by Paula Rosenberg

Created on: May 16, 2009   Last Updated: June 09, 2009

Whether you are a native Clevelander or just visiting for the weekend, the West Side Market is a stop well worth making. 2012 marks the centennial celebration for the city's beloved market place which is located in the historic Ohio City District.

Inside the market your senses will delight in the sites and smells of the venders' booths. A full list of venders and a map of the market can be found at www.westsidemarket.com . Some of the can't miss stops include:

The Fruit and Vegetable Arcade: This tented area spans the perimeter of half the building. It is doubtful that you will find fresher or more reasonably priced produce in the city. There are dozens of venders in the arcade and they are all hospitable but the one that sticks out is Calabrese Produce. This family owned business is almost as old as the market itself, having formed in 1919. You will not find friendly faces then you will at the Calabrese stands. Do not forget to hit the far end of the arcade at the corner of Lorain and W. 24th Street. You will find the flower booths there.

The Cheese Shop: With well over 100 varieties of cheese on hand it is doubtful that you will return home with out the perfect accompaniment for whatever bottle of wine you were planning on cracking open that evening.

Mediterranean Imported Foods: This small store within the market beats the pants of the ethnic food section at any supper market. If you are looking for anything from fresh Greek Olives to real Hungarian Paprika, you will find it here.

Edward Badstuber and Son: Meat stands tend to make up the majority of the market. The Badstuber stand is one of the oldest in the market. Their specialty is smoked meat and jerky.

Pirogue Palace: You will never find a more extensive selection of pirogue flavors anywhere. There are dozens of fillings from traditional potato and cheddar to more exotic flavors like shiitake mushroom.

Candy Corner: Kids will love the endless assortment of candy to choose from while parents will enjoy a trip down memory lane. In addition to the homemade sweets this vender also carries nostalgic goodies such as marshmallow ice cream cones, candy necklaces, and lemonheads.

Classic Seafood Market: This booth is the place to find great deals on shellfish. They have a great selection of fresh and smoked seafood as well.

K&K Bakery: A large number of Eastern Europeans settled in Cleveland during the late 19th and early 20th century. K&K's still offers a taste of the old country. All of their fresh baked treats are scrumptious but it is the Hungarian strudel that keeps luring costumers back.

Frickaccio's: This is a great place to grab a bite to go from in the market. Their pizzas and sandwiches are packed with flavor and sweet tomato sauce. Fortunately their infamous pizza bagels can also be purchased in bags of half dozen because one is simply not enough.

Johnny's Hot Dogs: This establishment has been around since day one of the market's existence. They are know for the being the oldest hot dog stand in Cleveland and many natives will tell you they are also the best. This is great place to grab an economically friendly lunch before you leave.

With over one hundred venders the West Side Market is well worth spending an afternoon perusing around.

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