Bookman

2020 Euclid Ave is now available. The Barnes & Noble is closing. It's a lot bigger than you mentioned, but its recently refurbished space.

Have you considered anything between East 18th and East 21st on Euclid? You'd have a shot at getting all the business from CSU students. Not a day goes by that I don't have someone asking me where they can get their laptop fixed.

^Sorry, Ann Arbor is still a wh*re! I just can't root for scUM.

I say use both of the 1st round picks on the best available quarterbacks. Go into camp saying its a competition for all three to see who starts. Worst case is the picks both bust and Hoyer gets hurt again, so no different than this past season. Best case scenario, both picks light it up and we can use one to trade for whatever else we need. They must find a QB that they can commit to and move the team forward.

Ok, Vikings took care of business on Thursday night. Both the Men and Women won. Saturday the 15th is the showdown with Green Bay. Vikings win this and they are tied for first in the Horizon League. Men play at 4pm, great seats for as little as $10. There's a BOGO coupon at csuvikings.com. Come on out!!!

I would vote for Kafeteria. It would allow me to join my better half for lunch since she works in the building. She always wonders who posts the things I show her, now would be her chance to meet everyone.

Time to start getting folks to see a winner that has Cleveland on the jersey. There are two doubleheaders this week at the Wolstein Center. On Thursday, Feb 13, the Women play at 5:30 against Valparaiso, Men at 7:30 against UIC. On Saturday the 15th, the Women play Detroit at 1pm and the Men play Green Bay at 4pm. The Saturday game could be to move the Men's team into a tie for first place in the Horizon League. Saturday is also when the Kid's Zone is available as well as $1 hot dogs. Tell your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers! Great seats are only $15 and it gets you into both games of the doubleheader.

I'd be shocked to see a used bookstore open downtown. For the most part, those are "hobby" businesses someone does because they enjoy it. The internet has hit them as hard as the new bookstores, if not harder. The out of print stuff us bibliophiles used to search those for can be found there. I'm not saying it won't happen, but it will take someone who is both bibliophile and dedicated urbanist and willing to eat the rent differential between downtown and the typical suburban strip mall. The last used bookstore store that I know of in downtown Cleveland is the Old Erie Street Bookstore at 2128 East 9th. Based on the reviews, I'm guessing the owner just opens by appointment and sells most of the inventory through his web site.

^A City Target -- 80,000 to 100,000 square feet. This illustrates my point about the request of the Planning Commission to the developers of the apartments at East 18th and Euclid for street level retail. We have enough 1,000 to 4,000 square foot retail capable locations on Euclid Avenue. What we need is an anchor tenant that will satisfy a significant level of demand. Then the specialty retailers will fill in the smaller spaces to meet the more specialized requests.

I know I'm not a moderator, but can we get back on topic? So far I've seen folks post that there is a need for retail stores in the following product categories: Clothing DIY Hardware Office Supplies Used Books Any other categories?

I'm guessing the top photo was taken facing East from what is now Shaker Square. The second might be facing West on top of the bridge for Lee Road over the Van Aken line. Am I close?

A follow-up question to muddy the water-- What impact has or will the World Wide Web have on the future of bricks & mortar retailers in the downtown Cleveland area? In my opinion, the WWW is the main reason we don't have a major office supply store in the downtown area. Most companies just place orders online and the product is delivered the next day. Retailers that deal in commodity type products such as books and office supplies are the most susceptible to decreases in in-store traffic due to the ease of shopping online. Bottom line, a medium blue ink ballpoint pen is the same pen no matter where you shop. The same can be said for the latest Stephen King novel. This is a trend that shows little sign of reversing. So, look into your crystal ball and project which retail categories or service businesses will be less impacted by the ongoing shift to online shopping and will then provide stability in the downtown area.

^I agree with your assessment and the appeal of the street wall in the downtown area. Back in the 70's and 80's, the walk down Euclid Avenue was incredible. Full storefronts and so many people that it was keep up or get run over. If there was going to be retail space in the NEOMED building, I'm pretty sure I would know about it. I also doubt that there will be a food service option when the Student Center is right across the street. I do know that I get a front row seat to watch all the construction..

As a downtown retailer, I'm clearly interested in what is developing in the downtown area in both the residential and retail marketplaces. Recently there was a residential project announced for the Southeast corner of East 18th and Euclid. As I understand it, the Planning Committee has asked the developer to consider or incorporate some street-level retail to the project. Since my interests in the project are not design related, it was suggested that I pose my retail questions in another thread. So, here are my questions to the group: 1. What types of retail need to be present that are not already there in the downtown area of Public Square east to East 30th Street? 2. Is there enough existing retail type store-fronts to support these new retailers? If the moderators of this forum feel there is a better place for me to post this topic, please feel free to make the move. Thanks!

Since I am clearly uneducated to the benefits of the "continuity of a street wall," could someone enlighten me? I fall on the side of those that don't have a problem with the set-back. Maybe the thinking is that by giving space in the front of the building, it will create the impression that the South Garage and Wolstein Center are not as far away from the central core of the campus. Another reason might be the need for a space buffer from the street noise. Imagine a classroom that is consistently interrupted by the rumble of a bus or truck. This is an academic building. It's not going to have retail or other services that might need to be close to the street for visibility. Then again, as I have said, I'm not educated to some of the elements that many of you contend are important to the urban setting. Please enlighten me. Thanks!

