The coronavirus pandemic has not slowed construction of a new food hall and grocery store in downtown Syracuse, the first of its kind for the area. The Salt City Market will feature culturally diverse food entrepreneurs, and some of them have been just as busy, gearing up for the opening.
Steel framing and glass windows are up in the new four-story building on what was a vacant parking lot in a blighted section in the heart of the city. Dreamer Glen is the owner of Miss Prissy’s, an American soul establishment. She’s one of eight vendors that were chosen to have a stall at the market, after more than 170 people applied. She talked about what it was like to see the building begin to take shape.
“Indescribable,” Glen said. “You can’t believe that this is really happening. It’s been a year and a half and it’s been a hell of a ride; but it’s been a good one. It’s super exciting to finally see your dreams come to fruition before your eyes.”
The other venders include Vietnamese, Jamaican, Thai and Burmese food. Most of the entrepreneurs are women. Glen got to take a tour of the building, still under construction, with Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who stopped by to see the progress, earlier this month. Glen said being a part of this project has given the vendors, especially women and people of color, a lot of opportunities that they would not have had otherwise. She said the market, located next to the Marriot Syracuse Downtown and Centro Bus Hub, will bring people together.
“There is a lot of cultural ignorance and a lot of cultural bias here in the area,” Glen said. “I think having a little bit of everybody mixed together, it will cause people to be curious and see what it’s all about and bridge that cultural gap.”
Salt City Market is a project spearheaded by the Allyn Family Foundation. Executive Director Meg O’Connell said these venders don’t have a brick and mortar restaurant, because the cost is so high. Having just a food stall makes it more affordable.
“It reflects for our community the hidden talent that exists, that if given the opportunity to have a place to excel, that we as a community should be embracing that and embracing that inclusive, economic development,” O’Connell said.
The building will also have offices and mixed-income apartments on the upper floors. Construction should be complete and the market open by the end of November.
