While they're at it they should tear down that skywalk as part of the renovations. The NuCLEus renderings omitted the skywalk and for good reason.

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/03/its_official_public_square_ren.html

While they're at it they should tear down that skywalk as part of the renovations. The NuCLEus renderings omitted the skywalk and for good reason.

 

That's not gonna happen

^ I said they should, not that they will. Wouldn't hurt to try to put some pressure on them though.

So up thread I posted about the proposed renovations to the Q. Armond Budish(aka Mr. Beachwood) speaking with the editorial board at NEOMG suggested a proposal will come soon. And believes the renovations could be complete before the RNC. Really how is this possible, we are talking 140mil. I like aggressive but this doesn't seem possible. Notice to all construction workers - move to Cleveland, NOW...What are we going to do with ourselves after the big party?

http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2015/03/cuyahoga_county_executive_armond_budish_expects_quicken_loans_arena_overhaul_proposal_soon_5_takeawa.html#incart_m-rpt-1

The RNC thread is locked but it involves Gateway East.

 

How Geis Companies took action to ensure the RNC chose Cleveland

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20150308/SUB1/303089987?template=mobile&X-IgnoreUserAgent=1#ATHS

 

 

You'd think the proposal would have made Greg Geis — or any developer — run away.

Design a temporary conversion of the Gateway East parking garage into a 300,000-square-foot office building to serve as the media center for the 2016 Republican National Convention. Do it without the benefit of specifications or blueprints. Do it in 10 days. And, oh yeah, do it all for free. It took less than two minutes for Geis to agree.

I thought I remembered reading about this in another thread, but couldn't seem to find it. Anyways, here's a pic from tonight of the new Edible Arrangements on Ontario across from the casino.

 

The stretch of Ontario between E 9th and PS is showing some signs of life.  Also there is a new convenience store/ Mr. Hero in the former Alvies space.

cool, lots of good stuff happening near E. 9th too.

Seen on 811 Prospect Ave today:

 

Here is a closer look at the image on the banner.

Awesome. I forgot all about this! One of the great things about getting older is getting to enjoy the same great news more than once!! :) From last September....

 

Investors tied to Red Restaurant Group buy 811 Prospect Ave. building, plan Moxie 2.0 in downtown #CLE: http://t.co/LzNyoKBJk0 #CRE

 

Investors tied to Red Restaurant Group buy 811 Prospect building, plan second Moxie location

By Michelle Jarboe McFee, The Plain Dealer

on September 18, 2014 at 12:43 PM, updated September 18, 2014 at 1:51 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A downtown Cleveland building constructed in 1997 and never occupied is set to see its first tenant - a second outpost for Moxie, an East Side restaurant.

 

Real estate records show that investors affiliated with Red Restaurant Group bought the 811 Prospect Ave. building on Sept. 10. In an interview this week, investor Gregg Levy and restaurateur Jonathan Gross said they plan to renovate the two-story structure to house Moxie and other businesses.

 

The sale - for an undisclosed price - promises new life for a property with a tortured past. And the transaction is another sign of heightened interest in the Gateway District, where the revamped Ameritrust complex just opened after years of vacancy and several recent real estate deals herald more development.

 

MORE:

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2014/09/investors_tied_to_red_restaura.html

Amazing this was built in the late 90s and never saw a tenant.

Wow, I had no idea they would transform the building that much. What an improvement! Now someone just needs to develop the parking lot next to it

That looks awesome!

Amazing this was built in the late 90s and never saw a tenant.

 

90s? It may have been re-habbed in the 90's, but if memory serves correctly, this building was the old Standard Theater.

90s? It may have been re-habbed in the 90's, but if memory serves correctly, this building was the old Standard Theater.

 

The old Standard Theater was demolished. See the article I posted above. It discuss what happened and even has a photo of the old PC O'Briend Building which was offices and had the Standard Theater, like the Keith Building although smaller. Our "good friend" Alvin Krenzler demolished it and the Hippodrome despite objections to both.

