Findlay Market now has a new center of operations called Coughlin Commons.
A grand opening celebration was held Thursday afternoon. Mayor Aftab Pureval and several members of City Council—like Anna Albi and Meeka Owens—were present, alongside several Findlay Market donors and non-profit leaders.
“This is a hub for folks of all walks of life to come and coexist. Findlay Market is a place where everyone is welcome and where true diversity thrives,” Pureval said. “The city is beyond proud of our market’s history, proud of what it represents today and proud to play an important role in its future.”
Coughlin Commons—located directly in front of Findlay Market, in the former COhatch space— will not only serve as the market’s office building and center of operations, but it will also have freezers, refrigerators and warehouse areas for Findlay Market vendors to use, as well as community hub areas. Purchasing the space became necessary after Findlay Market learned that 3CDC’s imminent plans to develop northern Over-the-Rhine would demolish the building holding their former base of operations.
During the event, Findlay Market unveiled its very first capital campaign titled Findlay Forward, where the market will raise $21 million to pay for the Coughlin Commons building and for upcoming renovations—like improving ADA accessibility, overhauling the indoor seating area, adding more infrastructure to Findlay Kitchen’s classroom kitchen, a complete renovation of the Race Street Esplanade, and more.
In addition, the campaign will bolster the market’s SNAP matching program and expand access to healthy, locally grown and produced foods.
“There are so many programs led by amazing people at Findlay Market to make sure that low-income shoppers… have access to fresh food every day to feed themselves and their families,” said Julia Poston, the co-chair of Findlay Forward.
The market has already raised $15 million of the needed $21 million, and Pureval pledged that the City of Cincinnati would add to that number—although he couldn’t yet say how much, given that the city will not announce its annual budget until May 22.
“Our leadership investment in this campaign will support critical infrastructure upgrades and provide resources for enhancements that strengthen small businesses and support our surrounding neighborhoods, and we are deeply grateful to the many partners, donors and community leaders whose support is helping make this vision possible,” Pureval said.
Purchasing the new building was only possible thanks to a “generous” donation from the Bob & Jeanne Coughlin Foundation, according to Poston, and Findlay Market named the building after the couple as a thank-you.
“I call Julia the only woman besides my wife you can’t say no to, and when she asked for support and told me about the opportunity to purchase the building… when I look at the numerous things we support, much of it surrounds Findlay Market and the surrounding region,” Bob Coughlin said. “What I didn’t tell Julia when she called me was that my father worked for Findlay Market and so… we are honored to have our name become associated with this special place.”
Morgan Mulvihill Roberts, co-chair of the Findlay Forward campaign, spoke on the market’s status as a Cincinnati icon.
“Findlay Market is more than just a place to shop, it’s where people connect, it’s where entrepreneurs get their start. It’s where the hustle, the grind happens,” she said. “You walk around here on a Saturday morning, and you see the bustle of the small businesses, and you see the community gatherings, and it represents something special. Thank you to the community for getting us to this point. And thank you for making this into what will be a successful $21 million campaign.”
For more information on Coughlin Commons and the Findlay Forward campaign, visit the official website.
