Cleveland native and celebrity chef Michael Symon has put together the website Market Vendor Relief to aid vendors that were affected by the Jan. 30 fire at the 100-year-old West Side Market on West 25th Street in Cleveland.

The website states:

As a result of the fire, the Market vendors are faced with a myriad of issues. All food and packaging products on the main floor have been lost, and the inventory in the basement coolers is yet to be determined, as no one is permitted to enter this area. While the produce vendors are permitted to open, much of their equipment and products are still in the basement coolers, and without all of the stands up and running, attendance at the Market is at an all-time low.
In addition, vendors lost all of their peaked annual Super Bowl Sunday sales, which is key for many to pay their rent and sustain their business until the Easter season. While each of the vendors has liability insurance, many do not have coverage for their lost inventory, business interruption, or their employees' lost wages.
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By donating to this fund, you can be assured that the monies raised will aid in the Market vendors' recovery, and in the efforts to save the beloved West Side Market.

You can make a donation to The Michael D. Symon Foundation Inc. through marketvendorrelief.org or at any First Merit Bank branch.

View a photo gallery of the damage from the West Side Market fire.


-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl