Posts tagged “findlay market”

OTR leaders look to past for Brewery District’s future

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In 2006 volunteers and community leaders developed an urban master plan for Over-the-Rhine. The plan developed goals and strategies to help reinvigorate the historic neighborhood, but now a familiar group of community leaders is looking to take the plan to the next level.

The new planning effort announced today by the Brewery District Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation (BDCURC) and Glaserworks will focus on the northern part of the neighborhood surrounding Findlay Market and the Brewery District. Organizers say that the goal is to take a more targeted economic approach.

“This is not really a comprehensive master plan, but rather a process to form a development plan for the area,” explained BDCURC executive director Steven Hampton. “We’ve got different buildings and building heights than the rest of OTR, and we are looking at how we can best use those assets.”

The 2006 plan, for which this planning effort is based, called for a number of items that have since moved forward including the Cincinnati Streetcar, Urban Mix Zoning District and the branding of the Brewery District. Still though, leaders say more needs to be done for the historic sub-area of OTR which includes an estimated 44 structures that were at one point used for beer brewing purposes.

“We’ve had some good successes being a volunteer group with virtually no budget, but now we are looking for official partners like Glaserworks and funding options for this next effort”

There is reason for hope in this long beleaguered area of Over-the-Rhine though. Rookwood Pottery and Christian Moerlein have opened up major operations in the area, and Findlay Market has experienced tremendous success over recent years. Hampton also says that the future of the area with the streetcar looks bright.

“As a whole everyone has struggled with the economy, but there has been more interest as the streetcar gets closer to fruition,” Hampton said. “We’re getting closer from a couple of different angles, and a lot of smaller investment has kept the area moving forward.”

The planning effort will start in earnest this spring and will look to capitalize off of the neighborhood’s existing urban assets. True loft-style residences, hillside development, large warehouses and typical Over-the-Rhine building stock all exist in the northern reaches of the neighborhood. And this is where community leaders believe the future lies.

“You’re going to see a neighborhood that’s really a mixed-use, walkable neighborhood which has protected its industrial and small businesses while also bringing in new ones,” Hampton concluded. “We’re not reinventing the wheel here. This is how the area is built, and that’s how it will continue to function. We’re just hoping to capitalize on that.”

Belgian immigrant finds business success in Cincinnati

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[This story was originally published in the Cincinnati Business Courier print edition on January 21, 2011. Visit the original story for more comments, thoughts and opinions on Taste of Belgium's business growth - Randy.]

 Nearly four years ago, Belgian immigrant Jean-Francois Flechet baked and sold his first waffles at Cincinnati’s historic Findlay Market. Since then Flechet has seen his waffle business grow in sales, staff, locations, cities, offerings and exposure. Now that Taste of Belgium has opened its second Cincinnati location at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (NURFC), Flechet has his eyes on yet even more growth.

“The food is creative and fresh,” Stephanie A. Creech, external relations manager with the NURFC exclaimed. “Additionally, we’re all looking forward to their upcoming early morning opening so that those who arrive early to the Freedom Center or who park in The Banks can enjoy a fresh cup of coffee or a latte and a waffle before starting their work day.”

The first day Taste of Belgium was at Findlay Market Flechet says he sold 50 waffles. Now, he states, they serve hundreds of people on an average Saturday and baked over 1,000 waffles this past Labor Day at the historic market.

The passionate Flechet, who can often be found offering up free samples of his popular waffles at Findlay Market, says that the early help of Jean-Robert de Cavel, Jean-Philippe Solnom, Bryan Madison and Johan Kars is what has allowed him to reach the level of success Taste of Belgium currently enjoys in Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus.

“At first I was doing absolutely everything myself. I was making the dough at one of Jean-Robert’s restaurants and I would bring it to Findlay early in the morning and would start baking at the back of Madison’s produce store.”

Three-and-a-half years later Flechet now has close to 30 employees, one of the most prominent spaces inside Findlay Market, Taste of Belgium at the NorthStar Café inside the NURFC, locations in Columbus’ North Market and Wexner Center, and is about to sign an agreement that will give the Taste of Belgium business its first stand alone store that will offer “much more than waffles.”

Flechet says that he has signed a letter of intent for a store located inside the Gateway Quarter of Over-the-Rhine. Once open, he says that Taste of Belgium will centralize all of their production activities for the Cincinnati region there, include a bar, and affordable food offerings. But Flechet is not content with simply appeasing the masses flocking to the Gateway Quarter.