 

EDIT -- here's a direct link to photos of the old PC O'Brien Building:

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=Photograph:%20oh1779&fi=number&op=PHRASE&va=exact&co%20=hh&st=gallery&sg%20=%20true

Anyone know when construction will begin and when Moxie might open?

90s? It may have been re-habbed in the 90's, but if memory serves correctly, this building was the old Standard Theater.

 

The old Standard Theater was demolished. See the article I posted above. It discuss what happened and even has a photo of the old PC O'Briend Building which was offices and had the Standard Theater, like the Keith Building although smaller. Our "good friend" Alvin Krenzler demolished it and the Hippodrome despite objections to both.

 

EDIT -- here's a direct link to photos of the old PC O'Brien Building:

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=Photograph:%20oh1779&fi=number&op=PHRASE&va=exact&co%20=hh&st=gallery&sg%20=%20true

 

Shame on the late Buddy Kenzler for demolishing these buildings -- at least the Standard Theater was replaced; as we know, the Hipp's old space is still surface parking on Euclid even though, I'll admit, it was probably more difficult to rehab the large, old Hipp rather than the smaller (though deep) Standard which appears to have had serious mixed-use possibilities even if the planned comedy club idea fell through.  Too bad.  That it was replaced by a never used (in 2 decades) structure, apparently built on spec, is bizarre...  But I do welcome the 2nd Moxie; its rendering is quite sexy.  I'd like to see more outdoor balcony seating in Cleveland restaurants.  It's something that some other cities have more of...

 

... btw, here's the PD's 2010's obit on Kenzler who, obviously, was quite a colorful (and often controversial) character.  It's not often you have a ex-City kid, retired federal judge, philanthropist RE developer and bow-tie wearing, octogenarian motorcycle club member all in one!

 

http://www.cleveland.com/obituaries/index.ssf/2010/09/obituary_-_alvin_buddy_krenzle.html

Here is a closer look at the image on the banner.

 

BTW, I found the listing for the leasable spaces in this development, which includes graphics, floor plans, etc.:

 

http://www.cityfeet.com/Partner/cleveland/ForLease/LN19033774/811-Prospect-Avenue-Cleveland-OH-44115

I spoke to a contractor outside the former Radioshack location on Euclid today.  He told me a Rocket Fizz shop (candy, soda, etc) will be opening there in about 3 weeks or so. 

 

Glad it has a new tenant, but I sure wish we had more non-food storefronts on Euclid.

Rocket Fizz? That's actually a fairly big deal in that it's a national chain with dozens of stores - taking a chance on downtown (though perhaps run by a local franchisee).

Rocket Fizz? That's actually a fairly big deal in that it's a national chain with dozens of stores- taking a chance on downtown.

I was unaware of that.  Great to hear!  I am with KJP though, I would like to start seeing some other retailers open up on Euclid.  However it's always good to see an out of region company open up shop here!

Rocket Fizz was featured on Undercover Boss, check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8L8RF8Twn0

 

This is good news in my opinion. That was a pretty quick swap, Rocket Fizz must have been eyeing Cleveland and waiting for the right space to open up.

Glad it has a new tenant, but I sure wish we had more non-food storefronts on Euclid.

 

I agree with this.  So we'll have a cupcake place next to a candy and soda pop place...I mean I guess that's better than nothing but when build-a-bear asks to move in, I'm gonna put my foot down.  Can't wait until we move past the "cupcake economy" and attract someone that sells something...useful.

I agree with this.  So we'll have a cupcake place next to a candy and soda pop place...I mean I guess that's better than nothing but when build-a-bear asks to move in, I'm gonna put my foot down.  Can't wait until we move past the "cupcake economy" and attract someone that sells something...useful.

 

I think this more true now than ever.

 

The Diabetes District has a certain ring to it. I'll definitely stop by to check out the chocolates.

Rocket Fizz? That's actually a fairly big deal in that it's a national chain with dozens of stores - taking a chance on downtown (though perhaps run by a local franchisee).

