I do not see FC moving into any new development unless it breaks ground soon. They need to be out of the TT by the early part of 2018.

 

I doubt Forest City needs to be out by 2018.  K&D could always extend the lease while they work on getting tax credits and construction drawings.

I have been waiting for a housing component of Tower City for....well a LONG time, I'll bust this guy out for that reason  :drunk:

 

 

 

That said, anyone know how high is the quality of K&Ds renovations so far?  Is there an improvement from say 668 Euclid to East Ohio Gas building?

 

Byron Scott lived in 668 for a while.

 

A friend of mine lived in 668 for a while. It's a fine place

I know a construction manager with Cleveland Construction, which has done a lot of recent work for K&D.  He is generally a very critical guy, but was very complimentary about K&D's dedication to a quality build out.  I think that K&D's reputation is still hurting due to the pre-recession work it had did.

^Stonebridge seems to be the biggest drag on K&D's rep.  I haven't heard as many complaints about their other properties.

I have been in apartments in Hanna, 668 and 1717 and think their quality is not only fine but even improving.  Certainly better quality units than a fair portion of units in bridgeview, bingham, other buildings. 

I don't think Reserve Square helps the rep either.

The Hard Rock Cafe will be closing after the RNC

 

"The closing is part of an effort to focus marketing efforts on the Hard Rock Cafe and Hard Rock Rocksino at Northfield Park in Northfield, a news release said."

 

http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/05/hard_rock_cafe_in_cleveland_to.html

^^ I'm not too surprised. Not a great location unless the riverside along Huron ever gets developed. In my 5 years living in Cleveland, I've never been in it or know anyone who has.

^ Yeah, and it makes sense since they have a big operation already in Northfield...plus their downtown landlord is the owner of their top competitor casino in the region.

I'll miss that sign though :(

I've been in it but not by choice. I was there a few weeks ago and the place was slammed with a 45 minute waiting list.

Throw back Tuesday...

 

Strumming at the Avenue: Hard Rock Cafe opens at Tower City tomorrow, a sign of Cleveland's renaissance even as its parent company is striving to stay in front of a crowded field

 

Plain Dealer, The (Cleveland, OH) - July 1, 1998

BILL LUBINGER PLAIN DEALER REPORTER

 

T.G.I. Friday's offers a broader menu. Local favorites, like the Gotcha Inn in Cleveland, may serve up better burgers.

 

But few places land with the reverberation of a Hard Rock Cafe, the rock music-themed restaurant that officially opens tomorrow at Tower

City Center.

 

The light switch on a revolving, 65-foot-high electric guitar behind the downtown shopping mall will be flicked on tonight for the first time,

but the chain's arrival has been anticipated for several years -seen by some as a stamp of approval on the city's refurbished image.

 

"It's not just another restaurant," said Teri Matyus, spokeswoman for the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland. "Hard

Rock brings with it that already established popularity on a national level. People know that name. It's associated with towns that have a

lot going on."

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B16RJdSArUFaVmREUTVWYjlEUmc/view

 

just a reminder that the word renaissance has been throw around for more than 20 years.  At what point does something stop being a renaissance?

^^ I'm not too surprised. Not a great location unless the riverside along Huron ever gets developed. In my 5 years living in Cleveland, I've never been in it or know anyone who has.

 

I am. The place is always busy, including on weekends for lunch and dinner. And I think their food has really improved in recent years. I count this as a definite loss, but will change my mind if something that's at least as popular with the masses replaces it.

just a reminder that the word renaissance has been throw around for more than 20 years.  At what point does something stop being a renaissance?

 

Make that 40+ years. I found references to a "Cleveland Renaissance" as early as the mid-'70s.

 

Also, I noticed that the pizza place next to the old McDonald's in the Tower City food court is now gone as well

 

Agreed...the place was great and pretty busy when I visited over the years.

Hard to believe it's been there since 1997.

In the meantime, the rumours of it closing started the minute that Northfield opened.

It could be that as a nearby competitor Rock or whoever owns Tower City doesn't want to allow them to advertise the other Racino location.

^^ I'm not too surprised. Not a great location unless the riverside along Huron ever gets developed. In my 5 years living in Cleveland, I've never been in it or know anyone who has.

 

I am. The place is always busy, including on weekends for lunch and dinner. And I think their food has really improved in recent years. I count this as a definite loss, but will change my mind if something that's at least as popular with the masses replaces it.

 

I'm actually happy to hear that and also the other above comments about it being a, seemingly, viable business. Gives credence to it being a portfolio play by Hard Rock and confidence to the possibility of something new and better taking the space. I'm one of those who would agree that that Hard Rock as a brand is moribund at best, so if they did ok there, then plenty of other brands should do a lot better.