“I made vegan waffles this past National Vegan Day so that my friend Dan Korman at Park+Vine could finally have a waffle. We are also making French macaroons with the new pastry chef we have on board.”

Following his expansion in Cincinnati, the plan is to start franchising the business elsewhere in the United States.

“Cincinnati is a great place to run a test [business]; if the concept works in Cincinnati it can work anywhere,” explained Flechet. “We are also working on a new website to improve shipping, and we hope to start producing our waffle irons in the U.S. soon, but right now I’m just having a lot of fun.”

Taste of Belgium photography by UrbanCincy contributer Thadd Fiala.

Two chili cook-offs warm Cincinnati this weekend

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As we deal with this season’s biggest snowfall so far, you might enjoy the opportunity to warm up with a bowl of chili this weekend. Two separate chili cook-offs are occurring this weekend in Cincinnati’s urban core.

On Sunday, January 23, Findlay Market will be hosting their seventh annual Chili Cook-off. Everyone is invited to stop by between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. to taste all of the entries. In addition to free chili, visitors will enjoy live music and a presentation entitled “How Hot Are You?” from Findlay Market vendor Colonel De Gourmet Herbs & Spices. Christian Moerlein beer will also be for sale in the OTR Biergarten. Cash prizes will be awarded to the three best chilis, as determined by the firefighters of Cincinnati Fire Department Engine Company 5 in Over-the-Rhine.

On the same day, Park+Vine will be hosting their own Vegan Chili Cook-off. From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., up to 20 chilis will be available for tasting at Park+Vine’s store at 1202 Main Street in Over-the-Rhine. There is a cost of $15 to attend, and proceeds will benefit the the Cincinnati Cooks! program from the FreeStore Food Bank. Everyone in attendance will receive a ballot to vote for the best chili in each of three categories.

Findlay Market experiences fifth straight year of growth

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The Corporation of Findlay Market is reporting that the historic market in Over-the-Rhine saw the number of shopping visits increase in 2010.

The increase in shoppers marks the fifth consecutive year of growth for Findlay Market. More than 800,000 shoppers in 2010 represented a 5.6 percent increase from 2009. The Corporation says that this growth was complimented by four of the five busiest weeks in Findlay Market’s 156-year history.

Findlay Market first started collecting this data in 2006 by installing electronic pedestrian counters near the doors to the market house. Since that time, they state that there has been a 66 percent increase in the number of shoppers.  Recently added tenants have spoke to the central location and types of shoppers present at Findlay Market as being a major draw.

“We looked around town at other possible locations, but the reason Findlay stood out in our minds is because we know the crowds that go there are often for the fresh produce and farmers markets,” Dan Wells, Sushi Bears chef, explained to UrbanCincy last October shortly before they opened.

The growth in the number of shoppers coincides nicely with the recent news that the historic market house is now 100 percent leased after being only 47 percent full when the City of Cincinnati completed a $16 million renovation in 2004. Officials are now working with Findlay Market on how to expand retail space to surrounding buildings.

The first such example is Daisy Mae’s Market, which announced it had purchased a three-story building nearby to expand their storage and preparation areas for deliveries. Additionally, four other tenants have reportedly applied for new leases at Findlay Market with no room to accommodate them.

“We are very encouraged that more and more people are moving back into Downtown and Over-the-Rhine,” Findlay Market marketing director Cheryl Eagleson stated. “They want all the usual services within the urban core…and one of those is the availability of quality foods.”

Findlay Market (map) is open year-round from 9am to 6pm Tuesday through Friday, 8am to 6pm on Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. Some tenants, including Pho Lang Thang, have experimented with later hours into the evening but have yet to set formal operation hours to those later times.

Findlay Market photography provided by UrbanCincy contributor 5chw4r7z.

Month in Review – November 2010

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This month, UrbanCincy covered a number of new businesses and new living spaces in Downtown and Over-the-Rhine. We also shared news on the modern streetcar that visited Fountain Square, and guest author Zachary Schunn shared his thoughts on good architecture in our city. Our top 5 most popular articles for November 2010 were:

  1. Historic loft renovation project starts anew in downtown Cincinnati
    The redevelopment of downtown Cincinnati’s former industrial buildings continues with the McFarland Lofts, a seven-unit condominium project under construction in a circa 1901 wagon livery and horse stable.
  2. Modern streetcar to be on display in downtown Cincinnati through 11/10
    If you have not been one of the hundreds of Cincinnatians to make the trip to Portland to see modern streetcars in action, or visit one of the many global cities with them in operation, then tomorrow is a great chance to see one up close and in person.
  3. Sushi Bears a new vegan option at Findlay Market
    A new vegan and vegetarian focused Japanese food stand has opened at Findlay Market. Sushi Bears is a food concept run by chef Dan Wells and his business partner Steve Hauck.