 

I've gone to the Rocket Fizz here in Houston at Rice Village quite a lot and my kids love it. It's a destination shop that's outfitted with retro signage and obscure candy and soda from around the world. While it ain't Nieman Marcus, it says quite a bit about the baby steps that are necessary for retail to happen downtown.

Don't know if either of these have been mentioned--

 

1.) A bar called "ReBar" is opening on East 9th Street in the Huron Ninth Building, a few doors down from the Panini's. There's an "opening soon" sign in the window.

 

2.) Heard from a friend that a new café is opening along Prospect in a space next to the new Barrio. Supposedly in May. This may have already been mentioned, though. https://www.facebook.com/HelioTerraVeganCafe

2.) Heard from a friend that a new café is opening along Prospect in a space next to the new Barrio. Supposedly in May. This may have already been mentioned, though. https://www.facebook.com/HelioTerraVeganCafe

 

The old 'Titan Up' café spot next to/inside of Titan's gym.

Rocket Fizz opens in former Radio Shack.

 

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2015/05/05/rocket-fizz-a-soda-and-sweets-shop-quietly-opened-in-downtown-cleveland

 

https://www.facebook.com/rocketfizzcleveland?fref=nf

That seemed to open quickly, granted there wasn't too much needed for a build out.  Good addition to Euclid.  :clap:

I went in yesterday. It was pretty legit.

I went in yesterday. It was pretty legit.

 

From those pictures it looks like a cheezie unorganized hot mess.  Unique?  Yes.  Different?  Yes.  Quirky?  Yes.  LTP for success in a transitioning downtown? TBD

The parcels on which the "Xecutive Ultra Lounge" is located on have changed hands. 

 

101-37-039

101-37-036

 

to MIGHTY SENSIBLE LLC

 

for $720k

 

 

So.....maybe less shootings?

Xecutive Ultra Lounge was actually owned by Thomas "Tony" George although the ownership officially listed to RTN Ltd. whose principal is a relative of Tony's: Robert George. Note that the address of RTN Ltd. is the corporate address of Alfalfa Enterprises Inc., owned by Tony George. Alfalfa in turns owns other businesses, namely Harry Buffalo, a chain of restaurants. But Tony cannot own liquor licenses as he is a convicted felon (for receiving stolen property -- if I remember correctly, a group of Collinwood mobsters circa 1980 stole home appliances from a railroad boxcar and Tony got one of the stolen goods, so he was busted for receiving stolen property). Yet he is very politically connected and has reputed organized crime connections. One of his mentors in the bar business was a man named Gallo (can't remember his first name) but he was a known organized crime figure 30-40 years ago. One of the most infamous of Tony's bars was Splash, a reggae club in the Flats near the Center Street Bridge. It was shut down in 1996 by law enforcement for being a drug money laundering operation but only the attorney of record for the business, Blaise Brucato of Highland Heights, was arrested (along with a couple of low-level Jamaican drug dealers).

 

The new owner of Xecutive Ultra Lounge (Mighty Sensible LLC) lists to a Christopher J. Freeman and is located at PO Box 4396 Copley, OH 44321. Don't know anything about them. My concern is that this was merely a paper transfer, not an actual ownership change. While Tony George has some business interests and relatives in the Akron area, namely Philip George who owned an Akron vending-machine company that ran instant-bingo parlors that skimmed $60 million in profits that were supposed to go charities. Philip George was arrested in 2003 on organized crime charges. George also has an interest in the House of LaRose beverage distributor. The LaRose family has lived in Copley for many years. The scuttlebutt 10 years ago was that the Teamsters union local representing the House of LaRose's drivers had as its alternate treasurer Tony's wife Kristine, who reportedly worked at one of Tony's since-closed West 25th Street strip joints. She became a FP councilwoman in the early 2000s.

Wow, that is super interesting!

 

I heard that Might Sensible LLC is a unrelated company from Stanton Island, NY.

