eyehrtfood

Phase 3 will tie together the Aloft side and the water side... and can't come quickly enough. With that said, Crop overbuilt. Simple as that. Seemed wrong from day one. Flip side, who knows. The always busy one here in downtown Chagrin Falls seems less busy - and they just started a happy hour, which they didn't have the 4-5 prior years they have been open. Wonder why? Burger trend over? Just had a work friend from Green Bay visit for football Hall of Fame over weekend. He and friends (without me included as tour guide) found the Flats East Bank raved about the FEB and downtown. By the time I made it to Green Bay for a meeting this week, everybody in office has heard how great CLE was now.

GGP's almost total silence in 2016 on actual plans and tenants for Beachwood Place expansion and LaPlace renovation - a good portion of which will open in the next 3-4 months, though unannounce details, to date - certainly goes against the grain for things like this, often announced long in advance to get consumers pumped. Could be totally due to competition/not tipping hand. At this point it would seem almost certain the BPlace expansion will stretch into 2017 as only about 20℅ is even started/dug so fafarr (presumably the Zara external entrance by Saks).

IKEA would seem to be at the top of the list based on those clues... I'm more curious what prompted the story on Channel 19...? A tipto station caused call to mayor? This was a minor outlet mall plan... not one that people would care is or isn't happening enough to keep tabs on it. That could be the sign of something breaking soon.... (Michelle?) BTW, was just at the Detroit IKEA this weekend and surprised to find it is about a 1/4 mile off interstate - unlike others I have been to - with NO visibility of building from the road other than a very large sign placed away from the building by the road... (Visibility from road has been a stated requirement of new/recent stores). For those who know the Berea exit off I71, it was NW of an intersection full of mature businesses, in a spot similar to where the Kmart is - though lots of trees blocked view from surface stree, too... A top of hill/Transportation Blvd spot would be much more high profile. .

Columbus is getting one, too - but they just had a good spot pop up first. IKEA has been looking in CLE some 15 years The IKEA requirement is 2MM people within 60 miles... which is just about what Columbus has. CLE store will have 3.5MM in same distance, so we will get one, but location yet to be finalized, as last one killed by the EPA due to "wetlands."

IKEA Cleveland rumors have gone pretty silent... A good sign? Meanwhile, both Milwaukee and Norfolk have had new stores announced in recent months. Of the top 35 metros, only CLE, San Antonio and Nashville (can't find right spot in this boomtown they say) don't have stores now. 'bout time...

As much as I dislike the generic "811" as a restaurant name, the sign and space sure look nice.

Not disputing distance of nearest Heinen's, but a new one is going in downtown Chagrin (construction starts early Aug) when there are two 5-10 minutes west and east already. The gourmet, smaller format would play well - possibly even in the 21K ft retail space at planned North end of what was the Fresh Market strip (better spot, attached to parking, for people traffic to development than the Qua spot across street.)

And health of Flats Crop group of 3 restaurants is (as a passerby) questionable.

Could be the perfect situation for Heinen's to swoop in with one of their small format 25K sf stores, mde to complement their full linestores, like they have in Hudson and will be building in downtown Chagrin Falls....

Buried in the above story is that Fresh Market will NOT be building a new store - and the current store will close for good, it says due to a buyout of the chain and reassessment of stores/openings. No more concern over the proposed store's orientation on its lot, I guess...

That's fine as long as RTA is compensated for the added cost they incur. But I don't know how you compensate RTA riders for the 3-4 added minutes of going around the square. I get the transit-centric angle, but how will Clevelanders - and visitors - be compensated for having buses destroy the new, serene, highly praised, cohesive Public Square? It can't be all about inconvenience too riders or cost to RTA. it simply can't (it's one component...). If added costs are a concern, cut each bus route 1/8 mile on each end (to equal the 1/4 whatever the distance around the square is) = solved (layman's point of view... I know, but seriously, why not? That distance is minimal...). I would happily pitch in $50 now to a GoFundMe, etc... if that existed (maybe it should) not because I will ever ride an ETA bus, but because I value a "whole" square. #BusFreeCLESquare.

I'd welcome those Van Aken choices! Also, Noodlecat got a liquor license for an address that matches that of the CLE airport a few months back, but have seen nothing announced or visible at the airport.

