eyehrtfood

As IKEA noted in April that they will build 8 new full sized stores in the next 3 years - I continue to believe that Cleveland will get the full sized IKEA store they had originally planned for the NW corner of 480/Tiedeman - killed in 2016 due Army Corps environmental concerns: https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2016/02/absurd_concerns_about_swamp_bl.html They then had more or less committed to the Garfield Heights site now being considered for the county jail on the NW corner of Transportation and 480 - which was caught in the 2018 cancellation of all planned stores in US - including hot spots like Nashville and Raleigh. https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/oh-cuyahoga/garfield-heights-mayor-slams-ikea-for-backing-out (Nashville and Cleveland both were among the first to get IKEA pickup points in the last 1-2 years...) And there's this: 2017: "We thought we'd be in Cleveland many years ago," said Lars Petersson, president of Ikea's U.S. operations. "We hoped to be in Cleveland first. We've been looking for a long, long time in both Cleveland and Columbus. But of course, we will be in Cleveland eventually."" https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2017/06/06/with-columbus-store-ready-to/20689935007/ Someone on this board had indicated rumors that IKEA was recently looking in Richfield... Not sure if there are any more rumors about that?

Though too large for the space - If this were, say, in a currently vacant space lime the former Chocolate Bar spot, adjacent to E 4th-on Euclid - where sports fans and concert goers, etc... gather - You'd be talking about an already busier spot. (Corner Alley seems to have held its own for a dozen+ years...) On the positive side... they are only 1 month past opening. Turnarounds can happen.

Oh, my... just passed by this giant Five Iron Golf space at 7:15 on a Friday - and I literally believe not a single customer was there. None. Workers were playing on rhe suimulators. They need to get the word out.

Agree on that! However, was able to use my Clear membership for the Aer Lingus flight in the regular security line / non- Pre Check at CLE - which I never understand thr existence of (in reg line) until I was the beneficiary due to long reg security wait.

It will be interesting the reaction of the public and government officials in Columbus as to "the need" and "the cost" - versus the same in Cleveland when the Cleveland new terminal is officially rolled out to all with plans and cost. Guess: Columbus will say "we need a world class airport at any cost" and Cleveland will say "how much? Flying is for the rich... What a waste... What about money for our neighborhoods instead...? (I live in CLE)

For anyone thinking about traveling Cleveland to Dublin - next Summer's Aer Lingus flights are freely available with their (and British Airways') Avios frequent flyer points right now - 20,000 points each way - with Avios a partner with many credit card points programs you can transfer from.. (Note: With a current 30% transfer bonus from American Express (into British Airways Avios) you only need to transfer <16,000 points per ticket per direction... Really fair esp given current 60K-80K+ Amex new card sign-up bonuses...) We used the flight in June - and we booked ours again for next year last night - with the ONLY downside to the CLE-DUB route being reduced same-day connecting flights to the rest of Europe since many non-stops from Dublin are only once a day, prior to the Cleveland flight's 9 am arrival.

Was getting my hair cut today at Van Aken's Principle Barbershop and WOW does that building loom large over the Van Aken District - even at half-ish its height. Love the feeling it gives to the area.

Total spin - no supporting details on what a "visitor" constitutes - from the organizations responsible for local spin - same as any city... https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/articles/post/2023-state-of-the-visitor-industry-mid-year-report/

Unfortunately, either Aer Lingus, the airport, or both went the cost saving route and were using only the Aer Lingus logo on video monitors to denote the "official" check in counter - and only when operating - not during off hours, as I recall from last visit. A good old hard sign would surely look better and seem more permanent.

YES! Took the very comfortable 7 hour Aer Lingus flight and did pre-clearance in June - quick and easy and just walked off plane to our car in CLE. Great benefit of DUB-CLE flight. (And if you happen to have Prioroty Pass via a credit card,as many do, enjoyed the DUB lounge right outside of pre-clearance prior to our flight. Nice free food and alcohol selection...)

The Peleton store has closed - along with other recent Peleton closings in Cincinnati and elsewhere dldue to their financial woes and strategy change. Lululemon looking at moving from Eton to the former 3 Palms restaurant space on main traffic circle- to join the numerous other athletic clothing stores. A big draw. A hotel - presumably with Retail underneath - being planned for western middle space off main traffic circle opposite Warby Parker. Fancy 8,000+ sf Lao Sze Chuan Chinese restaurant opening early August in former City Works space. Offline and Aerie stores from American Eagle under construction on main Park Ave street. Allen Edmonds, moved from Eton, opened in June. 50,000 sf RH Gallery and restaurant perhaps halfway complete on former Slymans/Red Robin spot - wonder if this is a Q4 2923 or early 2024 opening based on progress status.

