eyehrtfood

The pickup area was SO much better in the central/former location across bridge - no matter how temporary feeling. It beat standing out on an island in the middle of the road, as in prior years, no matter how relatively close to the terminal. The current location leads the bus users past the outdoor smoking area, which is always a great thing, and is considerably further from the United concourse where so many travelers begin are starting/ending their trip. But whatever ..

The Beachwood planning commission can approve zoning changes that would allow further development, including taller buildings and residential, on the Beachwood Place property. The city is fully in support, some residents are skeptical but willing to listen it appears provided there is a firm plan and transparency. If there isn't such a clear plan and transparency then I can see residents fighting this and it's going to a public vote ultimately. Brookfield, who owns the mall, is also redeveloping a higher-end property in a Beachwood-similar Chicago suburb. Here is a story about that that definitely has some clues as to what could happen at Beachwood Place including restaurants surrounding a lawn as is being built - as well as sentiments from a municipality that does not want to see their Neiman-Marcus anchored mall go further downhill.. https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/northbrook/ct-nbs-northbrook-court-redevelopment-approved-tl-0620-story.html

As one who sells tens of millions of $ in goods a year to Amazon, the surprise of their "low" pricing is that they normally are matching other, competitive, market-share-seeking retailers on price. If left to their own devices, Amazon would prefer to sell a $50 retail item for $50. But in trying to out-Amazon Amazon, other retailers drop their retails and Amazo matches per corporate policy. In the future you will see more manufacturers giving Amazon some products that are different than what other retailers will have access to (or vice versa), to avoid the race to lowest retail.

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There are 4-5 eastern suburbs restaurants my wife and I frequent most (especially for Friday/Saturday dinners and Sunday brunches). We often see the same restaurant around the same day/time a week or two apart and it is amazing the variation in crowds from week to week... and I certainly don't think this is her Cleveland specific situation. Some weeks we can't get a seat. Other weeks the space is barely half full for the same Saturday night 7 pm slot , etc. . One restaurant we go to often probably has half the wait time on a busy night as before - maybe 30 to 60 minutes versus 1-2 hours in the past (we seat ourselves at the bar 95% of the time. - no wait) but has been known to do up to 200 DoorDash orders in a day... = they are often busier than ever just not a number of patrons sitting down to eat in the restaurant... Either way, it was unfortunate to see Fleming's leave Eton 15 years in business - which is still a good run. We were fans of their bar and their happy hour, and continued to be turned away in recent efforts to attend - due to the loyal bar crowds. As some may recall, Ruth's Chris let their lease expire at Eton around 15 yrs ago when Fleming's opened, allegedly over a dispute with Stark about them running another steakhouse open in the same complex. Could this be deja vu all over again? 3 years ago Texas de Brazil, a steakhouse, was allowed to open in the West End part of Eton. With Fleming's lease having expired at the end of June, I think it's possible Fleming's may resurface at a different location in the coming months or years - like Ruth's Chris... but who knows...?

Yes, Urban Outfitters will be 8,500 SF and will go in part of the space between REI and West Elm. Construction begins Aug and likely opens Nov

This is what I believe is in mind for Beachwood Place by its owners, the same as this property, which is in the northern ("affluent") suburbs of Chicago. It blends outdoor stores with apartments, hotels and restaurants. That is why I believe Beachwood is seeking the rezoning in advance and why nothing has yet replaced Maggiano's and The Pub. https://patch.com/illinois/northbrook/proposed-northbrook-court-revamp-razes-macys-adds-apartments

I heard about BoA adding CLE locations, too, but the new one I have seen in Mayfield Hts appears to be nothing more than an indoor set of ATMs for deposits and withdrawals, not a branch.. Wonder if that is their method of expansion. Odd.

Bob Stark is sitting across the aisle from me on my Newark-Cleveland flight. Oh, the things I should ask him.... BTW, he's wearing a "Stark Enterprises" cap and is sitting in Economy Plus (to save some coin for NuCLEus?)

Playhouse Square has done a good job of touting themselves as the nation's "second largest performing arts CENTER" (not "district") - or largest outside of NYC (#1 being Lincoln Center, not Broadway... since they carefully say center not disteict) - by loosely calling everything in PHS, 8 theaters or whatever, even unconnected theaters like the Hanna, part of the "center.." - and this is measured in total # of seats, nothing else. With that said they pretty much own that title though I know are you performing arts center in Dallas states they are. number two Also playhouse Square does currently lead the nation in number of season tickets sold to their Broadway series (46,000?) - meaning shows now playing minimum of three weeks to ensure that all season ticket holders plus individual ticket buyers can be accommodated. cities like Denver also have strong ticket bases while cities like Indianapolis or even Columbus, while boomtowns in so many ways, can hardly muster 5000-10000 subscribers most years, "Hamilton" years eexcepted, meaning some years they get Bway shows 1 or 2 years later years later than Cleveland, if at all. However in other cities like Chicago and Los Angeles and San Francisco and DC shows do often play 1, 2, 3 month runs - or even years - and you're not part of distinct Broadway series so they attract for more people but those cities are huge and after that tear it's pretty much Cleveland that has shows for the longest and first when possible

A Chuy's Mexican restaurant is still on track for that spot based on the last Orange Village docs I saw. It does appear that Cooper's Hawk, next door, has been a big, early success...

