Stores & Markets in Shaker Heights

Metropolitan Market is a locally-owned-and-operated market that's been serving up stupendous cuts of meat and freshly delivered seafood to the Cleveland area since 2003. Both uncooked and prepared foods are available for culinary captains and last-minute party-planners alike. Menus shift weekly, but you'll always find a variety of meat and seafood, as well as specialty foods such as frozen soups and pastas, dips, side salads, and more. If it's sea-meat you're craving, pick up walleye filets ($16.99 per pound) or Bay of Fundy salmon ($12.99 per pound) for a feast fresh from the earth's tear ducts. Get a USDA Prime aged signature sirloin steak ($12.99 per pound), and truss that mighty meal up with shiitake mushrooms ($9.99 per pound) or peaches and creamed corn ($4.99 per bag). Mop up whatever's left on the plate with a French dinner roll ($5.99 per dozen).

When Frank Cangemi first opened Miles Famers Market in 1971, it was a seasonal, open-air market that only sold fresh fruits and vegetables. Frank would arrive at the Northern Ohio Food Terminal at 3 a.m. every day and proceed to hand select his stock of fresh produce, carefully choosing veggies without bruises and punting overly ripe cantaloupes. This hand selection and attention to detail is something he still does to this day, even though Miles Farmers Market has expanded to a 21,000-square-foot shopping space that also houses a deli, a butcher, and a bakery.

Its cheese department hosts more than 400 varieties of cheese, which complement varietals from a wine section that Wine Spectator hailed as “outstanding.” Its bistro not only makes up quick bites but also full dinners to go. Its staffers help foodies navigate the aisles and are on hand to offer tips that range from how to ripen an unfamiliar fruit to how to successfully wash food in the dishwasher.

Yet, even with all of this, it’s the dedication to having the best produce that really draws in shoppers. For more than 40 years, Miles has fostered partnerships with local produce growers such as Burnham, Spiegelberg, and Rittman Orchards, as well as Ohio Fruit Growers. These alliances allow for a vast selection of organic and local produce that may have been ripening on the vine or stalk seven hours before hitting store shelves.

The North Union Farmers Market began in 1995 as a small market—back then, more than 500 hungry customers shopped the stalls of only six local farmers. Today, the market coordinates eight certified-producer farmers’ markets around Cleveland, allowing farmers to sell their products—from fresh, seasonal produce to meat, syrup, eggs, and dairy—directly to residents. The planet-friendly concept reduces the energy used for transportation and maximizes the freshness of the food.

Shopping carts loaded with dozens of different dry noodles from Japan, Korea, and China roll through the aisles at Hana Asian Market, where shelves hold spices from across Asia and bundles of sushi- and sashimi-grade fresh fish. Each Tuesday and Wednesday, chefs whip up meals such as spicy Korean sandwiches and tacos or grilled Thai eggplant. The market also regularly hosts sushi-making classes that demonstrate proper rolling techniques and give students all the necessary ingredients, sparing them the hassle of ransacking the aquarium in their office lobby.