Continuing from above: A re-review of La Place/Beachwood zoming plans show a 25K sf tenant on top floor and 3 restaurants totalling 8800 sf on bottom. Tweets say Ho Wah restaurant closed 3 months due to La Place remodel. Beachwood arch board meeting this week - may reveal 25K sf tenant.

Crocker Park: Noodlecat "Coming soon" sign up in empty space on side of Nordstrom Rack building, opposite Texas de Brazil. Seems a little commercial for Sawyer - but wonder if we will see an east side version soon, too. Maybe at new Shaker development?

I do not have anything confirmed on Container Store or Restoration, bit not many stores of the type mall is seeking are of the size in question. However, all signs say Container not going to Pinecrest. And I know two story Restoration Gallery (up to 50K sf) was on original Beachwood Place expansion plan and then on Pinecrest plan. Plus Coastal Taco was ready to build at La Place and then they said GGP was going a different direction than a Coastal (or any restaurant?) at La Place. GGP sought approval for a 25,000 sf 25+ ft high Borders/adjacent space. Plus, no restaurant planned for Beachwood expansion now (but maybe at La Place). One scenario: Container builds external store as part of Beachwood Place west side expansion (to go with Zara external entrance and potentially Forever 21 expansion plus maybe 1-2 more). Restoration builds two story Gallery store in Sushi/New Balance/Massage spacee down and Borders up. Second scenario: Some combination of abovee or ??

Adjacent to Beachwood Place, GGP has begun demolition at La Place, in the old Borders upper floor space... Beachwood records indicate a 25,000 sf tenant on second floor.... Container Store? Two story Restoration Gallery (taking Sushi Rock space, too, which recently had auction to gut it)? At least two additional tenants appear to be moving out of their lower-level spaces to make room for development Also, Capital Grille finally opened Tuesday 7/5 at Legacy. Beautiful inside. Booked solid last Sat night when there for dinner and nicely attended for several lunches I've had. Nice place. Tasty food .

Valley View/Garfield is "out there in the sprawl?" Huh? This ain't Avon.... It's barely 8 driving miles from Public Square.. -- as close or closer driving distance than UO-beloved Lakewood, Waterloo Rd, etc..

Though it may seem like CLE doesn't have a lot of flights arriving (that need baggage moved) late at night, I've often arrived fairly late in the evening and have noticed how many flights, in a relative sense, are still on the arrivals board. A quick check of the CLE status board tonight shows some 32 flights arriving tonight after 9 PM. I wish it were 132... but it's not like the airport is totally dead at that time - so they should be staffing a bit heavier.

As noted above, many pieces of construction equipment and materials back on site this week.. Love or hate Pinecrest, it appears it IS go-forward, per Fairmount's statement they'd start again in June. Perhaps the rumors of its demise and tenant defections were just rumors. Guess we'll see.

...but the half dozen vacant United gates remain vacant in C. I know American is moving to them but will it be before RNC? If not that place will look at bit depressing for visitors - many if whom will pass by then on way to United banjo gates.

Were things any better when Ricky was in charge? He moved on (back) to BWI, which has got an enviable terminal/service - so he must not be bad at the game of running an airport...

And nowhere in article does it note United was unprofitable... just that they were "justified..."

A little search found "The Marble Room" name registered by "Steak Holders, LLC" back in March. Frank Sinito, of Millennia, the Garfield Building owner, is listed on the application... He owns Lockkeepers... and back in 2014 (Crea/PD article) announced he would open two downtown restaurants including a "luxurious" one. I guess this might be it... by default.

The inside of Coastal Taco is a sunny, surfy knockout. The patio was inviting (but preferred indoors). The place was very crowded last Friday, the announced opening day (notable locals Scott Wolstein, Doug Trattner and Sam McNulty were among the diners I saw). Not sure I personally bought into the order-by-checklist Taco menu, but liked the place. However, Crop's nearby concepts appeartoed be struggling... and Punch Bowl wasn't all that crowded when we left around 7:30 on a Friday.. Hope things pick up at night.

I hated "JACK" but now I like it, if the brand is edgier/sleeker, more like the Cosmopolitan, Aria, etc... in Las Vegas. Love the signage. If so, it won't be for Granny and Grandpa (they will still go to the suburban CLE racinos for or their slot play) but perhaps a more upscale look and feel will attract a better clientele overall (... wishful thinking...)