Community of Cambridge Celebrates Opening of the Midtown Market

The Midtown Market, a revitalization project designed to foster small business growth and economic development in downtown Cambridge, celebrated its opening today. The Midtown Market business owners held a ribbon-cutting celebration this morning and led tours of the newly repurposed building.

Almost $1.5 million was invested to renovate the two-story historic building located at 1023 Wheeling Avenue in the heart of Cambridge’s downtown district. The market will operate as a mixed-use market housing a business cooperative, food vendors, office space, and indoor recreation.

“Small towns across Ohio are proving that big transformations often start with a single building,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “Midtown Market is a model for what’s possible when we invest in our historic downtowns to create commercial hubs that spark development and job growth.”

Thursday’s celebration was hosted by the Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce and Midtown Market in partnership with JobsOhio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE), the City of Cambridge, and the Cambridge-Guernsey Community Improvement Corporation.

“The Midtown Market is now a bustling center of activity in downtown Cambridge, demonstrating how a local hub can bring people together and strengthen a community for generations to come,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “This project and this market confirm what’s possible when businesses and local champions rally around a shared vision for downtown revitalization.”

Strong local partnerships and a shared vision for downtown revitalization made the Midtown Market possible. The mixed-use project totals over 17,260 square feet spanning the two floors.

The historic building was built in 1920 as the Sipe Chevrolet dealership and remained a car dealership until 2018. The market includes local food vendors like Chopp Boxx Hibachi and Delizio’s Pizza, bar/restaurant The Thirsty Turtle, duckpin bowling, arcade games, co-working space, and more.

"The CIC is excited to congratulate Midtown Market on their ribbon cutting and official opening in downtown Cambridge," said Bill Arnett, Executive Director, Cambridge-Guernsey Community Improvement Corporation. "Getting this project done took the work of numerous groups and organizations, but without the vision and financial commitment from the local owners it wouldn't have happened," he said.

The Midtown Market is a transformational project for Cambridge and is already being used as a hub for entrepreneurship and collaborative working. It is positioned to be a catalyst for continued community development and revitalization.

Jennifer Vincent, President and CEO of the Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce remarked that they are excited to welcome Midtown Market to downtown Cambridge. “Every new business that chooses to invest in downtown adds to the energy and momentum we’re seeing in our community,” said Vincent. “Midtown Market brings something unique to the area, and it’s wonderful to see local entrepreneurs investing in Cambridge, creating new opportunities, and giving residents and visitors another reason to spend time downtown. We’re proud to have them as part of our business community and look forward to watching them grow.”

“This project is a wonderful example of what can happen when local entrepreneurs, community partners, and the city come together with a shared vision for our community. We would like to extend our appreciation to JobsOhio for the grant funding and support that helped make this project possible. Their investment in Cambridge demonstrates the importance of public-private partnerships and the tremendous impact that strategic investment can have on our downtown and our community,” said Cambridge City Mayor, Tom Orr.

Mayor Orr congratulated the owners, project partners, and everyone who helped bring the vision to reality. “The transformation of this historic downtown building into a place where families can eat, play, work, and gather represents a significant investment in the future of Cambridge. Midtown Market brings new energy and opportunities to Wheeling Avenue while preserving an important part of our city’s history,” said Orr. “We are proud to welcome Midtown Market to our community and look forward to seeing it become a gathering place for residents and visitors for many years to come.”

The project was supported by a JobsOhio Vibrant Community grant of $450,000. The JobsOhio Vibrant Community Program offers competitive grants for development projects that help transform areas within a distressed community. Eligible projects include mixed-use projects, real estate development projects, and operated shared spaces, that meet the JobsOhio project criteria.

"This project is exactly what the Vibrant Community Program was created to support," said Matt Abbott, President and CEO of OhioSE. "Midtown Market is bringing much-needed services and capacity to downtown and has already proven itself to be an effective community hub. We congratulate the city and its local development partners on their hard work in bringing this project to life and expect Midtown Market to have a lasting impact on Cambridge, spurring additional investment downtown.”

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Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE)is the JobsOhio Network Partner for southern, eastern, and southeastern Ohio, providing economic development work and resources in 25 rural counties; they are the newest and geographically the largest of the six regions across the state. OhioSE partners closely with regional development districts, local economic development offices, state agencies, and other entities to expand, retain, and attract businesses in the counties they serve.