Tower City opened two decades ago as an upscale downtown mall.  But every Friday, the main concourse transforms into a combination French and farmer’s market.  In the shadows of upscale boutiques and restaurants, Northeast Ohio handicrafters sell their wares to white collar office workers, urban teens and even out-of-town guests.

Lisa Nemeth organizes art shows from her busy Northcoast Promotions office in the bowels of Tower City.  After spending a year at the Galleria, Tower City invited Nemeth to move the show to The Avenue. 

"The whole idea of having a weekly show, that was both affordable to the artist and gives people something to do, I think it puts a good face on Cleveland especially when we get tourists or we get the conventions that come through."

Tourists are crucial to sales for artists like Parma’s Rochelle Vallee, set up next to Tower City’s large fountains.

"We have pieces of our art work that are going to India, Germany, lot of pieces in England, along with Australia is our farthest.  Tower City is the one place where you could meet all different types of nationalities."

Stuart Taylor was a social studies teacher who got into woodworking after retiring.  One of his biggest successes also involves out-of-towners.

"Last spring, during the basketball playoffs, the Cavaliers were playing Atlanta.  The TNT sports group and Ernie Johnson saw our cutting boards and asked if we could make clipboards.  We said ‘sure,’ and so he ordered one and every now and then when we watch him on TV we can see our clipboard on TV.  So that’s great…”

Taylor estimates he’s sold nearly 30 clipboards since then thanks to sportscaster Ernie Johnson.

The art of cooking is also on display in Tower City.  Cecilia Cichra sells baked goods.

"Usually we get bunches between 11 to 3, then little by little, and then I have customers now since I’ve been coming here, I guess they like the product, so they keep coming back."

Customers keep coming back for art, and the artisans say they’ll keep coming back for of the art of organization.

"I like the way Lisa conducts business, she’s very professional in what she does.  Wherever Lisa is that’s where I go."

This year, North Coast Promotions is putting on a similar event at Southpark Mall, simultaneous to the Tower City show.  Nemeth says the expansion is due to the continued appeal of locally produced goods.

"People are going to watch how they spend their money, and if they can spend it locally instead of globally, I think that’s what’s going to happen.  I’ve found with the art shows and the craft fairs, they’re holding their own.  They’re doing OK.  Hanukkah and Christmas are not cancelled this year, it’s still going to happen."

The Tower City art shows happen every Friday through October.