East Cleveland market gets makeover

A dilapidated, peeling and rusting produce market was reborn last week thanks to a generous Lakewood painting contractor and a prominent Cleveland corporation.

The aged and tired-looking Coit Road Farmer’s Market in East Cleveland, a nonprofit with an 80-year history, was chosen as the recipient of the annual Neubert Painting Charity Paint Giveaway. The market now boasts a barn-red hue that is as fresh as the produce sold within.

"We couldn’t be happier with the way it turned out or with Neubert’s generosity," says Kevin Scheuring, a Collinwood resident and vice president of the Coit Road Famer's Market Preservation Society. "The new look really reflects what we’re all about. Despite the fact that we have great food and dedicated farmers, people have a hard time getting past the shabby exterior. This will make a huge difference to us and to the people in the neighborhood."

More than 60 employees from Neubert Painting volunteered their time to apply the more than 100 gallons of paint donated by Sherwin-Williams. The retail value of the project totaled $16,000.

After reviewing the merits of more than 50 nominations, John Neubert, CEO of Neubert Painting, chose the Coit Road Farmer’s Market as the 2011 recipient of its annual Charity Paint Giveaway.

"This is a landmark building," Neubert said of the 1932 structure. "It is often hard for people in urban areas to find fresh produce, and Coit Road Farmer’s Market fills that need, while also serving as an important part of the economic foundation of this community" he added. The Coit Road Farmer’s Market includes an urban farm and community garden where residents can plant their own produce to sell at the market.

The Lakewood-based Neubert Painting, founded in 1975 by John Neubert, has been a leading painting contractor in the Cleveland and Akron for 36 years. The company paints about 300 homes every year. Since 2008, Neubert has chosen a worthy recipient for its annual Charity Paint Giveaway.