Ok, so if the Planning Commission makes Clayco have the first floor on Euclid become retail space, what kind of retail would you suggest? What type of retail is missing in the Campus District? Look at the Langston project to get an idea of the challenges of securing tenants for new retail space. There are plenty of residents in that area, but there must be factors that have made the decision to sign a contract and build out the space a less than easy deal. Is the rent too high? Is there too much competition or are there other expenses that won't allow the business to be profitable enough to justify the investment? There is still plenty of space on Euclid Ave for more retail within easy walking distance of the Clayco project. If it were up to me, I'd let them do the project as just residential. If a clear need for more retail develops, then I'm sure other spaces in the area would get filled and maybe some of the surface lots between E. 17th and E. 14th would go away.

It's not only the empty storefronts that makes the developers cautious about planning for retail space, it's also the history of the uses of the storefronts. For example, the space recently vacated by Viking Tavern was a Mr. Hero's, but for not more than 8 years. CSU using the Union Building resulted in Cousins Cigar moving. Rascal House is building out space and there is a Pizza Pan just 50 feet away. Marino's Hair has a loyal following, but he is nowhere at capacity as a service business. Johnny's Deli is long gone and I heard it was because they stopped paying the rent. What you may not know is that the prior owner of Johnny's sold it because the revenue just wasn't where they needed it to be. The 1900 store has only been there just over two years and has devolved into a beverage store from what I hear. China Sea is just opening, before that the space was empty for at least 4 years if I remember correctly. Bon Apetit has only been there for two years. Then there's the open space which was Best Steak & Gyros, but that closed in 2007 or maybe even longer ago. What is now Burgers2Beer was a Southwest Mo's just over a year ago. Jimmy John's has only been there for around 3 years. Prior to these two eateries, the space was empty for at least 5 years. Brothers Printing has been a fixture since the 70's, though that business relies on corporate customers. Getting more residents in the area isn't going to necessarily generate more revenue for them. I hate to say this, but I think the brothers will be looking for a new use for their space in the next 5 years. New construction occurred in 2007 resulting in the University Lofts Bookstore opening in 2008. It probably isn't generating anywhere near the revenue that they expected. The bookstore business is really challenging, trust me, I know. The Credit Union just opened within the last two years. The Mac & Cheese place has only been there since 2012. The last building on the block is now empty. It was the leasing office for The Langston, before that it was a Court Reports school. My point to this long post is to simply say that if there was stability in the uses of the existing street level retail, then I would wholeheartedly agree that the project at E. 18th should include space for more retail. Since we really don't have stability, then I can't blame the developer for not planning for retail.

^I remember Carnegie configured with red X's and green arrows. God forbid if you forgot what time things shifted!!! For me there is only one answer to dealing with all of the construction, whether Lake, Clifton or the Innerbelt, just get up earlier!

^It's not the Board. I'm not sure what you saw or experienced, but I do know that a lot of effort has been going into that building to maintain and enhance it within the budget available.

I don't have any direct knowledge to support the following comments, this is just my gut opinion. I doubt any large facility, similar to the Wolstein Center, at any college or university ever actually makes money. I'm referring to specifically the arena portion of the building. It's a big space with big maintenance costs. Just like the convention center, the actual profit centers will be the support services and ancillary revenue generators. The building itself will almost always be in the red. While I understand the members of the Board of Trustees openly commenting on possible outcomes because of the continued costs of the building, I can't see the University destroying an asset that they currently exercise complete control over. Without the Wolstein Center, CSU doesn't host the debate between Obama and Clinton. It doesn't sell over 8000 tickets for a basketball game with Butler. It has to hold commencement split over 5 locations and it doesn't even get to be in the discussion when arena sized events look at Cleveland. Tearing it down not only eliminates the costs, it removes the asset and the opportunities that the asset can bring to CSU. I believe the building will continue to stand for some time.

Has anyone heard anything about returning to seven day a week service?

I really don't think parking is that big of an issue for the Wolstein Center. As with anything that you do routinely, you learn where you will park based on when you arrive and then how much time you need to walk to your destination. A regular event, where the majority of the attendees are returning guests, will develop patterns and adjusted travel times to meet the attendees parking and walking parameters.

From day one, the management of the Wolstein Center has been handled by an outside company. There were good years for events and revenue (Cleveland Crunch indoor soccer) and bad years. Different company's have won the contract, all with the same goal of making money. These are smart people. The problems are outside of the management company's control. As for street front retail, there are three buildings directly across from the Wolstein Center on the North side of Prospect. I believe there are vacant storefronts in those buildings. If the area was in need of retail, I'm sure the rent in those buildings would be reasonable. What do you have in mind for that area?

^The University uses it for commencement (one in December, two in May), large banquets (Athletic Awards luncheon), Career Fair (moved from Woodling) and probably others that I can't think of right now. The basketball schedule (men's and women's) takes priority from November and hopefully through March. In May and June there are plenty of local graduation ceremonies to keep things moving.

I look forward to this groups thoughts on this article: http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/09/cleveland_state_universitys_wo.html CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center is still a financial drain, three years after CSU hired a sports marketing company and a new firm to manage and promote the facility.