downtownjoe

I usually don't post news articles but I couldn't stop myself after reading that quote.

3.5m funding removed for Bobby's east bank development plans. https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/03/ohio-lawmakers-pass-11b-transportation-budget-that-seeks-repeal-of-strongsville-brunswick-interchange-mandate.html?outputType=amp

I have not seen any permits since 2023 for this location which is the rehab for a future tenant. No tenant is disclosed. There was speculation on this forum based on the plans that it would be a Chipotle or Starbucks but it was just speculation. You can find the build plans here: https://aca-prod.accela.com/COC/Cap/CapDetail.aspx?Module=BuildingHousing&TabName=BuildingHousing&capID1=23BHO&capID2=00000&capID3=15129&agencyCode=COC&IsToShowInspection=

4186 Lorain Ave has a sale sign on it. Would be a dream to see it sell and converted into living (apartments or boutique hotel).

From Akron and having lived on Huron Rd for 6 years, awesome! This little area is special and deserves more love. Wishing Eddie's all the success. All seasons, this street is magical but my favorite is summer time. With this space being occupied, now all storefronts on the street are back to 2018 occupancy level. From Jazz Fest, Cavs Playoff runs, Tribe games, lunches during the workday, etc... if you haven't before, hit this street up Zaytoon is incredible, the Mexican spot is back, there's a new Korean spot on the corner, can never go wrong with Wild Eagle or Yours Truly!

The trailer they already put up which fronts 48th (a residential street) is covered in graffiti. They continue to block sidewalk with cars and occupy street spaces throughout hours of the business day. Their business is a blight, just like all other used car dealers on Lorain and Detroit.

Choolah is not struggling in that location. Their primary business is take out/delivery but in the summer months it livens up.

My guess is it's got to be where Banter was based on this image: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFoZ5WMPxDy/ (this is the side of the building Banter resided in)

Looks like Chipotle will be taking over Soho Chicken & Whiskey spot and Soho Chicken & Whiskey will be moving.

Short Vincent history fits their theme/design better. Short Vincent is also more living and restaurants than it is parking garages... sure, there are garages but there are also three massive apartment buildings, potbelly/shake shack on a corner, pizza on the other corner, hotel dining, hotel living... calling it parking garages and dumpsters is silly. This street, with some more infill, will be one the most lively streets downtown.

I have no doubt something will quickly take its place. The rooftop is prime time.

Astoria is a different beast. I think Banter's downfall isn't the food or drink, it was the interior... their seating choices (bench on back wall sits about a foot too high so you're awkwardly hunched over a table), layout (the weird split made one side seem dead and the other lively), lighting (way too bright), and music was never really dialed in for the west side audience. Great food, great staff, good drink, but whatever new concept is taking over should fix the bench seating, go darker and make sure the music is better. In 2025, as much as we might hate the word, you have to bring the vibes. You can get by on great vibes and okay food... you can't get by with okay vibes.

Dan is on fire! He knows how to navigate the NIMBYs.

Progress on the Bridge and W 47th townhomes. Looks like they’ve progressed on the remaining builds. Seems to me they’re building them all or at least laying the groundwork for them.

Dissenting opinion: This doesn't look like my most favorite environment for a few brews. I think what Brewdog has done in terms of use/reuse is ideal (kept the graffiti bollard like structures, added an awesome sign rooftop in place of a non-historic addition and kept the inside of the space industrial yet inviting). Silos add nothing and have a dystopian sort of feel when next to a tiny human being. There's enough rock climbing in the city and the views or development this would open up is much more desirable. Metroparks has proven to be a great asset and we should have a bit more faith in them as they look to fix a desolate area in our community.

Unreal... It does feel like it could be one of those things guys like Lourenco say to get what they want then do it in a half measure or not at all after the deal is done. As an example: keeping the US Steel HQ open for a bit then moving it over to Cleveland.

Sounds like an anchor location for Chicken N Pickle (backed by Travis Kelce) https://www.novolleys.com/topgolf-of-pickleball-begins-expansion-beyond-midwest/

The investigators knocked on my door looking for camera footage from that night. I was out at the bars the night before and I didn’t know fire investigators had badges… I was like what did I get into last night. Hopefully they catch whoever did this… love that one of the photos is literally of car parked on the lot at one point as if the owners don’t know who either owns the car or bought it.

Same tone deaf decision making that seems to follow this ownership group around! Sorry Columbus– if you follow the Browns stadium saga, you'd know it'll take A LOT to get them to budge even a little bit. Give em' hell!

Both of those foundations have been there for 2+ years. They tore down the old construction fence, cleared the jungle of weeds and put up the new fence a little over a month ago. They closed off the end of 47th near Bridge for work in the road (sewer and water) last week. They haven't started on any new foundations. I will monitor the site as I can see it from my master bedroom.

Luis Ortiz was number 2 behind Skeenes. He really turned it on in the second half of last season. He will be a number 3/4 for us. We needed this more than we needed a declining Gimmy. Prospects are solid as well. Feel much better with this return than what it felt like originally with the INF swap. "Ortiz threw 135 innings for the Pirates with a 3.32 ERA and 4.25 FIP, and a 7.1/2.79 K/BB/9. For his career, Ortiz gets a lot of groundballs at 43.2%, which made a bit more sense when the Guardians had the best second baseman in baseball than it does at this current moment, but, still, groundballs are better than flyballs as a general rule. Most exciting, Ortiz has some really interesting stuff with a fastball that sits at 96 mph, a sinker that sits at 95, and a slider that measures very well in Stuff+ at 119. He also has 79th percentile extension and a general knack for avoiding hard contact. He also threw all four of his pitches in the 20-27% range last year. I expect the Guardians to get him more sinker-slider heavy which should help his stuff play up, overall. Basically, Ortiz looks like a pitcher who should be getting better results than he’s getting. So, this trade is a bet that the Guardians’ pitching development group can unlock those results for the 25 year old who is under team control through 2028."

Huge fire at Byright (48th and Lorain) Wont be surprised to see this building demoed after this. I’m hoping Imposters Theater is undamaged.

FWIW: They withdrew from landmarks so that project is dead: "Unfortunately, our client has decided not to pursue the project at 1898 W. 25th and its associated sitework at 2516 Carroll Ave. We would like to withdraw the local design review and Cleveland Landmarks applications for this work (not sure if it is an "official" step that is needed, but wanted to keep you informed regardless)." - Oliver Architecture

Dan Whalen leaving Harbor Bay certainly doesn't help. He was the visionary for all of this hospitality and I'm sure that his departure hurt their ability to operate.

5509 Detroit Ave is owned by Mayekar Familia, LLC (family who owned the Vietnamese market where Welleon was built). There is a TMP permit in right now so it's content's can't be viewed: 24TMP-034233 Com Building Permit 5509 Detroit AVE, Cleveland OH 44102