I looked around for a thread about the Galleria Mall but only found one on outdoor eating. If there is another, feel free to move.

 

From Crain's:

 

<b>Good Karma for downtown

By JOHN BOOTH

2:34 pm, December 26, 2006</b>

 

The new owner of WKNR-AM 850 and WWGK-AM 1540 will move both sports radio stations into a single downtown space in The Galleria at Erieview in late 2007.

 

Craig Karmazin, president of Wisconsin-based Good Karma Broadcasting, said the move into a 4,000-square-foot, first-floor space at the Galleria’s east end will boost the stations’ visibility and put them closer to the professional sports teams they cover...

 

Read more at http://www.crainscleveland.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061226/FREE/61226009/1022/breaking

 

 

That mall is less and less a mall each year. More like an unusual office space nowadays

It really is a mixed-use center these days, that tries keep its few retailers ticking by snaring some customers as make their way to the food court. If you're a retailer on the second level, best of luck to ya!

 

I wonder what impact the Avenue District will have on the Galleria?

this is great news, i like the fact that the galleria is finding new uses for its empty spaces

Especially if the radio announcers say "....broadcasting live from our studios in the Galleria" all the time. It will be free advertising.

This is welcome news...  Was in there with about 25 Emerging Cleveland tourgoers...not a lot going on, but at least the place was open! 

Good news on the radio stations, I always find it annoying when a station claims to be Cleveland's rock station etc. but they are in Independence or some other suburb. In regards to "non-mall" uses, I actually went to a boxing match in the Galleria last spring.  Definitely a unique experience.

Years ago, my old band played a gig in a creepy old failing mall outside of Huntsville, AL. It was a unique experience for every wrong reason you can imagine.

 

Come to remember it, we also played the grand opening weekend at Great Lakes Crossing up in Auburn Hills, MI.

 

The irony just caught up with me.

Although it largely failed on the original plan (retail in the heart of downtown), I actually like the building itself. The interior is bright and light-filled, and it's less "bunker-esque" than similar malls in CBDs:

 

 

 

 

 

Right-when-it-opened Trapper's Alley in downtown Detroit was nice too, in its own MC Escher-esque way.

Although it largely failed on the original plan (retail in the heart of downtown), I actually like the building itself. The interior is bright and light-filled, and it's less "bunker-esque" than similar malls in CBDs:

 

 

Actually I have to say, TowerCity wounded the Galleria.  The Galleria was very nice in its first three years, then when TowerCity open the bigger chains moved there.  Again...no downtown housing at the time of conception or opening hurt the mall, however, it had great restaurants.

 

There used to be a "shopping loop" which took shoppers to both malls, but alas, things just didn't work.  I wish both malls were successful today.

Interesting read about Ohio's downtown malls:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=2790.150

 

City Center: Can it make a comeback?

Downtown malls were reborn in other states, but at a cost

Sunday,  August 12, 2007 3:42 AM

 

By Mike Pramik

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Like Columbus City Center, downtown malls are a dying breed.

 

http://dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/08/12/City_malls.ART_ART_08-12-07_A1_QG7J3F3.html

While it's obviously a far cry from what it used to be, I have to say that during weekday lunch, the food court is consistently jam-packed. They definitely don't hurt for business that way.

I find there is some vary inaqurate reporting

But as  retailers began to open in the suburbs, the stores with status at Tower City dropped out quickly. A second level of retailers, including Gap and Banana Republic, followed suit.

What suburbs did did stores from Tower City relocate to?  Where in NE Ohio did Gucci, LV, Joan & David, Adrienne Vittadini & Barney's relocate?  Somebody please tell me!  IIRC, the other stores like Gap only left in the past 12-16 months.

 

 

"The reality was, the market didn't support it," said Joe Marinucci, director of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, a special-improvement district. "Is there a different set of retailers now? Sure. But they've done a good job in a difficult market."

 

Another marketing/PR Snafu.  The market supported the stores, until their own financial issues caught up with them and when FC couldn't bring in a top tier anchor....the actual fallout began. Chains/franchises stores, such as LV, Barneys, Gucci, Warner Bros. Studio Store, all made bad financial decision and closed stores across the country.  That is not the fault of Tower City.

 

Cleveland's other downtown mall, the Galleria at Erieview, makes Columbus City Center look healthy. When the Galleria opened in 1987, it was the first new downtown retail development in several decades. Stores such as Crate & Barrel and Williams-Sonoma opened there, but without a department store to anchor it, the Galleria failed as a retail center.

 

There was never a crate & barrel there!  Galleria did fine until TC opened.  For a while it appeared that many stores with two downtown locations (remember the shopping loop?) would do just find.  Banana republic was going thru a Brand re image from the safari motif to the modern upscale motif, and left for a bigger more visible space at towercity.

 

I like the boutique feel of the Galleria.  I think it still works. I would love to see a Sony Style or a Samsung experience store inside.  That would work wonders with its eclectic mix of stores.

