Rife's Market/Sweet Carrot

Charles and Mamie Rife started their small market business at 1417 West Fifth Avenue in 1936. They lived nearby in a small brick house across from Rife's Market. Charles was a truck farmer, and drove around Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana buying produce. The produce was then sold to grocery stores in the area. He started one of the first locally grown food businesses in the area, and in 1946 enlarged the store to add a butcher shop selling locally produced meats. The store became noted for buying Blue Ribbon beef winners at the Ohio State Fair, showing them at the store, then selling the meat as one of a few butchers handling Prime Graded beef. The reputation grew and sons Wayne and Paul began helping in the store. Brother Sam and nephew Dick also worked and later took over the business, which was in its final days operated by Mary Kay Rife and her husband, Mike Zimmerman. The store began taking on other products including Hilliard corn from Elfrink Farms, red and blackberry jams from Champaign Berry Farm, and candy from Walnut Creek. After more than seven decades in business, Rife’s closed in 2014.  The building is now the location for Sweet Carrot restaurant.  

Grandview Avenue facade of Rife's Market in 1946. 

The owners of Sweet Carrot re-purposed the Rife's iconic neon side on Fifth Avenue (photo by Walker Evans; ColumbusUnderground).     

Photo of Rife's Market interior found in a wall during demolition and renovating by Sweet Carrot restaurant.  

Wayne Rife (left), Shrimp (1000 lb Grand Champion Angus steer), Larry Embrey (Shrimp's owner), Molly Rife, and Sam Rife (right).  The Rife's purchased Shrimp for 76 cents per pound.  (Photo from Rife's Market Facebook page).  

Rife's Market iconic neon sign (2008 photo from Ken/flickr).