Xecutive Ultra Lounge was actually owned by Thomas "Tony" George although the ownership officially listed to RTN Ltd. whose principal is a relative of Tony's: Robert George. Note that the address of RTN Ltd. is the corporate address of Alfalfa Enterprises Inc., owned by Tony George. Alfalfa in turns owns other businesses, namely Harry Buffalo, a chain of restaurants. But Tony cannot own liquor licenses as he is a convicted felon (for receiving stolen property -- if I remember correctly, a group of Collinwood mobsters circa 1980 stole home appliances from a railroad boxcar and Tony got one of the stolen goods, so he was busted for receiving stolen property). Yet he is very politically connected and has reputed organized crime connections. One of his mentors in the bar business was a man named Gallo (can't remember his first name) but he was a known organized crime figure 30-40 years ago. One of the most infamous of Tony's bars was Splash, a reggae club in the Flats near the Center Street Bridge. It was shut down in 1996 by law enforcement for being a drug money laundering operation but only the attorney of record for the business, Blaise Brucato of Highland Heights, was arrested (along with a couple of low-level Jamaican drug dealers).

 

The new owner of Xecutive Ultra Lounge (Mighty Sensible LLC) lists to a Christopher J. Freeman and is located at PO Box 4396 Copley, OH 44321. Don't know anything about them. My concern is that this was merely a paper transfer, not an actual ownership change. While Tony George has some business interests and relatives in the Akron area, namely Philip George who owned an Akron vending-machine company that ran instant-bingo parlors that skimmed $60 million in profits that were supposed to go charities. Philip George was arrested in 2003 on organized crime charges. George also has an interest in the House of LaRose beverage distributor. The LaRose family has lived in Copley for many years. The scuttlebutt 10 years ago was that the Teamsters union local representing the House of LaRose's drivers had as its alternate treasurer Tony's wife Kristine, who reportedly worked at one of Tony's since-closed West 25th Street strip joints. She became a FP councilwoman in the early 2000s.

 

I've done business with XL before. When I promoted a party there in 2013 TG wasn't involved. It was black owned and, from my understanding, is still black owned. (And to the one who made the "shooting" comment, I've known very little to go down there. I've been an attendee and a promoter and I rarely, if ever, hear about stuff going down at XL. Not saying it's not true, but I've never seen it and I've been there and done an event there

Xecutive Ultra Lounge was actually owned by Thomas "Tony" George although the ownership officially listed to RTN Ltd. whose principal is a relative of Tony's: Robert George. Note that the address of RTN Ltd. is the corporate address of Alfalfa Enterprises Inc., owned by Tony George. Alfalfa in turns owns other businesses, namely Harry Buffalo, a chain of restaurants. But Tony cannot own liquor licenses as he is a convicted felon (for receiving stolen property -- if I remember correctly, a group of Collinwood mobsters circa 1980 stole home appliances from a railroad boxcar and Tony got one of the stolen goods, so he was busted for receiving stolen property). Yet he is very politically connected and has reputed organized crime connections. One of his mentors in the bar business was a man named Gallo (can't remember his first name) but he was a known organized crime figure 30-40 years ago. One of the most infamous of Tony's bars was Splash, a reggae club in the Flats near the Center Street Bridge. It was shut down in 1996 by law enforcement for being a drug money laundering operation but only the attorney of record for the business, Blaise Brucato of Highland Heights, was arrested (along with a couple of low-level Jamaican drug dealers).

 

The new owner of Xecutive Ultra Lounge (Mighty Sensible LLC) lists to a Christopher J. Freeman and is located at PO Box 4396 Copley, OH 44321. Don't know anything about them. My concern is that this was merely a paper transfer, not an actual ownership change. While Tony George has some business interests and relatives in the Akron area, namely Philip George who owned an Akron vending-machine company that ran instant-bingo parlors that skimmed $60 million in profits that were supposed to go charities. Philip George was arrested in 2003 on organized crime charges. George also has an interest in the House of LaRose beverage distributor. The LaRose family has lived in Copley for many years. The scuttlebutt 10 years ago was that the Teamsters union local representing the House of LaRose's drivers had as its alternate treasurer Tony's wife Kristine, who reportedly worked at one of Tony's since-closed West 25th Street strip joints. She became a FP councilwoman in the early 2000s.

