Michael Symon and Chris Connor Co-Chair West Side Market’s Capital Campaign Committee
Cleveland Public Market Corporation (CPMC) has announced a new capital campaign committee consisting of Northeast Ohio leaders and West Side Market champions, co-chaired by celebrity chef and Cleveland native Michael Symon and retired CEO of the Sherwin-Williams Company Chris Connor.
“To me, West Side Market is the most important part of the city,” says Symon. “It’s going through great changes, but it has to be protected, guarded, and loved by Clevelanders and the people that are from here if it’s going to continue to thrive another 100 years.”
“This is one of the most important destinations in our city, attracting almost 1 million visitors per year,” says Connor, who is also Chairman of the Connor Foundation. “We knew this project was something we wanted to get involved in and it’s time for everyone in our region to embrace this place.”
The committee will assist CPMC in raising the remaining $9 million of the total $70 million to bring the West Side Market Transformation Project to completion. The additional committee members are:
David Abbott
President, CPMC Board of Directors
Tom and Joanie Adler
Chairs, Joann and Thomas Adler Family Foundation
Tony Anselmo
Owner, Premiere ProduceOne
Fred and Laura Bidwell
Chairs, Fred and Laura Ruth Bidwell Foundation
Carrie Carpenter
Senior Vice President, Community Philanthropy, Huntington Bank
Erin Connor-Reif
Executive Director, Connor Foundation
Vic DiGeronimo
CEO, DeGeronimo Companies
Eric Fiala
Executive Vice President, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer, KeyBank
Lee Friedman
Retired CEO of College Now of Greater Cleveland
Frank and Michelle Gallucci
Plevin and Gallucci
Dee and Jimmy Haslam
Managing Partners, Haslam Sports Group and Cleveland Browns
Allison Howard
President of Business Operations, Cleveland Sirens
Ezio Listati
Managing Partner, Thrasher Dinsmore, and Dolan
Don Malone
Retired President of Ohio Hospitals, Cleveland Clinic
Randy McShepard
Vice President, Public Affairs and Chief Talent Officer, RPM International
Peter Meisel
Principal, Carnegie Companies Inc.
Robyn Minter-Smyers
Executive Committee Member and Partner, Thompson Hine LLP
Kathi Paroska
President, The Paroska Group Inc.
India Pierce-Lee
Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer, Cuyahoga Community College
Dick Pogue
Senior Advisor, Retired Managing Parter, Jones Day
Michael Quinlan
Partner, Jones Day
Brian and Teresa Spear
Ancora Holdings Group
Taras Szmagala
Retired Chief Legal Officer, Eaton Corporation
Graham Veysey and Marika Shioiri-Clark
Principals, North Water Partners and SOSHL Design Studio, respectively
Kristin Warzocha
President and CEO, Greater Cleveland Food Bank
Andrew Watts
Proprietor, Cordelia and ROSY
Ann Zoller
Senior Advisor, Strategy Design Partners
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To date, CPMC has raised more than $60 million of the Transformation Project’s $70 million budget. The project’s scope includes preservation of historic spaces; a complete overhaul and modernization of food storage and preparation spaces in the basement; the installation of modernized infrastructure systems including HVAC, a new refrigeration system, and back-up generators; the addition of an onsite commercial kitchen in the basement; improving ADA accessibility including the addition of first-floor public restrooms and a public elevator to renovated second-floor spaces; the creation of a teaching kitchen and event space capable of hosting educational and public programs; adding a second balcony for public seating; building a permanent outdoor courtyard with seating and programming spaces; and transforming the North Arcade into a prepared food hall with seating and local, independently owned businesses serving ready-to-eat food and beverages. The renovated KeyBank Produce Arcade reopened in January 2026 as the first milestone of the project. The renovation of the basement is currently underway.
“Every generation in Cleveland has left its mark on West Side Market since it opened more than a century ago,” says David Abbott, President of the CPMC Board of Directors. “This is our moment. This is our legacy. The Market is at a critical place in its history and it’s going to take the support of everyone in our community to ensure that future generations can enjoy the Market as well.”
“We are thrilled to collaborate with this incredible and diverse group of leaders from our community,” says Rosemary Mudry, Executive Director of CPMC. “We have made incredible progress, but the work is not yet done. We look forward to working with our campaign committee to engage our community so that we can fully realize this bold vision for the Market’s future.”
CPMC officially launched the capital campaign upon its creation in 2024. The project is the cornerstone to the Market’s masterplan, spearheaded by the administration of Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb during his first term, which included the renovation recommendations and the recommendation to create a dedicated non-profit to manage the Market’s operations. To date, funding for the project has come from government, corporate, foundation, and individual sources.
“We invite you to come down and see the changes happening at the Market,” says Symon. “We ask that you give what you can, and I know we’re going to hit our goal. We thank you, Cleveland.”
To support the Market’s transformation, make a donation today.