eyehrtfood

And regarding Menchies - the local franchises are owned by Bob Stark and his team/family... so they often are present in his developments, including Eton (which was a top 5 store in the chain at one point last year, I know), Crocker and others.

Heinen's Village Market in Hudson might be the perfect store - great size, great selection... everything you need, nothing you don't... It's the main thing I miss from living in Hudson...

In the case of Tiffany, NEO (16th or so in population) is the only one of the 30+ largest metros without a Tiffany, so would seem long overdue. Why it took them so long and why they ended up at Eton after years of Beachwood Place rumors = an interesting question. Also, Tiffany is building one of their new, smaller prototype stores, which is half the size of the (very dated looking, though not that old) old concept Columbus store ( and less than half as big as the nearby, local Alson's), so they will have significantly less overhead. And much of their business is in silver these days.... Lots of $100-$200 sales...not necessarily $10,000-$20,000 rings, etc..Should do very nicely with pent up demand. Will be interesting to see how consumers unfamiliar with their business model respond to the "we don't have sales" aspect of a jewelry store like Tiffany, when pretty much every other jewelry store customers have shopped locally for years promotes with sales. (I personally prefer the Tiffany model, as you know an item will never be lower due to sale later, etc...)

Heard indirectly from owners that Sweet Melissa in Rocky River will be opening an east side location (Shaker Heights?) Pretty tasty place - would be nice addition on east side.

Tiffany & Co just-announced opening date at Eton is August 28th http://www.tiffany.com/Locations/Store.aspx?partner=www.weddingchannel.c..&langprefforca=-1&StoreId=1311

Imagine the impact this building/business would have made in the parking lot across Euclid from the Palace Theatre... But does look good, and hopefully livens this area/serves as a catalyst

Cooper's Hawk Winery - already in media as coming to CLE - is likely another Beachwood Place restaurant - either in third freestanding building... or in old M&S space... It qualifies as "white tablecloth" per GGP's comments... Other possibilities - Kona Grill (once looking in CLE), Roy's (once announced for CLE), BJ's Brewhouse (3 other in Ohio), Yard House (just hitting Ohio), Cantina Laredo, etc...

In looking at the Beachwood website - to see the plans for Beachwood Place expansion - two of the restaurants I guessed would be coming are clearly part of the plan.. Capital Grille (who had wanted the Claddagh space at Legacy in recent years...) and - good news - Seasons 52... the upscale/healthy concept from Darden restaurants. http://www.beachwoodohio.com/DocumentCenter/View/360 These would go on the NE corner of the mall property - essentially in front of main entrance - but nearer the street.

I noticed this place (apparently a chain) in a high profile spot on Mentor Ave in Mentor... The space (former farmer's market, I think) looks fantastic... http://burgerfi.com/ I also noticed "Dynamite Burgers"- whatever that is - is coming to 1302 Euclid - at least according to liquor license..

CLE was on the Hofbrau radar 14 years ago... Good things come to those who wait... http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/1999/09/27/tidbits.html?page=all

When you're investing $8MM, you want a sure thing. This location is not a sure thing... so it makes it all the more interesting. Even one block up on Euclid would have been much surer... Hoping it's a huge success.

From a Playhouse Square/potentially livening dead area standpoint, this location is great news. However, wonder how this deal came together, which side approached which first and how they chose to look past dead area to see what could be vs hotter/more established area? In the long run, they may be very sorry they chose this spot vs. new construction of old building conversion in FEB, WHD, Gateway or elsewhere. I hope not, but customers are going to have to find this place vs running across it in more visible area.

Pugu - Texas de Brazil - the bigger of the two national Brazilian steakhouse chains (other is Fogo de Chao) will be opening at Crocker Park in (now.. updated) 2014 - not in PHS.

anyone have a take on how Mitchell's will do in Ohio City, based on this? Or are they different due to name brand and main street location?

I know Eton uses the across the street strip center and 3-4 story office building parking for valet on busy nights already.. If I were Stark - I'd buy that strip center (where Original Pancake House is, etc...) and move Trader Joe's there - and you gain parking too...

Eton parking update: Apparently Apple store now offers valet parking due to parking hassles and Brooks Brothers, which has a half dozen dedicated and reserved spaces right in front of their store, one down from Apple, has an employee outside playing parking police, escorting people in store, and telling them to move from spaces if they don't enter store first. and this is before Tiffany opens... Eton... you have a problem.

An out of town friend works for a very major, worldwide manufacturer of medical equipment and was in town this week on a facility visit. He said the global head of his division was also in town, and was not only positively talking up the medical mart ("$500 million project" - which my friend knew nothing of until then) but was picking out what cutting edge equipment was to go in their med mart showroom. It may be just misinterpretation of what he heard - but his take was that his company's showroom would also be a functioning clinic, not just a static display of technology. Don't know about that, but nice to hear that, behind the scenes, these household name companies really do seem committed and interested.

