SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Two years ago, Adam Sudmann dreamed about creating a diverse food hall in Syracuse. He had a vision. That vision became The Salt City Market.
It was a long process, but Sudmann noticed the talent. Putting it all together took some time.
“We saw a lot of culinary potential, culinary talent in town,” Sudmann said. “And we saw a need for a space that brought disparate, usually siloed groups of people together, a common space.”
The people of Syracuse appreciate having a place where they can experience a wide variety of different cultural foods.
Community residents David and Leila had high praise for the food hall.
“We love food from all over the world. So it’s especially important to get different types of variety, cuisines and stuff like that, and we love the mission of helping people of color and different backgrounds too,” David said. “We’re actually from different countries, I’m from Macedonia, she’s from Bosnia.”
It’s diversity that brought Ngoc Huynh, owner of Mamma Hai, and Fiona Day, owner of Pie’s The Limit, into the fold.
Both of them said the market has given them a one of a kind experience that has helped bring together culinary creators to share something with the community.
“Going through this process with a whole bunch of other vendors where we all have the same goals, we’re all working towards the same thing, which is making Salt City Market a popular and exciting place for people to come is really great,” Day said.
Huynh, who has been to food halls in other cities, said Salt City Market is a special experience.
“To have a diverse market like this in Syracuse and bring different communities of color together I think it’s amazing,” Huynh said.
And for Sudmann, bringing people from different communities together, is one of the main goals for the Salt City Market.
“One thing that gets us is, is it diverse enough?” Sudmann said. “Is it signaling to different communities? Are people feeling welcome in here and it’s not just for SU students or downtown workers, but it’s pulling in people from all sorts of corners whether here on the near west side side or out in (Baldwinsville) or the New American community that’s been a really tough community to get in here. But I think it’s doing that and that’s really gratifying.”
Servicing the community is what the Salt City Market is all about — preserving cultural diversity while heightening a sense of community.
