Vince’s Meats at the West Side Market

PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Monday, January 23, 2017; West Side Market, W. 25th and Lorain Avenue: Vince Bertonaschi of Vince’s Meats chats with a customer. After 30 years at the West Side Market, Bertonaschi closed his stand on January 28th. As President of the West Side Market Tenants Association, Bertonaschi fought to keep West Side Market parking lot under the control of the tenants. The city of Cleveland wrested control of the lot and area businesses monopolized many of the parking spots once reserved for West Side Market shoppers. More customers were lost during the reconstruction of the lot this past year. Bertonaschi’s call for a rent reduction over the next three years to help merchants recover from the loss of customers went unheeded by the city. Instead, the city of Cleveland raised rents on the merchants, resulting in Bertonaschi’s decision to close his stand.