 

I've done business with XL before. When I promoted a party there in 2013 TG wasn't involved. It was black owned and, from my understanding, is still black owned. (And to the one who made the "shooting" comment, I've known very little to go down there. I've been an attendee and a promoter and I rarely, if ever, hear about stuff going down at XL. Not saying it's not true, but I've never seen it and I've been there and done an event there

 

You should look through the Cleveland crime thread.

Xecutive Ultra Lounge was actually owned by Thomas "Tony" George although the ownership officially listed to RTN Ltd. whose principal is a relative of Tony's: Robert George. Note that the address of RTN Ltd. is the corporate address of Alfalfa Enterprises Inc., owned by Tony George. Alfalfa in turns owns other businesses, namely Harry Buffalo, a chain of restaurants. But Tony cannot own liquor licenses as he is a convicted felon (for receiving stolen property -- if I remember correctly, a group of Collinwood mobsters circa 1980 stole home appliances from a railroad boxcar and Tony got one of the stolen goods, so he was busted for receiving stolen property). Yet he is very politically connected and has reputed organized crime connections. One of his mentors in the bar business was a man named Gallo (can't remember his first name) but he was a known organized crime figure 30-40 years ago. One of the most infamous of Tony's bars was Splash, a reggae club in the Flats near the Center Street Bridge. It was shut down in 1996 by law enforcement for being a drug money laundering operation but only the attorney of record for the business, Blaise Brucato of Highland Heights, was arrested (along with a couple of low-level Jamaican drug dealers).

 

The new owner of Xecutive Ultra Lounge (Mighty Sensible LLC) lists to a Christopher J. Freeman and is located at PO Box 4396 Copley, OH 44321. Don't know anything about them. My concern is that this was merely a paper transfer, not an actual ownership change. While Tony George has some business interests and relatives in the Akron area, namely Philip George who owned an Akron vending-machine company that ran instant-bingo parlors that skimmed $60 million in profits that were supposed to go charities. Philip George was arrested in 2003 on organized crime charges. George also has an interest in the House of LaRose beverage distributor. The LaRose family has lived in Copley for many years. The scuttlebutt 10 years ago was that the Teamsters union local representing the House of LaRose's drivers had as its alternate treasurer Tony's wife Kristine, who reportedly worked at one of Tony's since-closed West 25th Street strip joints. She became a FP councilwoman in the early 2000s.

 

Frank LaRose, from Copley, is the State Senator for that area, including Nordonia.

Frank LaRose, from Copley, is the State Senator for that area, including Nordonia.

 

He's a straight shooting kid. Family owns the beverage biz. Anyway...

Frank LaRose, from Copley, is the State Senator for that area, including Nordonia.

 

He's a straight shooting kid. Family owns the beverage biz. Anyway...

 

He's my senator and I've been happy with him.

 

Freeman's apparently a lawyer from Medina, offices also in Copley. 

^Freeman is likely just the statutory agent

Xecutive Ultra Lounge was actually owned by Thomas "Tony" George although the ownership officially listed to RTN Ltd. whose principal is a relative of Tony's: Robert George. Note that the address of RTN Ltd. is the corporate address of Alfalfa Enterprises Inc., owned by Tony George. Alfalfa in turns owns other businesses, namely Harry Buffalo, a chain of restaurants. But Tony cannot own liquor licenses as he is a convicted felon (for receiving stolen property -- if I remember correctly, a group of Collinwood mobsters circa 1980 stole home appliances from a railroad boxcar and Tony got one of the stolen goods, so he was busted for receiving stolen property). Yet he is very politically connected and has reputed organized crime connections. One of his mentors in the bar business was a man named Gallo (can't remember his first name) but he was a known organized crime figure 30-40 years ago. One of the most infamous of Tony's bars was Splash, a reggae club in the Flats near the Center Street Bridge. It was shut down in 1996 by law enforcement for being a drug money laundering operation but only the attorney of record for the business, Blaise Brucato of Highland Heights, was arrested (along with a couple of low-level Jamaican drug dealers).

