Charter One donates $10,000 to Cleveland's West Side Market in wake of fire

CLEVELAND - Support continued to pour in for the West Side Market vendors who lost inventory and business because of Wednesday’s fire.

The early morning fire caused significant damage to Sebastian’s Meats and Foster’s Meats, as well as covering counters and stands in soot.

On Friday, Charter One announced that it will donate $10,000 to Ohio City Inc., which is a community organization that partners with the city and the West Side Market. That money will help support vendors who will keep losing business while the market is closed.

“My heart goes out to the West Side Market vendors,” said Ken Marblestone, president of Charter One and RBS Citizens in Ohio, in a news release on Friday.

”I hope Charter One’s contribution will help make up for some of the revenue that the vendors will lose while the market undergoes repairs… I am confident that more citizens in our community will come forward to help the very people who make the iconic West Side Market what it is today.”

Charter One was a sponsor of the West Side Market’s year-long centennial celebrations. The bank said it has invested more than $529,000 in the West Side Market and Ohio City since 2010.

Other businesses, like Happy Dog and Market Garden Brewery , have already promised to aid vendors at Cleveland’s historic marketplace. Shoppers also plan to have a cash mob to bring extra funds into the market once it opens.

The West Side Market’s main building is closed indefinitely, while the produce building opened on Friday. Fire officials said the blaze appeared to be accidental and caused by electrical problems.