The Shinola "Shaker Heights" store was listed on the Shinola website as recently as last week when I was checking to see if opening date noted (nope)... - b but definitely is gone now. Does this mean no Cleveland store at all OR a move to Pinecrest or another location? Store was announced 3.5 years ago. When talking to team at Columbus Shinola store last Fall they knew about Van Aken delay and internal company talk seemed to blame that on RMS/Van Aken.

Their Instagram has pics and notes "rebranding" so TBD.

First off, the key shopping centers in the Cleveland market draw from the larger Cleveland/Akron/Canton area - which is 1+MM larger in population than annexed "Columbus"... Based on that population Cleveland is far worse off in upscale retail of the kind I think is being referred to here. With that said... This retail junkie thinks a few things are at play here.. Columbus is younger and growing - a plus to retailers. It may have several key shopping areas, but Easton is the main event... Easton (Steiner) had a blank slate of outer ring land to work with and essentially created the lifestyle (upscale, outdoor) center as the country now knows it - and they are relentless in trying to draw new retailers that normally would not think "Columbus"... boxing well above its (otherwise) retail weight. Easton is also a huge draw to the many convention visitors as well as those attending state events (something Columbus reaps the huge rewards app state capital) - while Polaris (the area) had another big tract of land to build the mall, IKEA (which would have been in CLE earlier/at all had the EPA not thwarted Brooklyn suburb plans), Top Golf and more - all 15 mins from Easton. Both areas serve different purposes but would say the areas directly compete for the same retailers... The complement or have additional outlets. "Cleveland" on the other hand, though a larger market and with the 3 major sports teams, etc... is an older market, not growing much. While much of the Cleveland eastern suburbs have the kind of demographics ($$$) that retailers love - Cleveland also has the peculiar position of having what has to be about the largest # of major lifestyle centers (4) of pretty much any city in the country (LA-aside, perhaps...) -Legacy Village, Eton, Pinecrest (all run by local developers who haven't hit the big time like Steiner did with Easton can = don't have the weight or will to convince retailers they have to be in their centers..) + Crocker Park (the most Easton like of the bunch, but the second choice for retailers seeking the east side demographics, 45 mins away). Add in Beachwood Place, still in holding as a new owner takes control of former GGP properties -and instead of the Columbus scenario of two major shopping areas - Easton and Polaris (and maybe Tuttle as a weak 3rd... - you have 5 in CLE (Eton, Pinecrest, Legacy, Crocker, Beachwood) + a major local mall in Strongsville's SouthPark + big local draws at Summit Mall in Akron and Belden Village in Canton. Long story short, if Cleveland had ONE major lifestyle center/mall like Easton - didn't have the east/west/Akron/Canton segementation that it has, and had decelopers who knew how to lease like Steiner - it would be a huge draw/powerhouse... But the available land and the retail market is too fragmented and too already-announced (With that said, retailers/restaurants like Shake Shack and LL Bean have in recent years opened their first Ohio stores in CLE - while Restoration Hardware Gallery, True Foods Kitchen and others (despite being in plans for Pinecrest and Beachwood Place in recent years) will open in Columbus first.) And so it goes... (Note: J. Crew IS exercising its right to relocate to Pinecrest after 22 years at Beachwood Place - as noted above and Eton IS planning to expand to the west.... past Trader Joe's...)

I think it's fair to say that, if reopening, Coastsl Taco will be a Lindey's Lake Bar. For for those who don't know about or haven't been to the aforementioned Lindey's Lake House in Beachwood (the slightly more upscale version of this new mini chain from Bravo/Brio founder (and local) Rick Doody) - it's connected to his Cedar Creek Grille, is beautifully designed, has delicious food (cracker crust pizzas, fried chicken, super salads) - and it's quite the place to be among a certain crowd.. FEB should be so lucky.

