Sign up for market chat now
Sign up now to receive Market Chat Newsletter

2008 Capitol Market Green Chili Results

A record setting crowd in attendance and record setting money raised for the National MS Society! Saturday, March 15th was an exceptionally perfect day for a chili cook-off; the weather was perfect and the crowd was focused! Capitol Market was host to 35 cooks competing for the $1000 grand prize and a berth to the World Chili Cook Off held in October. First place was Ron Smith of Huntington, Jeff Netser of Indiana and Chuck Huoff of Ohio. As you can see cooks came from near and far to to compete in the Largest Green Chili Cook Shoot Out in the nation! The Jody Jividen "Peace Unto you" award was presented to Morgan Mertz of Charleston. Best dressed table and showmanship also went to Morgan Mertz (her first chili competition)! Cornbread winners are Valerie Burgraff for a tasty rendition of traditional cornbread and in the non-traditional category Paulette Justice is the winner. Both won $100 in Capitol Market Gift Certificates!

This year was the first year to host a kick-off party the night before the big day; St. Paddy's Fiesta Verde was held at the Power Alley Grill on Friday, March 14th. This event was also a fundraiser to help support the National MS Society. If you didn't attend St. Paddy's Fiesta Verde you may want to put this on your calendar for next year: Friday, March 13, 2009! This event brought over 350 guests to enjoy live music by the Voodoo Katz, complimentary beverage and appetizers from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The crowd was energized, the food was tasty and we certainly enjoyed celebrating St. Patrick's Day with a twist!

Drum roll please! Between both events for Friday and Saturday we raised $8,500 for the National MS Society!

However, we must give our thanks, gratitude and appreciation to following sponsors for making this two-day event so phenomenal.

Capitol Market gives a standing ovation to:
The Manahan Group
City of Charleston
Power Alley Grill
Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau
Generation Charleston
National MS Society

Thank you to the community of Charleston for coming out and supporting Capitol Market! Special thanks and kudos to Mr. Joe Stevens for volunteering to take on the task as Chief Judge; this is a huge task that involves recruiting judges, calculating scores and organizing cooks to review comments from judges. Thank you to Dr. David Mallory for accepting the position of Chief Scorekeeper; another task of great involvement and dedication!

Our 10th Anniversary in 2007

Can you believe it? Ten years ago we opened our doors to the community to provide an extraordinary and eclectic open air market as seen across the country in big cities. Our market provides the community with an opportunity to support locally owned businesses and an environment for economic development. Capitol Market is host to hard working West Virginia farmers producing locally grown goods such as fresh produce, beautiful flowers and plants, pumpkins and Christmas trees seasonally.

We are thrilled at our growth over the years. Perdue Grocery was one of the first businesses to open inside Capitol Market and continues to provide a significant array of products in our great stat of West Virginia. Also, The Wine & Cheese Shop has offered an amazing selection of wine for the past 10 years! Visit all the indoor and outdoor businesses for a fresh way to shop!

To commemorate and celebrate our 10 years we have created the 2007 Market Sweepstakes calendar! Not only does the calendar provide you with valuable information with event dates, special dates, seasonal information and history; Capitol Market is giving away $5,000 in Capitol Market Gift Certificates throughout the year plus over 100 merchant prizes. All prizes are valued at $20 or greater! Gift Certificates are $25, $50 and $100! Calendars will remain on sale through january 31, 2006 available in the market office or at any indoor specialty shop. You have 293 chances to win out of 365 days and winners may be winners again! It's simple; purchase a calendar, complete the entry form on the back of the calendar and submit the entry form to the market office! Each day as designated in the calendar we will draw an entry form and contact the daily winner!

Capitol Market Gift Certificates

Looking for gift for the next birthday, holiday or special thank you for the neighbor watering the plants while you were away? Look no further, Capitol Market offers gift certificates that will add cheer to any gathering you are attending and they are great for sending! Gift Certificates may be redeemed at any indoor specialty shop, outdoor grower and at our full-scale restaurant.

Simple & Easy. Just drop by the Market office and we will prepare your gift certificates for giving! Or phone ahead and we will have your gift certificates ready in advance of your arrival.

Business owners, CEO's, supervisors, directors, and managers don't forget to give that special incentive gift to your fellow employees for a job well done or holiday bonus.

Capitol Market gift certificates are sure to please anyone anytime of the year.

Welcome
Imagine a shopping environment with many specialty shops that include a cafe, hot lunch spots, a butcher, a wine shop, a fresh seafood market, a bakery and a fresh cold spot for fresh produce year round and a full scale restaurant for lunch and dinner. Grab coffee on your way to work and grab dinner on your way home! Run daily errands and meet up with friends for a quick lunch or a cocktail after work.

Capitol Market offers a vast array of items from Spring plants to fresh produce to Fall pumpkins and holiday trees are what you will see year round throughout the Outdoor Market. As you stroll the outdoor market marveling at the many specialty shops indoors, as well as, the eclectic lunch spots with unique menus to tantalize anyone's appetite. You can also dine at the hottest restaurant in Charleston, Soho's.

Fresh-cut West Virginia Christmas Trees are arriving November 22. Capitol Market features thousands of West Virginia grown trees to satisfy all your holiday decorating needs. Fresh garland roping. wreaths and seasonal plants abound.

Contact Information
Tammy Borstnar, Executive Director
800 Smith Street
Charleston, WV 25301
304-344-1905

Location History & Market Development
Capitol Market is located on a portion of the rail yards property originally developed by the New York Central Railroad Company in the late 1800's. The only remaining building was originally a transfer dock and warehouse for the railroad. It had been used for years to transfer goods from rail to truck for distribution. In the 1970's the rail yard business ceased and for many decades the building was neglected or sporadically utilized for storage and recycling.

Revitalization came in the mid 1990's as Charleston Renaissance spearheaded a task force which included officials from the City of Charleston, Kanawha County, Charleston Urban Renewal, West Virginia Department of Agriculture and the Sate of West Virginia to create what is now Capitol Market. The Market is located on the north end of Capitol Street in downtown Charleston, West Virginia. It opened in 1997.

Today you will see an eclectically designed and renovated railroad transfer dock that captures the essence of an outdoor farmers' market and plays host to many indoor specialty shops featuring everything from fresh, simple foods to gourmet pleasures and including a full-scale restaurant serving fine Italian cuisine.

Capitol Market is easily accessible to local traffic and travelers from I-77/I-64 exit 100. We provide free parking on all four sides of the Market.

Development in this area has continued with the 240,000 square foot Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences - West Virginia, opened on July 12, 2003. The Clay Center houses the performing and visual arts and the sciences all under one roof. It is also home to the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. On April 14, 2005, the West Virginia Power moved into its beautiful new baseball park; Appalachian Power park in the East End of Charleston, just blocks from Capitol Market.

The Capitol Market Mission
Our mission is to offer a vibrant marketplace with a premium selection of West Virginia goods and services to serve the shopper and enrich the community. Capitol Market also provides an important retail outlet to promote and sell the products of West Virginia farmers, growers and merchants.

Did you Know?
Unlike most shopping center, Capitol Market is a not-for-profit company; listed as a 501 (c)3 organization under economic and neighborhood development. Capitol Market is governed by a volunteer board of directors made up of member of our community representing many local business people, community leaders and customers who provide Capitol Market the professional guidance for future growth, sustainability and economic impact on our community.