There must be a master plan from Gilbert involving the casino, Tower City, and the Ritz. The Ritz is definitely going to undergo a renovation but I believe all of it will be announced at the same time. Too bad Hard Rock Cafe is leaving as it is a draw but if the overall plan is a win then no major loss. As KJP said, it needs to be replaced with another "draw" to TC. I am getting impatient though... I want to know what Gilbert plans to do!

 

 

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The closing of the Hard Rock downtown is a major loss.  It's an iconic symbol, especially in the home of the Rock & Roll HOF.  Most major cities' downtowns have one and in a number of them, like Philly, the Hard Rock has recently expanded.  HR is flashy and showy but is a museum in itself.  The food is decent; the atmosphere and the music, cool.  It also means the loss of the last reasonably-priced, sit-down restaurant inside Tower City -- Houlihan's closing last year was the other.

 

I don't think HR's location was a problem.  Most times I've been there, it's been busy.  As noted, above, this is strictly a business competitor move with Gilbert's divestment from Rock Caesar's.

 

I'm one of those who would agree that that Hard Rock as a brand is moribund at best, so if they did ok there, then plenty of other brands should do a lot better.

 

It doesn't seem to be moribund in Northfield, that lot is always busy.

Boy I really hope Gilbert, has a great master plan and it is released and implemented soon. It is hard to see all of these vacancies rack up on top of the others. Maybe he is allowing the "less desirable" stores to leave to free space for more high demand ones. Only time will tell.

 

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Maybe we can keep the guitar though :)  In all honesty i think the Hard Rock brand has since become very watered down from the mid 90s. I mean I have had a beer at one while waiting for a flight in the Malta airport... There was nothing rock n roll about it.

This is hardly a major loss. We are a big city that can absorb a restaurant closing. Hard Rock is played out. They have closed about 40 locations over the last ten years. Once at over 250 locations now down to about 160. I never felt special having one here. I am sure it has everything to do with Gilbert now in control of TC and the Rocksino.  If Hard Rock thinks they can elevate their brand by moving from a major CBD to hillbilly Northfield than more power to them.

It's a big loss. Tourists love familiar places like that.

I'm one of those who would agree that that Hard Rock as a brand is moribund at best, so if they did ok there, then plenty of other brands should do a lot better.

 

It doesn't seem to be moribund in Northfield, that lot is always busy.

 

Point well taken! To clarify my original statement, I would say that business health does not always equal brand health. Not that many business' are good at understanding and reconciling the balance of the two.

^You're entitled to your opinion, but I disagree.  I can tell you as a regular to CIFF, the Hard Rock has  been a go-to place during one of the frequent snowstorms Cleveland's had during CIFF.  We could get a reasonably priced meal inside TC without having to brave the elements.  I've been in and out of HR several times for other occasions as well, and have never been disappointed because I know what to expect, and HR delivers. 

 

As for HR being "played out," ... I wouldn't know about that.  They've been around for decades and, of course, aren't the hot new thing anymore.  But Cleveland's has always had patronage -- even lines out the door and into the Avenue mall at times, and as I said, the HR in Philly has significantly expanded in the last year or so and hosts a number of concerts, parties and other events.  Sure downtown Cleveland is extremely hot right now and the loss of one restaurant isn't likely to slow expansion.  And as happy as I am to see this, I'm just a little worried about a seeming polarization of restaurant choices downtown: places now tend to be either a sports bar + beer n' burger joint, an uber high-end, expensive place, or specialty places for deserts, cupcakes or, of course, java, java, java!  Some middle-of-the-road sit down restaurants still exist downtown, but there's a feeling they're slowly being squeezed out... I know HR's country cousin House of Blues is still going strong over on 4th Street, but HR is still a major loss... to me, at least.

 

As for Tower City, it'll be interesting to see ultimately which direction Gilbert goes now that he owns the mall along with the casino next door, with K&D buying Terminal Tower with plans of turning much of it into apartments...

It's a big loss. Tourists love familiar places like that.

 

I agree.  A Hard Rock Cafe is nice to have.  Wonder why it doesn't re-open at another downtown location?  I was not a big fan of its Tower City location anyway.

Maybe it will...

It's a big loss. Tourists love familiar places like that.

 

If your a tourist in Cleveland and you want to go to the Hard Rock you probably did not realize that there is one within 50 miles of where you live as there are 160 of them...It's like rolling into town and wanting to go to the Cheese Cake Factory, nothing special.  Now if this was the HOB I would be concerned, with a bout 12 locations much more exclusive.

They are probably getting calls for that location already, it won't be empty long.

