Downtown: New Restaurants, and Residential...but no new shopping? (floor, airport)

[Peregrine]

Originally Posted by Marty711

As I mentioned before, the one half of that structure (515) has been filled almost since it was built. Environments4Business is the anchor tenant. I'm not sure why people think its empty since E4B has been there for several years. The other half is being filled by Potbelly Sandwich Works. It should open this summer.

We can't be talking about the same place? Although that address sounds close. Talking about the 5 store fronts located in the bottom of the parking garage at E6th and Euclid? I worked across from that for a year when it was redone and it was empty the whole time.

But if there is something there now, that's good news!

[Boffo]

You are talking about the same place. The storefronts were vacant for a while, but slowly they have been filling up recently. Potbelly's should be a great addition.

[maverick808]

It's the "chicken or the egg" phenomenon - which comes first...retail or residential?

As previous posters have stated, developers attempted to bring retail first, hoping that such would attract visitors and residents downtown. The problem is that urban sprawl was already in full gear and it was much more convenient for consumers to shop at plazas, malls, and town squares that are closer to their suburban communities (i.e., Crocker Park, Legacy Village, Aurora Farms, Macedonia Commons, etc.). As a result, downtown's retail presence fizzled and downtown Cleveland became no-man's land. The fact that Cleveland does a poor job of maintaining its vehicle and pedestrian infrastructure didn't help matters. Maneuvering around downtown is frequently a chore because of all the potholes, patches, and orange barrels on main thoroughfares. Also, studies have shown that people/consumers will flock to urban cores if they are aesthetically pleasing (e.g., clean, paved, well maintained, trees, plants). That's one of the reason's that the East 4th Street district is such a cool area - they actually made it look nice and inviting.

Fast forward to 2012 where the housing market is still very iffy, gas prices are astronomical (which is a deterrent to long commutes), and young professionals are waiting longer to marry and have children - the result is an influx of young professionals to the urban core. Once there is a critical mass of residents (or the appearance of a critical mass), you will see more retail and grocer establishments downtown. Supply and demand.

[costello_musicman]

Originally Posted by LuvOrlando

Cleveland already added shopping. The re-did the Terminal Tower and called it "Tower City.". Opened a bunch of great stores. They added the Galleria. More great stores.

The theory was that people would come back to downtown if there were stores and such.

It didn't work. Little by little, they closed up shop. For those of us who worked downtown, it was nice while it lasted. But it didn't last long.

Convincing people to open stores downtown without having the city actually finance it will be a hard sell.

What is this post, from 1999??

Although not shopping, Galleria is fully rented (Gardens under the Glass, Hungarian Museum, YMCA, Dollar Bank, and Sports radio)

Tower City is having a Casino attached to it open next month. I would bet seriously money we will see some store upgrades within a year (including some rumblings I've heard).

Plus is good to see new retail popping up along and around E. 4th.

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by costello_musicman

Although not shopping, Galleria is fully rented (Gardens under the Glass, Hungarian Museum, YMCA, Dollar Bank, and Sports radio)

That sounds pretty sad for a place that, when it first opened in 1987, was billed as Cleveland's answer to Chicago's Water Tower Place.

[LuvOrlando]

Originally Posted by andrew61

That sounds pretty sad for a place that, when it first opened in 1987, was billed as Cleveland's answer to Chicago's Water Tower Place.

It is really sad. It was never a Water Tower kind of place, but it was a decent place once upon a time.

Housing projects are fully rented, too. Doesn't mean I want to go there, either. Not that it is that bad...just that it isn't good. It isn't just retail, either. Businesses have left Cleveland in droves the last 15 years or so. Even the airport looks horrible.

And it's all sad. It's all very, very sad for people who love the city.

I really hope the casino helps some.

[Hans64]

Don't discount places like Dredger's Union so quickly. Who the hell cares if Anthropologie or Ann Taylor is downtown? The shoppers that are attracted to those store are NEVER going to support a downtown revival. Grass roots is the way to go: small, unique stores that bring in creative, smart customers who are hungry to find a cool shop in Cleveland proper. Eventually all the bigger retail players will follow (for better or for worse).

I lived in the early 90s in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago. It was very dodgy and there was no ATM, no pharmacy, only a few cool bars and coffee shops opened by brave souls. 10+ years later, you can go there and buy a pair of $400 Marc Jacobs shoes if you so desire. Urban Outfitters is there.

It starts with shops like Dredger's Union not with Ann Taylor.

I think there is a lack of respect in the Midwest for entrepreneurs. It is an economic problem.

[Cleveland_Collector]

^^To further reinforce this point, out of all of the restaurants that have opened and thrived in Downtown, University Circle, Ohio City, Tremont, Detroit-Shoreway, etc. over the past 10 years, virtually none of them have been chain oriented. People who want Ruby Tuesday are better off staying in the suburbs.

[Peregrine]

Originally Posted by LuvOrlando

Even the airport looks horrible.

Can I ask honestly when is the last time you saw it? The Airport has been and continues to be improved.

[Marty711]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

Can I ask honestly when is the last time you saw it? The Airport has been and continues to be improved.

I think we've debated this before, yeah the airport has been improved. But isn't it still rather dingy looking? It still has bad chairs, ugly lighting, a pretty terrible interior and a massive lack of charging stations for laptops and smartphones.

The new flooring looks great and keeping this somewhat topical, the addition of new stores and restaurants have improved it. But even with that, compared to many airports, Hopkins is in a time warp and is quite outdated. Its completely functional and easy to get in and out of but it definitely lacks some of the amenities and attractiveness that other airports have.