West Side Market cleanup and restoration work begins

CLEVELAND - Cleanup and restoration work began Sunday on the 100-year-old West Side Market following Wednesday's fire. The work will cost approximately $276,000 and take five to 10 days to complete.

While workers began clean-up in the market's basement, area restaurants and customers continued to do their part to support the restoration effort.

At Happy Dog, in Cleveland's Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood, customers had even more special reason to come in and enjoy the neighborhood corner bar's famous hot dogs.

One dollar from every hot dog sold through Sunday night went toward the West Side Market cleanup effort. Over 1,000 hot dogs were consumed since Friday.

"Those are just good, Cleveland folks and we need to back and support that area as much as we can," said customer Susan Adams of Cleveland.

At Market Garden Brewery next door to West Side Market, customers are able to order a special 'Market Recovery' lager from the menu until Tuesday. One dollar from every lager sold will benefit the West Side Market Vendors Association.

A large turnout to watch the Super Bowl benefited the market cleanup even more.

"That's a lot of local businesses. That's their livelihood. To be out of business for three weeks is rough, so anything we can do to help," said customer Nicole Heine of Cleveland.

More community help for the West Side Market is on the way as well.

"There's going to be a cash mob," said Tom Buford of Cleveland. "The block clubs, I know, are already talking with one another about ways in which we could be of help to the market, folks getting back on their feet. This is a real neighborhood and we're supportive of each other."

The City of Cleveland will pay for the cleanup out of capital funds previously identified for upgrades and improvements to West Side Market.