 

The new owner of Xecutive Ultra Lounge (Mighty Sensible LLC) lists to a Christopher J. Freeman and is located at PO Box 4396 Copley, OH 44321. Don't know anything about them. My concern is that this was merely a paper transfer, not an actual ownership change. While Tony George has some business interests and relatives in the Akron area, namely Philip George who owned an Akron vending-machine company that ran instant-bingo parlors that skimmed $60 million in profits that were supposed to go charities. Philip George was arrested in 2003 on organized crime charges. George also has an interest in the House of LaRose beverage distributor. The LaRose family has lived in Copley for many years. The scuttlebutt 10 years ago was that the Teamsters union local representing the House of LaRose's drivers had as its alternate treasurer Tony's wife Kristine, who reportedly worked at one of Tony's since-closed West 25th Street strip joints. She became a FP councilwoman in the early 2000s.

 

I've done business with XL before. When I promoted a party there in 2013 TG wasn't involved. It was black owned and, from my understanding, is still black owned. (And to the one who made the "shooting" comment, I've known very little to go down there. I've been an attendee and a promoter and I rarely, if ever, hear about stuff going down at XL. Not saying it's not true, but I've never seen it and I've been there and done an event there

 

You should look through the Cleveland crime thread.

 

Agai , I said that I'm not saying that it is not true. I'm saying that I've never seen that or heard about it during my time working with them or the times I've gone to the club as a participant

So how about that Gateway District...

United Church of Christ finds buyer for downtown Cleveland HQ, Radisson hotel

 

By  Michelle Jarboe McFee, The Plain Dealer 

Email the author | Follow on Twitter

on June 10, 2015 at 4:09 PM, updated June 10, 2015 at 6:16 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The United Church of Christ has struck a deal to sell its Prospect Avenue headquarters building and the neighboring Radisson hotel.

 

The organization, a Protestant denomination that represents more than 5,100 congregations and 1 million members, has no plans to leave Cleveland. But the church will sell its downtown holdings to Global Management & Investments, an Atlanta-area hospitality company that plans to renovate the 142-room Radisson.

 

The UCC expects to lease back its nine-story headquarters building from the new owner, under a 20-year agreement.

 

The sales, at an undisclosed price, could occur by mid-August.

 

"We always intended to stay in downtown Cleveland," Lee Foley, chief administrative officer for the church, said in a news release. "We were the first major property owner in this part of Cleveland in the early 1990s. It was a very blighted area, and now it's vibrant and teeming with people."

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2015/06/united_church_of_christ_finds.html

I sure wish the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers had pursued a similar deal with the Standard Building -- rather than move their union headquarters to the suburbs.

New thread for this?

 

New York Spaghetti House could be razed, as Geis plots downtown Cleveland project (photos)

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The New York Spaghetti House building, where a family-owned restaurant operated from 1927 to 2001, could be demolished and replaced by a parking lot – though bigger development plans are simmering.

 

An affiliate of the Geis Cos. of Streetsboro bought the dilapidated building, a chalet-style front attached to late-1800s parsonage, in late June. On Thursday, the Cleveland Landmarks Commission voted unanimously to give Geis a certificate of appropriateness for demolition, contingent on various approvals from the Cleveland City Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals.

 

Geis hopes to raze the 6,000-square-foot former restaurant and expand the neighboring 30-space parking lot by 35 spaces. But Brandon Kline, a senior designer for the group of real estate companies, said the cleared site eventually will be part of a broader project in downtown's Gateway District.

 

"We're not in the parking business," Kline told the Landmarks Commission, which has oversight of historic districts and protected buildings.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2015/07/new_york_spaghetti_house_could.html#incart_river

What's interesting is that Carter Manor Apartments next door is owned by the expanding local mortgage and financing company, Belleweather Enterprises, that is involved in some big projects, including the lakefront development and is expanding to the West Coast (See:

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2014/06/bellwether_enterprise_a_clevel.html). My spidey sense tells me that Belleweather might be involved with Geis in something here that includes Carter Manor and perhaps more.

 

I'd prefer they develop the parking lot across East 9th Street, however. Maybe someday.....