Cleveland’s Central and Kinsman neighborhoods are getting another shot at a grocery run that looks a lot more like a farmers market. The Central Kinsman Wellness Collective’s four-day farm stop returns Thursday with more than 25 vendors, fresh produce, dairy, baked goods, hot food and juice — plus SNAP acceptance and free shuttles for residents.
The pop-up will run Thursday through Sunday at Cornucopia in Kinsman, with hours varying by day, according to Signal Cleveland. Shoppers can pay with cash, cards or SNAP, while free shuttles will connect the market with several nearby apartment buildings and public housing developments.
More Vendors, More Food And A New Location
The project is designed to be more than a one-weekend market. News 5 Cleveland reported that the collective is working toward a permanent, year-round indoor food store built around local growers, makers and community ownership.
This year’s version is expanding from 11 vendors to more than 25, with green beans, cheese and butter returning after selling well last fall. The market will also add fresh juice and hot food, along with fruits, vegetables, eggs, milk, bread, baked goods, pasta, herbs, honey and other goods; meat will not be available, Signal Cleveland reported.
A Pop-Up Market With A Co-Op In Mind
The Central Kinsman Wellness Collective describes a farm stop as a blend of a farmers market and small grocery store, with food arranged by category and sourced largely from local and regional producers. On its website, the Central Kinsman Wellness Collective says its long-term vision is a year-round market owned by members of the community.
The first pilot took place last fall at Shiloh Baptist Church in Central, and the group is using these temporary markets to test demand, build supply chains and figure out what a permanent store would cost. The collective’s members have voted to pursue a member cooperative if the project advances, meaning residents could eventually have a say in major business decisions.
The early numbers offer some encouragement. In reporting on Cleveland’s broader food network, Black Girl in CLE reported that the first day of last year’s market drew more than 80 shoppers, generated about $1,000 in sales and returned 70% of vendor profits to participating farmers and producers.
Local Residents Are Becoming Vendors, Too
About a dozen of this year’s new vendors are residents who received small grants and help navigating food regulations, state licensing and other startup hurdles. That program helped Central resident Dawn Glasco pass an Ohio Department of Agriculture inspection so she could sell fresh juices made with fruits, greens and aromatics.
The effort fits into a broader Cleveland push to strengthen neighborhood food systems rather than simply wait for another large grocery chain to move in. The BUILD Health Challenge says the collective formed in response to reduced access to healthy food on Cleveland’s east side and is working toward a permanent, community-owned model.
Environmental Health Watch, which works with the collective, says the project is intended to address both food access and economic opportunity by expanding markets for small-scale farmers and producers of color. For residents who remember the Central Dave’s grocery store closing in 2019, the pop-up is an experiment with a practical goal: making fresh food easier to reach before the neighborhood has to wait for a permanent answer.
Free Shuttles Will Run From Seven Housing Sites
Residents can sign up in advance for shuttle service at Skyline Tower, Arbor Park, Olde Cedar, Sankofa Village, Ivy Plaza, Oakwood Village and Heritage View Homes. Pickup times will be coordinated with each participating site the day before transportation, with service running Thursday through Saturday and no Sunday shuttle listed.
The farm stop’s Thursday and Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday hours are noon to 6 p.m. Organizers also plan another pop-up in October while they finish a business plan and prepare for a fundraising campaign aimed at opening a permanent store.
