eyehrtfood

The middle parking lot at Eton was maybe 80% empty tonight at 6 pm... Two weeks ago, and for a dozen years prior, with Trader Joe's in the center of the strip, it would have been 80%+ FULL (100% on weekends). Almost ghosttownish. Eerie. Amazing how much traffic (human and vehicular) was driven by TJs. Will be interesting to see how much spinoff business is lost by TJs loss of adjacency to other tenants OR perhaps how much is gained by lack of parking hassles. Just odd to see, as one who travels by almost daily. Careful what you wish for, Eton...

There are 2 vacant spaces totalling 5500+ sq ft between Big Bang and Crop Stix on leasing map and believe that is the more likely for FWD. 4000+ Sq ft proposed for "speakeasy"... Cavernous Toby spot is 4x larger.

I'm glad to hear it. The article I read about it didn't sound like business was booming. Not that they're failing either, necessarily. But it sounded like it has been a challenge. The PD article this week said they were performing as expected in some areas and better than expected in others. I was very pleased to read that. I personally didn't take that as them saying "it has been a challenge" - but actually more as a positive, though it's clear there will be a learning curve/adapting to the way and for what these consumers shop.

The new, larger, freestanding Trader Joe's at Eton is opening today at 8:00. In turn, perhaps the biggest reason for the pain many feel when parking near the main part of the Eton retail strip will be gone... (and parking issues relocated maybe 600-700 feet to the west).

A newly issued (1/26) liquor license would seem to indicate that a Noodlecat outpost will be opening at Hopkins... ("5300 Riverside")

....presumably in the outgoing Trader Joe's space. Lucky was pushed out at Beachwood Place last year to make room for Zara. As an aside, the new West End development at Eton, including Chipotle, Starbucks and Texas de Brazil has the tightest (to turn in/out of) and most poorly planned parking lot I can remember. They will have to soon make changes due to backups or certain accidents that will occur due to tight quarters in and out and placement of Starbucks drive through exit right at only exit to entire plaza.. Miserable planning. I can't imagine what they were thinking. Better to park fully behind buildings near new Trader Joe's.

Considering there is a Justice store at Beachwood Place too - having two so close together having something to do with a merger a few years ago (w/Limited Too?) - that's been a long time coming...

I believe the above is actually an early plan - as department store is now not part of plan and the layout has changed. The latest I can find, with some stores and locations that have already confirmed, is in the Vision Book shown is the 11/30 merchandising plan found here: http://www.discoverpinecrest.com/retail/

Heinen's Chagrin Falla space, finally made possible by a parking arrangement in the busy downtown plaza, is about the size of Heinen's fantastic Hudson Village Market store (which is the best grocery store to shop that there is). It's also a 1 minute drive or 5 minute walk from my house, so could not be more thrilled... It should do tremendous business, but two other Heinen's stores are within 7-10 minutes... so some cannibalization will occur. With new Trader Joe's, coming-soon new Whole Foods and newish Market District (yuck) all within 10-15 minutes, it is nice to have the choices.

Fancy Pinecrest movie theater described: http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/pinstripesilverspot012016.aspx?platform=hootsuite

If Red were moving from a competing retail development, not from a nondescript/low visibility spot on the side of an office park strip, I'd be more concerned. I'm also not sure, other than the new, larger Apple store that moved two years ago, of any other retailers or restaurants that have been confirmed to be "relocating from across I-271" - despite some potential ones on leasing maps. With Texas de Brazil and Capital Grille both opening in the coming months near Red, they have to up their game... Also, the Moxie/Red folks sought approval for an Asian restaurant concept, adjacent to their existing quarters, in the last year or so, if I recall. It would seem quite possible that that or another Moxie/Red concept is already slated to go into the Red spot - meaning a net gain of 1 restaurant in the general Beachwood area.

Indianapolis: recently built (from the ground up) billion-dollar 21st century terminal - with airy design and great local restaurants...

