Cleveland Extends Farmers Markets to Address Grocery Gap After Heinen's Closure
Farmers markets in Downtown Cleveland are being extended into the fall season to mitigate the impact of Heinen's grocery store closure. The nonprofit Downtown Cleveland Inc., which typically hosts weekly markets in Public Square during the summer, has prolonged its schedule into October. This initiative aims to provide fresh food options for downtown residents following Heinen's departure on July 31, after nearly 11 years of operation. The City of Cleveland had previously offered over $250,000 in incentives to help keep the store open, according to Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb. Additionally, the city has partnered with the North Union Farmers Market to host Tuesday morning markets on Mall B through October 6. Downtown Cleveland Inc. is also collaborating with StreetSense, a private consulting company, to attract a new grocery store to the area, with a report from StreetSense expected by early next month.
