The Corporation For Findlay Market Of Cincinnati

What The Corporation For Findlay Market Of Cincinnati does

The Corporation for Findlay Market of Cincinnati is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates Findlay Market, Ohio's oldest continuously operated public market, founded in 1855 in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. The core offering is a year-round indoor market with 50+ full-time merchants selling produce, meat, fish, poultry, cheese, deli, ethnic foods, flowers, and specialty items, supplemented by a weekend Outdoor Market and Farmers Market. The market welcomes 1.2–1.4 million visitors annually and supports an additional 50+ seasonal vendors at peak. Hospitality is anchored by two operated venues, Jane's (bar) and Race St. Station (music venue), alongside rental spaces including Coughlin Commons, The Shed, Jane's, and the Race Street Esplanade.

Beyond the physical market, the organization runs a layered food-entrepreneurship ecosystem: Findlay Kitchen, a 14-kitchen commercial incubator (80%+ members from historically marginalized groups); Findlay Launch, a 15-month storefront accelerator; and Findlay Learn, an education and wraparound-support arm. A proprietary Findlay Market Shopping App — relaunched in 2022 — extends ordering online and in-app with EBT/SNAP and Produce Perks (up to $25 matching) support for low-income shoppers.

The revenue model combines vendor rent and lease income from approximately 60 full-time merchants, event venue rentals (usage-based, e.g., $93.75/hour for the Classroom Kitchen), the Friends of Findlay Market tiered membership program (annual Silver/Gold/Diamond/Platinum subscriptions), donations including a $250 commemorative Brick fundraiser tied to the Findlay Forward Capital Campaign, and program/service revenue from the food-innovation stack. GTM is community-led and direct-to-consumer, driven by in-person programming (Night Market, Flavor of Findlay, Fall Food Fest, Community Nights, Music at the Market) plus email, social, and event-marketing channels.

Name

The Corporation For Findlay Market Of Cincinnati

Legal name

Corporation for Findlay Market

Website

https://findlaymarket.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1855

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Corporation for Findlay Market of Cincinnati is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating Ohio's oldest continuously operated public market in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine, serving 1.2+ million annual visitors through 50+ year-round merchants, food-business incubator and accelerator programs, event venues, and an EBT/SNAP-enabled shopping app.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Market & Food Business Incubation

NAICS

Specialty Food Retailers (4452), Food and Beverage Retailers (445), All Other Specialty Food Retailers (445298)

SIC

Retail-Grocery Stores (5411), Retail-Food Stores (5400), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Farmstead & Local Artisan Food Markets (Retail Shops) (CRAHAGAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gourmet & Fine Food Stores (CRAHAGAG), Culinary Walking & Market Tours (THAJAGAA), Prepared Foods & Catering-Focused Specialty Stores (CRAHAGAM)

Keywords

• Public market operations
• Food business incubation
• Commercial kitchen rental
• Event venue rentals
• Farmers market management

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Vendor Rent and Lease Revenue: Income from approximately 60 full-time merchants operating year-round plus seasonal outdoor market vendors renting space at Findlay Market
2. Event Venue Rentals: Revenue from renting indoor and outdoor venues including The Training Room at Coughlin Commons, Bar Area at Coughlin Commons, Classroom Kitchen at Findlay Kitchen, Farm Shed, Jane's, Race Street Esplanade, and North & South Market Sides
3. Friends of Findlay Market Membership Program: Annual and monthly membership tiers (Silver, Gold, Diamond, Platinum) with benefits including early event access, discounts, and merchandise
4. Brick Fundraiser: Commemorative brick sales at $250 per brick as part of Findlay Forward Capital Campaign
5. Food Innovation Programs: Findlay Kitchen incubator and Findlay Launch accelerator programs supporting food entrepreneurs with commercial kitchen access and mentorship

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Findlay Market operates Ohio's oldest continuously operated public market with 50+ year-round merchants selling meat, fish, poultry, produce, flowers, cheese, deli, and ethnic foods. The organization runs a comprehensive suite of programs including Findlay Kitchen (commercial kitchen incubator with 14 licensed kitchens), Findlay Launch (storefront accelerator), Findlay Learn (education), the Findlay Market Shopping App supporting EBT/SNAP benefits, and event venue rentals including Jane's bar and Race St. Station music venue.