Why would Hard Rock stay in a location now owned by the competitor in Gilbert when his newly purchased building would benefit and pull business away from the Hard Rock Racino?

I'm in the middle on this. Yes it is a loss but no it is not that big of a deal. It's a loss because it is a touristy middle of the road restaurant and we need more of them, not less. Not every restaurant can be a bar or an expensive hoity toity one (not that there's anything wrong with that. Just need diversity). But at the same time it was purely a business decision because their largest competitor now owns the mall that they're in. It's not rocket science. This has been rumored for a long time. I'm hoping something on the same or similar level replaces it

Maybe it will...

Biggest tease on UO by far! Lol

 

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I'm probably in the minority, but I liked to head up to either the hard rock bar or LTH and get a drink or three when I would miss a late night rapid while I waited for the next one (assuming I didn't pass the turnstiles). Also thought the food was good.  But as a destination....maybe not so much of a draw.  No one comes to Cleveland because they want to visit the Cleveland Hard Rock Cafe.  It's because of something else, and that's a good thing.

I know HR's country cousin House of Blues is still going strong over on 4th Street, but HR is still a major loss... to me, at least.

Well, you live and learn! Until I read your post, I had absolutely no idea whatsoever that there was a restaurant in the HOB! I must walk past it at least 5 times a week and have never noticed. I gig a lot, but my musical tastes mean I spend most of my time at the Beachland, Grog Shop or Agora. Never yet been in HOB.

I know HR's country cousin House of Blues is still going strong over on 4th Street, but HR is still a major loss... to me, at least.

Well, you live and learn! Until I read your post, I had absolutely no idea whatsoever that there was a restaurant in the HOB! I must walk past it at least 5 times a week and have never noticed. I gig a lot, but my musical tastes mean I spend most of my time at the Beachland, Grog Shop or Agora. Never yet been in HOB.

 

The restaurant is actually off of East 4th. The House of Blues takes up the old Woolworth space, which always had that L shape Even in Mall locations

^ Thanks I know that shop front on E4th and go past that all the time and eat and drink all up and down the street. I always assumed it was just a gift shop!

Maybe it will...

 

There've been rumors of it moving much closer to the Rock Hall for years.

So was that a scoop that it is moving down to the Pier, or pure speculation? Recent UO posts are more cryptic than LeBron's tweets...

It was indicated when they opened the Hard Rock Casino that the Hard Rock Café downtown likely wouldn't remain there. 

There's a rumor going around in some circles that Gilbert is clearing space in Tower City for a Dave & Buster's.  Far from a sure thing and still hearsay at this point but I thought I'd share.

 

 

:-( I'd rather see that in a space like the May Co. building.

:-( I'd rather see that in a space like the May Co. building.

 

A relocated Hard Rock Café in the May Co. building might work out there as well.

:-( I'd rather see that in a space like the May Co. building.

 

A relocated Hard Rock Café in the May Co. building might work out there as well.

Very true, I wish that it could relocate to the new building going up next to the rock hall, talk about perfect.

 

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Dave and Buster's would be amazing. That alone would tremendously help in the revitalization of TC

I may just be noticing this for the first time but looking at the webcam on Public Square there seems to be red LED lighting along the top of the Higbee building facing the square. I know several people mentioned they liked the slick look of JACK Casino's red branding paired with the building but are these LEDs preferable to most of you on such a visible area?

Talked to multiple employees at FYE and they mentioned that the FYE downtown is going under a renovation soon. When I asked if they would be getting smaller he said "no if anything it is going to expand." Very surprising to hear that seeing how a lot of FYE's are closing.

 

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Talked to multiple employees at FYE and they mentioned that the FYE downtown is going under a renovation soon. When I asked if they would be getting smaller he said "no if anything it is going to expand." Very surprising to hear that seeing how a lot of FYE's are closing.

 

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They did a complete brand overhaul and it looks amazing! They just opened up a new FYE in Summit Mall near Akron. I was shocked too, but it looks like they're making a comeback! I just wish it would be street storefront instead of Tower City!

Talked to multiple employees at FYE and they mentioned that the FYE downtown is going under a renovation soon. When I asked if they would be getting smaller he said "no if anything it is going to expand." Very surprising to hear that seeing how a lot of FYE's are closing.

 

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Is anyone hearing anything about an impending renovation overall with Dan Gilbert now taking over?  I know the Ritz will soon undergo a complete renovation and am hoping all of Tower City will receive the same treatment.

 

 

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^ I'm not sure of a complete renovation but there are a lot of vacancies popping up. Is that by design? Is Gilbert allowing the leases to run out so he can do what ever he envisions later, because it is looking rough.

 

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