Not surprised by the Eddie Bauer closing, which I noticed the other day when there - times have changed for this retailer... Anyway.. Beachwood Place has about a half dozen actual vacancies/closing stores, including the closed-for-a-year M&S restaurant out front - plus 3-4 other service or seasonal outlets that likely are short term lease types, should something else more long term be interested. At the same time, they are turning away prospective retailers due to lack of right space, right tenant adjacency, etc.. - and therefore seeking expansion of some sort. Funny how that works. At Eton, a dumpster showed up this week in front of the (apparently, though still not officially announced) Tiffany & Co spot - the former Berger & Silver - and the doors have been opened, emptying out the store for what is likely a significant makeover. Here's an exterior shot of one of their recently opened lifestyle center stores, similarly-sized... wonder if store will look more updated like this one vs. more traditional TCO past stores...? http://www.trademarkproperty.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/property-full/images/Tiffany%20Opening%2012-10rev_web.jpg

Frontier just pulled out of Akron-Canton and started flights at CLE - similar to CVG/DAY.

Mitchell's Facebook appears to indicate they opened in the last day.

A year ago they estimated first year attendance 400,000-500,000... How convenient that they hit 400,000.... Wonder how many members will renew. Have not been but have heard the "underwhelming" comments, as noted above.

"Trentina" - Sawyer's stated restaurant name - was filed as business name with state of Ohio last week... though this doesn't tell us much. http://www2.sos.state.oh.us/reports/rwservlet?cert&PRM_DOC_ID=201301100883

After discussion/announcement of Uptown location last year, Sawyer has been in print in recent months noting he was still looking for location or at least not naming it... but wanted it to be/said that it would be close to his home (in eastern suburbs). From those comments/other social media comments about areas & restaurants his family likes or frequents, I'd bet it could be anywhere from, say, Cedar-Fairmount to Cedar-Lee to even Chagrin Falls (where there is a prime, to-be-redeveloped former Mario's Spa building that has been rezoned and is ready for redevelopmenet as upscale restaurant, per the owners...). I would assume an older, rehabbed, building would be his choice, given Greenhouse history...

Beachwood Place: As for stores noted above --- Bakers filed chapter 11 and is closing over 100 stores... A Michael Kors store was announced as opening in 2011 in GGP/Beachwood Place marketing materials - but never did. Armani Exchange was actually announced as coming Beachwood Place tenant in 2009, but never did: http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2009/03/retailers_ax_armani_exchange_a.html The media reports of possible expansion did seem to focus on restaurants and banks - but it also mentioned 2 story stores in one of the various articles I read - and I am aware that GGP if making a full court press for Crate & Barrel when their lease at Legacy expires in the next 5 or so years. Legacy Village: Love or hate lifestyle centers, this particular place was poorly designed and is paying for it. It also has had unusually tough luck with regards to retailers leaving LV who have completely shut all U.S. stores - into the double digits. It will be 10 years old this year... and appears to have become the 3rd choice for upscale retailers coming into market, behind Beachwood Place and Eton. There is also at least 1 ground floor space (next to smoothie place) that has still not been leased in the 9 years since opening - and even the one Charming Charlie finally took 2 years ago was vacant from 2003 until then... so leasing has been tough (having BP, Eton, La Place and Legacy vying for same tenants makes leasing competitive...). When leasing is tough for retailers, you move to restaurants... and I know a burger place is on their lists of potentials for areas around the new Granite City. Recent word from employees there is also that West Elm was close to signing for space now occupied by Pier 1 - so we'll see how that plays out. Claddagh rumored to be on last legs and Capital Grille has been sniffing around - they want the spot. Container Store has twice had leases signed at Legacy Village, I'm told, but has backed out...

Speaking of suburban retail (because that is, better or worse, where CLE retail is focused at this point...): Rumor on the street is that Apple store at Legacy Village moving to larger space at Eton, at the same time that Microsoft continues their buildout of 6,000 sf space at Beachwood Place. Current Legacy store is sub-5000 sf and current Apple store size target is 8,000 nationally. Eton just so happens to have a 9,000 sf space available between Orvis and North Face - and any move could spell more trouble for Legacy, as it is a big draw. This could be one of the retailers Beachwood Place missed out on, as was noted in recent comments regarding needed expansion. Trader Joe's is also expanding avg store nationally from 10,000 sf (a bit larger than Eton store) to 15,000 sf - and I wouldn't be surprised if we see Trader Joe's expand at Eton somehow. With Tiffany apparently coming, maybe Apple, parking that is already challenging, and likely additional name tenants on the way, I think it's safe to say that Eton may expand west towards the office build Stark owns on Brainerd/Chagrin corner in some manner soon - though a 40 apartment complex stands in its way... At same time, at Beachwood Place, Clark's is relocating to larger, former MaxStudio spot in Nordstrom wing while their former space next to the new Microsoft, abuts another vacancy (former Marciano store) and leftover space from Microsoft = about 6,000 sf that I'm guessing - just guessing - is being combined into one space for a new retailer. See's Candies is also building a permanent location in former Croc's store on 2nd level by food court.