I took the Aer Lingus flight to Dublin and back in June - extremely nice/comfortable- even in regular economy seats - and took inter-Europe flights to and from Dublin on Aer Lingus and Ryanair at very low cost - so Dublin seems to be a nice place for easy and inexpensive connections, even though it's not the preferred London non-stop many would think they want. Already looking at the same flight next year (bookable with United miles, FYI) - though this year there were more limited European connections offered from CLE on the Aer Lingus site - necessitating me booking those ongoing flights separately. I think someone noted the flight time from CLE might be adjusted to an earlier departure to capture more cities via morning connections.

The lack of a major, large, internationally known university- like Ohio State - hurts CLE greatly in the talent pipeline category for facilities like Amazon, Intel, Google - and the Columbus-based state government certainly doesn't work too hard to change companies' minds, if Ohio is their choice. With that said, Cleveland and Cuyahoga County also skew far older and less educated - with a more difficult business climate, many jurisdictions, and more built-out land = just easier to plunk down in Columbus, no? As a metro Clevelander - I feel that these projects are wins for Columbus first and foremost - and Ohio second - and cities like Clevleand as distant thirds... - with no ill feelings but lots of envy for what they will do locally in Columbus

When I park ANYWHERE - my house driveway included - I put all items and packages out of site. Makes common sense.

I was on the CO 757s to Paris and London from CLE and am in Europe now having taken the extremely comfortable 321NEO from CLE-DUB on Friday. I'd prefer wide-body but can attest the AerLingus priduct I'd very nice, even in middle-of-plane basic economy. Tons of legroom, great seatback entertainment, etc...

Totally cringe with surprisingly good, scratch food that I have been to on business trips at the request of others (they did not drag me... but was a bit uncomfortable.) But I can't get my WIFE to go when we travel and have seen them. I promise her it's good... ..

Green Bay, WI is #1 on the list, FYI. My company HQ isthere and I have spent untold months of my life there over the past 20 years. I know the place too well. It is so far from #1.... It's actual rank is probably #8,000. Terrible list!

In a world of bad Chipotles, it has been THE WORST for years. A 3 person line quickly grows to 25 before customer 3 even begins to order. Legendarily bad.

If "Richfield" means, say, the 271/77 intersection, a visible spot like that would absolutely meet their criteria and is centrally located for CLE/Akron/Canton. However, IKEA previously had a spot selected (and intersection improved for them) on a hill next to the Valley View bridge at Transportation Blvd - near 77 and right on 480 (drivers could see them miles away) which is clearly the "Main and Main" of the Cleveland metro. But, obviously things can change.

IKEA killed plans for full sized US stores in 2018 - like the 350,000+ SF store planned for the NW corner of 480/Transportation Blvd in Garfield Heights (where the land still sits vacant and the overpass/exits were improved for the planned store) - their 2nd land choice after their Tiedeman and 480 site was rejected by the Army Corps of Engineers, as some may recall (2016). However, Nashville, which had an announced and then cancelled on 2018 full sized store did get one of the first "pick up points" in the country last year and who knows how IKEA will build in the coming years. CLE/NEO continues to be the largest US metro without a store... UPDATE: apparently Ckeveland has an IKEA pick up point ourselves, in Brunswick, which seems to have opened with little fanfare... Also, a CBS story specifically says IKEA will open 8 full sized stores - which bodes well for Clevleand, already chosen as a (past) future market for them.

Michael Symon business partner Doug Petkovic's new Eton restaurant, in the former Fleming's space, appears to be called Heritage Steak and Whiskey based on an update of the Eton website this week. It's been under construction since late Summer or early Fall...

Nothing exciting, just a Fidelity Investments office moving from Eton.

Crane now clearly visible from Valley View bridge - which always gives a nice skyline view.

Glad it's moving back - but can think of numerous major airports that have locations further or less convenient. This isn't just a CLE issue.

Yes and likely will be a new "live fire" concept they are switching to that is different than most current RH restaurants. https://sf.eater.com/2022/5/12/23068752/restoration-hardware-restaurant-san-francisco-open-menu