I don't live in Ohio City - only a restaurant and market visitor - but am as frustrated as any non-resident could be in the fact the media is already blaring "Shooting in popular Ohio City across from the West Side Market" - even though it was likely, before even hearing facts (which now seem to support) that this was a non-random incident among acquaintances. This sensationalism doesn't help anybody. Like it or not - It's incidents like the random "elderly visitors from Minnesota robbed and beaten on way back from dinner" from several weeks ago that might be harder to shake from some people's memories. That is not, say, the norm in Strongsville, etc...no matter what polite blotter news gets posted on suburban crime threads.

I've shopped at the original Amazon Go store... and loved it. To me, the NO WAIT angle was what differed from a cost-saving self-checkout lane. There is no comparison. You just walk out on your own schedule. (Notes - there is a designated employee on hand to ID check anyone walking into the beer/alcohol section of store. There are numerous employees all around store, prepping food and watching over... It isn't devoid of staff.)

If I still posted here I'd say: "Van Aken way behind schedule. Shinola rep confirmed directly to me that they have pushed back planned 2018 opening due to delays and are now planning on opening 'in Cleveland' sometime in 2019 from originally announced 2017. A big miss for Van Aken - which has not publicly commented yet on the extended timing... Shinola may have a pop up store for 2018 somewhere in CLE he said. Will Shinola bail for Pinecrest or ? due to Van Aken lack of progress? Will others?" Back to lurking...

For those who choose to venture to the east side (gasp!) suburbs, they will be rewarded with a great deal on glasses, a good burger and a pleasant moviegoing experience.

Warby Parker sign now in stand-alone, under-construction building adjacent to Shake Shack on middle traffic circle. Also, went to movie yesterday at soft opening of Silverspot Cinemas. The key details: top level lobby with bar/lounge attached - and overlooking main Park area of development. No traditional box office or concession stand. All tickets via app or kiosks (concierges there to help).Tickets: $14.50/each. Seats: plush recliners with trays, cupholders. Arranged mostly in twos with moveable armrest...Our theater could hold 34 people. Biggest theater is 120+.. 10 screens. Food is ordered from seat via in-theater server or app. (18% discretionary gratuity.. FYI). Everything from popcorn to steaks, salads, pasta. Many people in our theater had full meals... I have to warm to that idea, but the $9ish hummus with veggies we had was surpisingly tasty. Food: regular movie prices for soft drinks, popcorn, etc. But bottled beer $6 and draft beer $7 = like a restaurant. Apps $10 +/- then up to steak mid/high $20s. Food served on china with cloth napkins and metal utensils. Nice place. Very nice place. Will be very popular.

Cleveland resident's tastes aside, I think many diners and developers all over the world are fairly excited about Shake Shack based on its tremendous recent national and international growth. This is a Danny Meyer restaurant, far more than your average Wendy's or McDonalds. So it's not just a Cleveland thing......

With several stores open and more debuting this week, fences and barricades are down and visitors can walk and drive freely. Several new, future tenants noted, for the first time anywhere, on in-development signage - not yet on website - though some known future tenants like those in post above still missing from anything on site or at Pinecrest. The north end of development should be very popular and active - with the (18 and over...) fancy movie theater, City Works and Pinstripes restaurants, Graeter's, Sweetie's Big Fun (with a GREAT sign, BTW.. see pic 14 in link below) all around a park and big, wall video screen. https://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2018/06/shake_shack_pottery_barn_among_1.html

They show 41 tenant names for 41 tenant spaces. Are you trying to be funny? No, not being funny. They are showing only leased spaces on the map, not unleased. I count 37 restaurants and retailers (not incl offices) - and this includes those opening now/Summer, Fall and even in 2019. In a review of 2015 original leasing maps, there were around 62 retail/restaurant spaces - including several large ones (Container Store, etc..) which are now not happening = potentially more spaces to rent.. one whole building has no tenants (Kona Grill was supposed to be one of them) - so there are likely 25-30 regular sized store vacancies, unless big tenants take some. In going to REI last week, easy to see down street and see how many spaces vacant, not under construction. This will take awhile to fill...

Well, Dougal was right to sound the alarm above on Ikea's future US plans - and we may now know why no CLE/Garfield Heights announcement, when it seemed so imminent: 3 new suburban stores Ikea already announced and that were in the works - including the first stores planned for fast-growth Nashville and Raleigh - were cancelled in the last week - with no mention of alternate locations in those areas that might be more in keeping with Ikea's new small/urban approach. https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/05/29/ikea-store-location-nashville-antioch-near-me/654149002/ It would be good to think that perhaps a Tower City Ikea showroom might be a great new, urban-Ikea solution for CLE (shop there to look and touch... order online) - but not holding my breath...

The new Pinecrest website - with a store map showing maaaaaany initial vacancies... and a list of opening dates (RED now moved to 2019...) - appears to have launched this evening... https://www.discoverpinecrest.com/