  4. Yoga Row creating new business unions along Main Street
    A visit to Main Street between 8th and Liberty streets nowadays reveals a neighborhood not only on the mend, but on the rise. The owners of Main Street Yoga, Yoga Bar, You Do Yoga, and the Joyful Life Yoga Center have collaborated together to form a new project, nicknamed “Yoga Row.”
  5. Successful urban design sets stage for successful cities
    When it comes to local architecture, Cincinnati deserves good design. But with architecture (and urban planning, or any other design-based field for that matter), there is never one particular thing that separates “good” design from “bad” design.

Fresh Table to celebrate grand opening at Findlay Market tomorrow

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Fresh Table will celebrate its grand opening at Findlay Market tomorrow. The new sustainably focused take-out food vendor will be open during regular market hours from 9am to 6pm tomorrow and throughout the rest of the work week.

Located inside the market house at the eastern entrance along Race Street, Fresh Table will treat customers to a “theatre production” of sorts with two flat-screen televisions broadcasting the action taking place in the exhibition kitchen.

According to Fresh Table co-owner Meredith Trombly, the screens will showcase unique menu items and the businesses many green partnerships with local vendors when there is nothing happening in the kitchen.

“Our passion for the environment fits with Findlay Market’s mission to reduce carbon footprints,” Trombly told Soapbox Cincinnati in early September. “We are participating with Findlay’s recycling program, which includes composting all kitchen scraps. Our chefs will also be wearing organic cotton chef’s coats, pants, hats and even aprons.”

Customers visiting for the first time tomorrow can expect a menu not surprisingly made up of fresh, seasonal items that will change regularly according to the chefs’ inspirations. But Trombly also notes that the menu will always include vegan and vegetarian options. Menu items will generally include soups, salads, starters, entrees, and sweets that will all be available via curb-side pickup or delivery throughout Over-the-Rhine, Downtown, and nearby Uptown neighborhoods.

Visit Fresh Table (map) tomorrow during their first day of operations, or become a fan on Facebook to stay in touch. Those interested in placing orders can do so online or by calling (513) 381-3774.

Over-the-Rhine college experiences record growth, eyes future expansion

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Over the past four semesters, Chatfield College’s location near Findlay Market in historic Over-the-Rhine has increased its enrollment from 74 to 170 students. Leadership at the liberal arts college attributes much of the growth to an aggressive Cincinnati recruiting campaign and mission to reach the under-served population in Cincinnati’s urban core.

“We empower students that maybe could not succeed at larger colleges like Cincinnati State,” said Chatfield College president John Tafaro. “And even though we are growing, we stay committed to individual attention by keeping our class sizes capped at 20 students or less.”

The capped class sizes have maintained one teacher for every eight students in class. In order to maintain this ratio school officials are in the process of hiring additional faculty in a variety of subjects. In order to accomplish this the college will host a recruitment fair on Thursday, October 7 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at 1800 Logan Street in Over-the-Rhine. The fair will reportedly include a speech to prospective faculty members by President Tafaro.

While Chatfield’s Over-the-Rhine location has more than doubled its enrollment over the past year, the college’s main campus located in St. Martin, Ohio has only grown by 10 percent since last fall. To accommodate such growth school officials say that a move from their current 5,000-square-foot location may be in store, but for the mean time they plan on adding additional classes to meet the new demands.

“We offer blocked scheduling and both day and night classes,” noted Tafaro. “Beginning this spring semester, which starts in January, we will also offer Saturday classes to most effectively reach our students’ needs.”

The college currently has a lease on their Over-the-Rhine space through 2014, but officials say that an expansion in the neighborhood would be ideal moving forward due to the great location.

“Our Findlay Market location is convenient to urban community members, and we are near eight bus lines. Approximately 90 percent of our students are black and nearly 80 percent are women, many single moms, who appreciate Chatfield coming to their community instead of making them come to us.”