Fresh Market planned for downtown

LANCASTER – What does downtown need? A place to buy groceries!

Downtown needs a store featuring fresh, local fare operated by Lancaster residents that also supports Fairfield County farmers and producers. It should be an easy venue to reach from neighborhoods south and west of downtown that are designated a food desert by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

If this new source of fresh food could be housed in a long-time vacant building restored to its former character, even better. It is about to happen!

Downtown Lancaster soon will be home to a new market in the former Lancaster Hardware building at the corner of South Columbus and Chestnut streets. The facility will be called Keller Market House, named after the Keller Grocery store that was located in the building from 1867 to 1904. The market will allow convenient access to local, fresh foods and support the local food economy by giving farmers and producers a year-round outlet for their products.

A commercial kitchen, and the opportunity to sell at the market, will provide an incubation environment for entrepreneurs to test ideas and products without a large investment in equipment and retail space. The building also will host an aggregation point to facilitate the distribution of local fresh foods to restaurants and other users. Importantly, one of the objectives will be to serve as a local food education and agricultural awareness center.

Products likely to be offered include vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs, cheese, honey, baked goods, herbs and spices, grains, pasta, flowers, natural cosmetics and soaps, and take-and-go prepared foods. In addition, there will be space for local artisans and crafts people to sell their creations. A café will offer simple fare prepared from member producers’ fresh offerings including soup, salads and sandwiches. Local residents can use the facility to shop, congregate, socialize, eat and attend classes, demonstrations, small musical performances and other events.

The concept of the fresh market and food hub began with Fairfield Growing: An Agricultural Economic Development Plan (May 2011) initiated by the Fairfield County Regional Planning Commission and conducted by interns from the Ohio State University City and Regional Planning Program. This study resulted in the establishment of a Local Food Council, which then pursued the promotion of sustainable economic development that improves the availability of local foods in the county and a search for an appropriate venue.

The title to the property recently was acquired by a new not-for-profit corporation, Lancaster Fresh Market Inc., through the Fairfield County Land Bank’s repurposing program. The building, which housed a church for 10 years after the hardware closed, has been vacant for two years.

Much work needs to be completed in order to open the market. The condition of the plumbing, electrical, HVAC, fire alarm systems and roof must be assessed and brought up to occupancy requirements. The 8,100-square-foot market area features hardwood floors, original pressed-tin ceilings, modern restrooms and a stage. The building also has a large basement and second floor. There are no plans at this time for development of the second floor or to use the basement other than for storage.

The operation will be managed by the board of Lancaster Fresh Market Inc., which soon will be seeking start-up donations and volunteers to bring the building and its systems online. For more information, call David Scheffler at Destination Downtown Lancaster 740-277-6607.

David Scheffler is the executive director of Destination Downtown Lancaster and the Lancaster Special Improvement District.