Barneyboy

I've gone to the Rocket Fizz here in Houston at Rice Village quite a lot and my kids love it. It's a destination shop that's outfitted with retro signage and obscure candy and soda from around the world. While it ain't Nieman Marcus, it says quite a bit about the baby steps that are necessary for retail to happen downtown.

That area would also be generally regarded as Big Italy. My Dad used to work at Stouffer's headquarters right at the corner of that area @ E. 55th and Woodland. That whole area was regarded as as tenderloin/ghetto area and photos are few and far in between, but I think I can round up a couple.

When considering the old block of buildings on Prospect, I'd like to see what I've seen done in other cities as in an historic facade re-creation. Considering the fortuitous fact that this historic block still stands and is significant in the history of rock and roll as explained by Tom Yablonsky, executive director of History Gateway Neighborhood Development Corp. and vice president of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance nonprofit, the building is architecturally and socially significant, because 300 Prospect was an early home of famed music store owner Leo Mintz's Record Rendezvous. According to “The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History,” the store was a sponsor of the late radio disc jockey Alan Freed, who is credited with coining the phrase “rock and roll” for the music genre that emerged from the rhythm and blues popular in the black community. Look at Detroit's Motown or Beale Street in Memphis and you'll see that city's earnest attempt at capitalizing on its musical heritage, which in Cleveland's case is very limited. To not faithfully acknowledge this location would be a missed opportunity. Not to mention that this could be a bright, snazzy look for the street, and IMHO rather cool.

While this massive restoration is exciting and was among the top of the list of things left to do, I got the impression from the article that PHSF considers this to be the last item on the list. I've always considered the Palace Theater marquee/canopy to be a placeholder for a more elaborate and deserving icon of what is inarguably the premier theater within the district. When you consider the size of the Connor donation to PHS, wouldn't a Palace marquee restoration/re-creation be in order?

Shall we have this instead? I'm especially fond of the shag carpet and crushed velvet upholstery.

It wasn't really an ego thing with Keith's Palace, as it was named that by the builder E.F. Albee to honor his long-time, late partner B.F. Keith.

Considering that they were the only bidders on that dump, how can you have such an expectation? But I suppose tearing it down was a viable option.

I look at it this way, when the Bond Court Hotel was built in the 70s, it was a pig with no lipstick. Then it became the Crown Plaza, then, the Westin, which I would assume judging from most forumer's comments, is top notch. When I think of what the BOE could have become in the worst of times, I'm grateful that it's becoming a hotel. If the Cleveland hotel market ramps up to the point where it justifies a re-branding, it'll happen....... Let's just hope that it does.

There was also a Crabtree & Evelyn. A couple custom shirt tailors from Euclid Ave. re-located there, Custom Shoppe and Richard Bennett.

Not Rockwell, but Frankfort.

In 1975, PHS Foundation published their famous "Red Book". I was a volunteer and tour guide before any renovation occured, so in appreciation, they gave me one. I figure they're fairly rare since they were published to generate interest in hopes of donations, but they feature lots of photos of an un-restored theater complex.

Someone probably was told that the site was formerly the Cleveland Institute of Art, which it was....about 90 years ago. Since then a Howard Johnson's hotel has come and gone and now is the Children's Museum. I imagine that the News Dept. was thinking of the current CIA site and sent the hapless reporter there. Research, research, research!!

I generally don't object to the razing of old structures when what replaces them is vastly superior, which is what DID happen in this case.

I miss Cleveland very much. The weather...not so much. It's 47ºF and sunny in Houston today, but the natives still call it winter. Still, I'm grateful for your shots, they make me home-sick.

That IS the Sterling building, as in Sterling Lindner department store. It was built for the Higbee Co. The building between that and the Union Club was the Sterling & Welsh store, which merged with The Lindner Coy both corporately and physically. It was in this building that featured the open atrium where the giant Lindner Christmas tree became an annual tradition.

It was actually built for Sheraton before it became a Travelodge.

Interestingly, the oddly proportioned tower on the Hickox Building was salvaged from the First Baptist Church, which had previously occupied the site.

A clearly under-rated cultural asset. The city has done a great job in improving the whole park. I remember when the park and the various gardens were unkempt and vandalized.......like seriously. Great job in showing it all off Mayday!

I work for Whole Foods here in Houston. I understand that WFM is actually located in Midtown Detroit (near Wayne State) and is a non-profit unit. Apparently there's no illusion that a store would likely be profitable there...it was more of a charitable gesture on Whole Foods part. Now a store in DT Cleveland is a different story. I briefly talked to Walter Robb (Co-CEO) who said he liked Cleveland. So I quess you can take that for what it's worth.

There are so many wonderfully detailed buildings in Cleveland that have these hideous commercial appendages. One successful removal of said commercial cinder block is the tuscan house on Prospect Ave that for years was obscured and is now a great addition to the streetscape.

Here are a few more, including 3 renditions of the Renaissance on Playhouse Square. You'd think that after that much tinkering with the design they'd finally get it right, but I quess considering the fact that site had been a parking lot for over 50 years, you really can't complain.

Here, let me re-size that. Along with a few others I found.

It was designed by Walker & Weeks, but there were a couple others designed for the same spot.

My home town is looking great! I left in 1979 after growing up there and remember in the 60s and early 70s the area around Rick's Cafe wasn't nearly as upscale as it is now. What's now Rick's was a rundown barfly joint, and across the street was a biker bar with a row of hogs lining the street (something that wouldn't be tolerated today).