They were still using them, at least as of like 3 weeks ago. Same as it has been in recent times - mainline aircraft in the lower gates, and regional craft in the circular area. They did give up one gate to Jet Blue, but that was the only thing that looked any different. I flew out of C10 on United on Monday, so not all "banjo" yet

Click the Vision Book tile on this page to view latest brochure, limited leasing map, verbiage on Red the Steakhouse, etc.. http://www.discoverpinecrest.com/retail/

I know you or others mentioned Paladar moving to Pinecrest. You may have inside info that this is firm. I do know that Cincy's Nada restaurant, similar to Paladar, has been on Pinecrest leasing maps. Don't know if that might have been the "Paladar" noted or maybe a sub...

The just-updated Pinecrest website seems to indicate (in their PDF brochure) that Red The Steakhouse will be relocating from Moxie-adjacent location in Beachwood -across the highway to Pinecrest in 2017. It's noted they have either a signed lease or letter of intent. Interesting. Could this make room for the previously announced Asian concept to go opposite Moxie? (Or is Moxie moving, too?)

The above-retail hotel in the Pinecrest development in Orange Village appears to be one of Marriott's new AC Hotels - opening 2017 - based on the leasing map shown on the just-updated Pinecrest website.

Rick Doody (founded Bravo/Brio and owns Cedar Creek Grille in Beachwood) is on the Beachwood planning agenda this week to present plans for a suburban branch of his planned Flats East Bank "Coastal Taco". This would presumably go in the former Sushi Rick/Cooker spot on lower level as the agenda notes it is proposed for the La Place center (opposite Cedar Creek).

As a non-city-dweller who has warmed way up to urban living and projects because of the this board - it's attitudes like this, that pretty much nothing suburban could possibly be worthwhile - that frustrate me/turns me off/makes me want to stop listening to the urban living message that so many are proponents of here. Hey, not that you care what I think - but you could potentially turn a lot more suburbanites into city-believers if your supported urban living (as you have me) - while not denigrating suburban living just because it's not perhaps your style (though you certainly don't have to support it). Remember that suburban projects have paid the bills for Gets, Stark and others... that have allowed them to consider and proceed with city projects. An inconvenient truth?

Here are shots from today of the Pinecrest construction site (w/new info sign) - taken from the adjacent UH facility, a hotel across the road from west entrance and then Harvard Road. You can see the large dirt mound and long masonry wall going up. The development sits somewhat downhill from the adjacent UH, Bahama Breeze, etc.. Unsure if that is natural or due to the movement of dirt to the wall. A new website was.discoverpinecrest.com is noted on the sign, along with the names of tenants - including Whole Foods, REI and West Elm (not yet officially announced, until this sign), but not Container Store (yet...).

Nice looking hotel. Enjoyed my opening day lunch at the adjacent Yard House last Saturday. The Crocker Texas de Brazil reataurant now on hold until 2016 (was announced in Sept to open next week)

Was listening to WTAM this morning - and Joe Crea from the PD is on weekly - and got a phone call just as he was going to discuss (Cincinnati's beloved) Graeter's ice cream shops apparently coming to CLE. I know one is on the map for Pinecrest, but did anyone hear Joe's specific comments on Graeter's (timing, location, details)?

This Indy store will be on the smaller side of their new store square foot range - under 300K sqaure feet. CLE proposed store mid 300K square feet. Note: new St Louis store also just opened (mid 300K) and article says IKEA looked at 30+ locations over 10 yeara. Settled on surprising inner ring industrial site.

Why Brooklyn? Central location it appears though it would be crammed into the space (a multi story location south of San Francisco airport comes to mind). I think they said they reviewed 32ish locations. CLE just doesn't have that vacant visible highway land in most desirable retail spots like in Columbus, Cincy, Indy... (except for #1 below) I still hold out two wild card locations if Brooklyn doesn't work. SE corner of Harvard/271 (near an original IKEA area of interest 15 years ago) and the Rt 8/I80 interchange near Hudson where Bass Pro and Costco are locating.

An Indy store will mean IKEA will now be in 30 of the top 32 metros... With NEO (around 18th) and San Antonio.(around 27th) the only ones without.