314 Market House
W - F: 8 - 6, Sa: 6 - 6, Sun: 11 - 4

Cornelius Dean grew up in Over-the-Rhine and came to work at Findlay Market through his older brothers, Clyde and David, who worked at Sensio's Produce stand. Cornelius was usually just down the street playing baseball. He was about six years old when his brothers called him over one busy Saturday to be an extra set of hands. He's been there ever since.

Cornelius began filling in on a regular basis when Clyde joined the Army Reserves, and then when David joined the Marines. What kept Cornelius coming back to help each week were the owners, Jim Sensio and his son Phil. Cornelius learned everything he knows about the business from Phil, who has been a like father to him. Jim started the business in the 1930's and Phil began working for his dad in the sixth grade. The only time Phil has been away from Findlay Market was to serve in the military during World War II. When Phil sold the stand in 1993, it was to Cornelius. Phil stayed on as an employee and today he still does all the buying for the stand, and also sells to customers on Saturdays.

If this stand seems exceptionally colorful, it's because Cornelius takes full advantage of contrasting colors to make an artful display. He isn't afraid to alternate fruits with vegetables. It's worth it to take a slow walk around his stand and take in the special beauty of purple grapes when they're displayed next to bananas, yellow pears next to red bell peppers, lemons alongside broccoli, grapefruit side-by-side with tomatoes, or green Granny Smith apples next to yellow onions.

Cornelius is at Findlay Market on Saturdays and at the Court Street Market downtown Tuesday through Friday, where he also has regular customers. Early in the morning on Court Street, you'll find restaurant chefs buying his produce by the case. People who work downtown are his biggest customer base, but others drive in from around town to get their produce on Court Street from Cornelius. Even folks just walking by know him by name.

Many of his customers have known him since he was a kid, and he values that. Besides having his own business, that familiarity is one of the benefits he likes best about being a Findlay Market merchant. He also likes the ethnic diversity. He's learned a lot by observing people all his life at the market. He's learned that patience is an important quality. Some people take a lot of time choosing their produce, and that's just the way it is. If they can shop the way they like to, they'll be back again and again.

Cornelius kept coming back again and again after that first Saturday when he was six because he liked the work. He has made a career at Findlay Market, but there was never one particular day when he aspired to have his own stand. There is, however, one specific reason that he started in the first place - Phil Sensio. If not for Phil, Cornelius wouldn't be a Findlay Market merchant today.