SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — New events such as Live Concerts, Cooking Classes, and Art Classes are coming to the Salt City Market to engage the community.
These events mark a clear turning point for Salt City Market since overcoming the unforeseen challenges of opening during COVID. Challenges including pushing back the opening date, safe distancing protocols, staff loss, and delays with completing construction.
The market initially planned to open in the Fall of 2020 and was pushed back due to COVID opening in January. New safety protocols brought about accommodating mask mandates and safe distancing when in the building. Staff was lost due to the illness and attributed to a scarcity of workers on the project.
Construction continued after opening and finished in July with available apartments. However, despite the challenges, “This market still had to happen,” said market manager Adam Sudmann.
The market is a part of a decade-long effort to create a diverse cultural food hall for all, conceived by over 300 organizers. After many attempts and pop-up events, the Salt City Market secured a grant from the Allyn Family Foundation of approximately $25 million to further their deep interest in building economic empowerment and opportunity for residents of Syracuse.
Salt City Market is currently open with ten vendors, including The Baghdad Restaurant, Big in Burma, Erma’s Island, and Mamma Hai. Sudmann says he attributes their success to the building, the vendors, and the community.
The market is safely adding new events to engage the community, and Sudmann says these changes help this market thrive. The Salt City Market will continue to offer numerous events safely and honor its mission of being a space for all.
