Ruby Thomas, the second generation at Ohio City Pasta in the West Side Market CLEVELAND, Ohio – Ruby Thomas grew up at her dad’s West Side Market stand. By the time she hit double digits, she was behind the register at Ohio City Pasta counting change for customers.
“When the pandemic hit, I wasn’t finding a job that I loved,” she says. “And they needed help at the stand. So, I started working there and realized I loved it. Now, I’m taking over for my dad, doing the retail side of things and managing the stand at the market.” The stand sells a variety of hand-crafted pasta shapes and flavors as well as ravioli, sauces, butters and more. The Thomases recently added gluten-free products.While many flavors are always available, specials like ramp pasta are available seasonally. The most popular staple pasta is garlic and chive. Four staple sauces are marinara, pomodoro, arrabiata and puttanesca. Lobster sauce is available for special occasions.
“I’m a market baby,” she says. “I have a lot of memories of being there as a kid. It’s genuinely the one place in Cleveland where all walks of life are gathered at one time.”