Product overview

The Corporation for Findlay Market operates Ohio's oldest continuously operated public market as its core offering, supplemented by a suite of food entrepreneurship programs including Findlay Kitchen (commercial kitchen incubator), Findlay Launch (storefront accelerator), and Findlay Learn (education). Additional offerings include the Findlay Market Shopping App for online ordering with SNAP/EBT support, and hospitality venues Jane's and Race St. Station. The organization is structured as a 501(c)(3) non-profit focused on supporting small businesses and food access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Findlay Kitchen: Non-profit food business incubator providing commercial kitchen space and support for food entrepreneurs
• Findlay Launch
• Findlay Market Shopping App
• Jane's
• Race Street Station
• Friends of Findlay Market
• Flavor of Findlay

Products and services

• Findlay Market (Public Market)
• Findlay Kitchen

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.2 million annual visitors generating economic activity in the market district
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Recovery Friendly Hamilton CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Hamilton County Health Department's Recovery Friendly Hamilton County initiative, supporting harm reduction and recovery resources in the community
• Cincinnati Regional Chamber Center for Research and DatacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Economic Impact Report analyzing Findlay Market's effect on local and regional economies, including survey data from businesses and financial analysis
• Castle & Key DistilleryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBar partnership for Night Market event - providing sampling and VIP tour giveaway for 6 guests
• Cincinnati Beverage CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBar partnership for Night Market - Little Kings samples and swag, photo opportunity with Little Kings Throne
• High Grain BreweryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBar partnership for Night Market event
• Quills & QueersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Poetry Slam programming at Night Market event
• Cincinnati Circus CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEntertainment programming at Night Market - strolling magician performance 6-8 PM
• Creative Asian SocietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCultural programming at Night Market - free origami making workshop
• American Farmland TrustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational presence during National Farmers Market Week - free swag, edible Ohio magazines, farmland resources
• Brewing Heritage TrailminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscount partnership - all Friends of Findlay Market receive 10% off Brewing Heritage Trail tours and merchandise
• Rhinegeist BreweryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNeighboring business partnership for Night Market after-hours - Shakespeare in the Taproom collaboration with Cincinnati Shakespeare Company

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Borough Market: Borough Market in London is one of the oldest and most renowned food markets in the UK, featuring permanent and rotating specialty food traders with a strong focus on artisanal and locally sourced products. Comparable in mission, curated vendor mix, and event programming, though operating in a different geography under different governance.
• West Side Market: West Side Market in Cleveland, Ohio (est. 1912) is a historic public market run by the City of Cleveland featuring permanent specialty food vendors including meats, produce, and ethnic foods. Strong regional peer in the same state with comparable historic-market positioning and vendor mix to Findlay Market.
• Soulard Market: Soulard Farmers Market in St. Louis is one of the oldest public markets west of the Mississippi, operating a permanent indoor market hall alongside a weekend farmers market with specialty food and produce vendors. Comparable historic public-market model and small-merchant ecosystem to Findlay Market.

Direct peers

• Eastern Market: Eastern Market in Detroit is a historic public market (est. 1891) operating a year-round indoor market, a famous Saturday farmers market, and merchant incubation programs. Highly comparable mission of food access and small-business support, with a similar nonprofit operating model to Findlay Market.
• Pike Place Market: Pike Place Market in Seattle is a historic public market (est. 1907) operating a similar year-round indoor market with permanent specialty food merchants, a farmers market, and craft vendors, supported by a nonprofit governing entity (Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority). Highly comparable in mission, structure, and merchant-mix model to Findlay Market.
• Lancaster Central Market: Lancaster Central Market in Pennsylvania, established in 1889, is one of the country's oldest continuously operating farmers markets housed in a dedicated market house, run by a nonprofit (Lancaster Market Trust) and featuring specialty food vendors, produce, meats, and prepared foods. Closely mirrors Findlay's farm-to-table and historic-architecture positioning.
• Ferry Building Marketplace: Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco is a historic waterfront public market housing specialty food merchants, a farmers market, and event spaces, operated by a private landlord with a curated tenant mix. Comparable in historic-architecture venue and curated specialty food merchant format, though operated under a different ownership structure.
• Reading Terminal Market: Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia is one of America's oldest and largest enclosed public markets, run by a nonprofit (the Reading Terminal Market Corporation), featuring 80+ permanent merchants selling meats, fish, produce, specialty foods, and prepared meals. Direct structural and operational analog to Findlay Market's 50+ merchant model.
• Boston Public Market: Boston Public Market is a year-round indoor marketplace of 30+ permanent vendors selling fresh, locally sourced food, operated by a nonprofit (Boston Public Market Association) with a mission of food access and local agriculture support. Direct peer in nonprofit operating model and mission-driven local-food positioning.
• French Market: The French Market in New Orleans is a historic multi-block public market dating to the 1790s, featuring permanent specialty food merchants, a farmers market, event programming, and a nonprofit operator (French Market Corporation). Comparable in scale, historic roots, vendor mix, and event-driven ancillary revenue to Findlay Market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/corporation-for-findlay-market

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Corporation For Findlay Market Of Cincinnati