North Market chief says he’s ready for revamp
Rick Harrison Wolfe, CEO of the North Market
Rick Harrison Wolfe’s passionate personality and business know-how have not only strengthened North Market finances but have led to a controversial redevelopment plan: a 35-story mixed-use tower on the parking lot that connects to the market. Wolfe hears the critics, but his devotion to a thriving North Market that can continue to incubate small businesses steels him.
Q: What is most exciting to you about the North Market?
A: The most exciting time here is when we have a new merchant. People are fired up. ... I come from fashion — it’s all about newness. You’re only as good as this season in fashion, and this place is the same. There are some people I want never to leave, but we need to rotate through. That’s part of the mission also: incubating new businesses, others go out. That’s part of the life cycle here. I love that part.
Q: How do you find ways to make money for the market?
A: The Columbus Foundation’s Doug Kridler has been very kind to the market, very kind to me, in helping me to learn the nonprofit world. We cut out a lot of things that were losing money here, year after year, and tried to replace them with things that we thought would make money. We looked at the parking lot — are we maximizing this? And the last thing we could do is charge you, coming here and shopping, more.
Q: What do you think about the pushback on the new development?
A: I’ve been fortunate