland, a “melting pot” in its own right, with various different cultural groups living throughout the city. The West Side Market is the epicenter of where those cultures blend together. The West Side Market is often considered the cornerstone of the revitalization of Ohio City too. The management for the West Side Market recently announced that they would now have regular summer hours, a new endeavor to entice more people to Ohio City on Sunday afternoons.
Over the past few years Ohio City has seen great change in its economic growth, thanks to places like the Great Lakes Brewing Company, the West Side Market, and St. Ignatius High School. According to the West Side Market’s website, it is estimated that over one million people visited the market last year.
Everyone has a reason to love the West Side Market, whether it’s for all the different cultures, the trendy and unique food, or because of the fun and welcoming feel.
“I think my parents’ favorite part about the market is that they get to make people happy by giving them good food. My dad loves making food and growing food. I think my parents get satisfaction by satisfying peoples’ stomachs,” Elena said.
Many of the vendors have similar sentiments—it’s enjoyable to see people have fun. Going to the West Side Market adds a sense of novelty and excitement to the mundane task of grocery shopping. Not many grocery stores offer the opportunity to see a whole pig sitting in the meat window or fresh broccoli rabe.
People appreciate the history of the West Side Market as well. Most cities can’t boast a century old open-air market that has been in continuous
Elena and Emile share a laugh after leaving work.
Photo: Dominick Ferlito
business. The market is representative of the city: ethnically diverse, hardworking, and friendly.
Elena emphasized the amount of work that goes into running a stand at the West Side Market. “Most days are 14 to 16 hour days. Even though the work is enjoyable, it’s grueling. Often times, when they leave their stands, the vendors still have many tasks to do once they get home. They have all the same responsibilities that any grocery store has, but often times they only have the help of family members.
Elena said that at some point she, her siblings, and her cousins have all worked at the West Side Market. Her sister Georgette has worked at Harb’s Produce since she was 14 years old. And when one of them comes home, they usually try to help out on the very busy Saturday mornings.
Emile and Florence can be seen cooking some fresh meals for hungry customers. Photo: Mallory Gordon
Even with all the hard work, Elena said that she can’t see her parents leaving the business anytime soon, “As for me and my siblings and my cousins, we probably won’t be with the business forever. It’s definitely not a pass down to your children situation. It is hard work and inconsistent business. But, we’ll always visit because we know how good everything is there.”
Elena expressed how special she feels to have the opportunity to be part of a historical piece of Cleveland. Not many people have the opportunity to own their own small business, even fewer have the opportunity to do it at a cultural icon.
With all the changes the city has been through, the market has gone through peaks and slumps of business, they’ve been through it all,” Elena said.
The West Side Market is currently open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, but the market’s management recently announced that they would be opening on Sundays beginning April 3rd.
The West Side Market is undeniably a piece of Cleveland culture. It has been featured on Food Network often, and is a favorite spot for local chefs and moms to get fresh ingredients in a unique atmosphere. At the West Side Market, a shopper usually doesn’t have to hunt down the owner, they’re usually talking to him or her. It has been open for over a century and if current trends continue it will be open for at least another 100 years.
When asked about the Cleveland food scene, Iron Chef Michael Symon said,
“part of being from Cleveland is
The view from the second floor balcony is considered one of the coolest in the city. Photo: Mallory Gordon
that we don’t’ realize how on point we are sometimes. When I bring someone from out of town to the West Side Market, I hear them gasp.” That is high praise from one of the best chefs in the world.
THE VIDEO
Dominick Ferlito sits down to chat with Elena Chbeir about her thoughts on the West Side Market and what the Market has meant to her family.