Dear North Market Shopper, 

As I move about the community many individuals I encounter are not familiar with and, in fact, surprised to learn about the structure of North Market.

Not many people know that the North Market is operated by a not-for-profit organization, the North Market Development Authority (NMDA).  Our staff of four full-timers and three part-timers report to a 19-member board of directors who oversee the operation of the Market.

While the City of Columbus owns the building, it is the NMDA which attends to the oversight of the Market in our community.  

Unlike typical commercial real estate management ventures or shopping center operations, the Market is operated to create low cost economic opportunities for small family-run businesses and farms.  It is also operated to maintain an old-world style of business that is instrumental in creating the atmosphere that is so unique to our Market.

The NMDA receives its operating dollars from three sources: merchant rent, parking revenue and fundraising.  As a not-for-profit organization, we look to fundraising to help us maintain our position of pride in the community. 

On the evening of Saturday, May 22^nd, North Market will play host to our biggest fundraising event of the year, the Apron Gala.  The Apron Gala is a casual and fun evening of great food, drink and entertainment.  Each year our merchants go all-out to serve up the very best they can offer.  It’s a true gastronomic evening.  

Your $75 ticket is good for a full evening of appetizers, main courses, desserts and drinks personally served by our community of merchants.  Your ticket contribution also goes a long way in helping provide us with the funds so necessary to keep our Market great. 

So, if you’re looking for something fun, delicious and rewarding to do on May 22^nd you should pick up a ticket for the 14^th Annual North Market Apron Gala.  You’ll be doing something great for the Market and something even better for your appetite. 

Hope to see you at the Market and the Apron Gala.

Dave Wible

Executive Director

North Market will celebrate its fifth Grillmasters Festival over Memorial Day Weekend. The event has been expanded to  two days this year and will emphasize grilling, techniques and sauces (the smoke) as well as putting a little bite into your recipes with spices and hot sauces (the fire). North Market Grillmasters Festival will take place May 29 and 30 and feature special barbeque and fiery foods vendors, cooking demonstrations, culinary contests, live music and entertainment for the kiddies. 

Our regular farmers’ market will take place on Saturday and be augmented by special barbeque and fiery foods vendors including Black Swamp Gourmet, Chuck Evans’ Montezuma Brand, Crazy Uncle Jester’s Inferno World, Ole Ray’s Sauces, Patter Fam Sauces, Ron’s Original Hot Sauce and Urban Chefs. The vendors will be present Saturday and Sunday where you can see them in action along with local chefs at our grilling demonstrations that will boast a host of flavorful grilling recipes. Attendees are invited to watch as recipes are prepared, taste what the presenters have created and take tips to go home and try out on the grill. 

On Saturday, customers are invited to demonstrate their BBQ prowess in an Amateur Barbeque Sauce Contest that will be judged by local BBQ sauce makers.  First prize is $50 in North Market gift certificates. Returning in the “professional” category is the popular, “Thrilla at the Grilla.”  A couple chefs are given their own hibachis and charcoal then use their imagination as far as what they whip up on the grill. Our discerning judges will choose a champion and the public can taste their creations. The winner will take home the title “Baron of Barbeque” and $200 in North Market gift certificates. On Sunday the activities of the day will commence with an amateur Salsa Fresco Contest with another winner taking home $50 in North Market gift certificates.

“Memorial Day weekend kicks-off the Summer grilling season and North Market is the perfect place for a perfect barbecue.” Said David Wible, Executive Director of the North Market. “From our fresh poultry, meats, seafood and game to the broad offerings of our Farmers Market and The Greener Grocer, we have all the ingredients for summer grilling.  Our Grillmaster’s Festival adds an additional layer of “flavor” to the barbecue tradition by assembling some of the best grilling sauce makers in the country.”

Grillmasters Festival Schedule of Activities

Saturday, May 29

• 8 a.m., Farmers Market opens
• 9 - 11 a.m., music by BeJae Fleming
• 9 a.m., Cooking demonstration TBA
• 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Face Painting by Rita
• 10 a.m., Amateur BBQ Sauce Contest
• 11 a.m., Cooking demonstration TBA
• 11 a.m.- 1 p.m., music by Island Breeze Duo
• 11 a.m.- 1 p.m., Columbus Dog Connection foster parents with adoptable dogs
• 11 a.m.- 1 p.m., balloons by Dr. Silverfoot
• 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Mark Wood’s Cowboy Fun Show
• 12 p.m., Thrilla at the Grilla, two chefs face off for the title “BBQ Master”
• 1 - 3 p.m., music by Za Unitt
• 3 - 5 p.m., music by Dan Heidt
• 1 p.m., Cooking demonstration by Patter Fam Sauces
• 2 p.m., Cooking demonstration by Anthony Frazier of Urban Chefs
• 3 p.m., Cooking demonstration TBA
• 4 p.m., Cooking demonstration TBA

Sunday, May 30

• 12 p.m., North Market and outdoor vendors open
• 12 - 2 p.m., music by Avalon Nine
• 12 - 2 p.m., balloons by Dr. Silverfoot
• 12: 30 p.m., Salsa Fresco Contest
• 1:15 p.m., Cooking demonstration TBA
• 2 p.m., Cooking demonstration TBA
• 2 - 4 p.m., music TBA
• 2:45 p.m., Cooking demonstration by Anthony Frazier of Urban Chefs
• 3:30 p.m., Cooking demonstration TBA

The North Market Grillmasters Festival is a free event on Saturday, May 29 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 30 from 12 - 5 p.m.  For more information or to enter the BBQ Sauce, Thrilla at the Grilla or Salsa Fresco contests, please call the North Market at (614) 463-9664 or visit www.northmarket.com.