The Salt City Market is a Promise of a Better Tomorrow

Oct 10

The Apple Crisp sweet bun is layered with vanilla cream cheese icing. It is the perfect seasonal fall treat by SINBUN, a sweet treat shop inside the Salt City Market.

Deep in the heart of downtown Syracuse, where South Salina meets West Onondaga, is a great food hall that combines the diverse and rich delicacies of Syracuse’s numerous cultural identities under one bazaar-style marketplace. The Salt City Market is a transformative community space that provides sustenance in the form of food and beverages, affordable housing, a coffee shop and bar, a cooperative grocery store, and the promise of a better tomorrow.

When the market opened its doors in January 2021, it began as a project with the vision of bringing to the forefront the hidden and diverse culinary gems that existed within city limits. From across the globe to the heart of downtown, new and seasoned residents of Syracuse were provided a pathway to relocate their small culinary pop-ups to one centralized location.

A uniquely delicious Curry Chicken Banh Mi made fresh by Mamma Hai, a Vietnamese kitchen at the Salt City Market in Syracuse, NY.

Many small businesses got their start in churches, bodegas, at local grocers, and other community-centered spaces. Moving into the Salt City Market was instrumental for the advancement of many of the current restaurants that serve a diverse set of international cuisines, ranging from Jamaican, Ethiopian, Vietnamese, Southern BBQ, Cali-Mex, Mediterranean, and sweet treats. Locals and visitors can also shop for groceries at a small co-op that was added to the market to ensure the downtown community had access to fresh local fruits and produce. The food is phenomenal, and the sense of community is contagious.

The establishment of the market was a tremendous project, and a process that took over 10 years of dedicated efforts by community organizers, non-profits, philanthropists, and significant financial investments to develop the space as it exists today. What can be learned from the creation of this modern crown jewel and food mecca in the heart of Syracuse is that when communities, advocates, and strong investments come together, brilliant ideas become reality.