 

 

What suburbs did did stores from Tower City relocate to?  Where in NE Ohio did Gucci, LV, Joan & David, Adrienne Vittadini & Barney's relocate?  Somebody please tell me!  IIRC, the other stores like Gap only left in the past 12-16 months.

 

It says they "dropped out" that doesn't necessarily mean that they moved.

 

There was never a crate & barrel there!

 

I don't ever remember a crate & barrel there either.

oops...i need to put my glasses on!

I find there is some vary inaqurate reporting

 

And you're killing me with misspellings like that!!

I find there is some vary inaqurate reporting

 

And you're killing me with misspellings like that!!

 

I wasn't wearing my glasses....geez. 

 

(although, that is no excuse as UO has a spell check feature)  :oops:

Thanks for the Dispatch article, Florida Guy.  Interesting, well-researched article (at least, aside from glitches MyTwoSense caught); I count, there are 5 --Terminal Tower, Stokes Courthouse, M.K. Ferguson (the old central P.O.), Skylight and Landmark (which is really 3 office towers connected).  Otherwise, I like this article, it's informative.

 

I really hate to see the Galleria struggle.  I consider it one of the most breathtaking modern malls in terms of design in any city -- I actually prefer it, architecturally, to Tower City.  It did so much to soften the harsh/bland International school lines of the old green Erieview Tower, and it sits among the gleaming towers of modern downtown.  It was such a hit when it opened; I remember feeling like I was in somewhat smaller version of Chicago's Watertower place (only prettier).  MTS is right, Tower City really killed the Galleria.  It was so easy to hop off the Rapid into the temp-controlled TC, esp in winter, and this was years before RTA’s Waterfront Line put people off nearby the Galleria...  However, I still have to believe, with the right planning, the Galleria will have its day, once again.  Maybe Zaremba's Avenue District next door will pump new life into this downtown beauty.

 

It looks like they're working on that bank thing. I went by this morning, and the right side on E. 9 appeared to be under construction.

 

 

I think its been discussed before but I always thought that a TJ Maxx or Marshall's type store would work there.

That is a beautiful mall! It's a shame that many downtown malls are not as successful as years past, but creative reuses can spring life into anything. Reminds me of the Charleston Town Center mall in West Virginia...

Anyone have any idea when the WKNR studios will be completed?

Anyone know if there is a new nightclub seeking to go into the Galleria or if there is an existing establishment seeking to get a variance for dancing/live entertainment?

____________

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/agenda/2011/crr01-31-2011.html

9:30

Appeal Zoning Code Interpretation

Ward 3

Calendar No. 10-262:

          1301 East 9th Street

Joe Cimperman

Dave Clark, owner’s representative of the premises at 1301 East Ninth Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, and Dan Miller, tenant, by and through their legal counsel, appeal under the authority of Section 76-6 of the Charter of the City of Cleveland and Sections 329.01(e) and 329.02(d) of the Cleveland Codified Ordnances from the administrative zoning interpretation dated November 24, 2010, citing Sections 347.12(a)(1) and 347.12(a)(2), regarding an application for permit to establish use as nightclub/bar with entertainment and dancing.

I use to love going to the galleria mall as a child. Not much in there now but still a great place to go. :-)

The guys who own the Winling Lizard are opening their new "Lizardville" there sometime this spring.  I'm assuming that is what the code variance is for.

I agree with lewarctj, that would be my guess. I think their concept included some live music, didn't it?

@YMCACleveland: NEW DOWNTOWN Y UPDATE: Community info sessions scheduled for next week: http://t.co/IOlceuO30j

Feel free to move, not sure if this would be the right place.

 

From the YMCA Twitter feed:

 

"@YMCACleveland: Just announced by Y CEO, new Downtown Y groundbreaking Sept 23. #cuethefireworks #ygala"

 

 

Good find Mr. Clifton. I wondered when they were going to get started on it.

Moved YMCA posts here. Carry on!

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20140826/FREE/140829823/construction-will-start-next-month-on-parker-hannifin-downtown-ymca

 

More information on the start of construction for the Y but also a very interseting tidbit in the article... aparently the rumor is that a portion of Erieview Tower may be turned to residential

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20140826/FREE/140829823/construction-will-start-next-month-on-parker-hannifin-downtown-ymca

 

More information on the start of construction for the Y but also a very interseting tidbit in the article... aparently the rumor is that a portion of Erieview Tower may be turned to residential

 

The views are pretty sweet. I can picture this happening.

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20140826/FREE/140829823/construction-will-start-next-month-on-parker-hannifin-downtown-ymca

 

More information on the start of construction for the Y but also a very interseting tidbit in the article... aparently the rumor is that a portion of Erieview Tower may be turned to residential

 

Well, Erieview Tower turns 50 years old this year so it becomes eligible for historic tax credits.

 

In three years, so will I!

The article states the Tower at Erireview is the third tallest, it's actually the 4th tallest but what do I know?

Here is a fairly recent (last couple of years) building prospective for the tower/galleria, breaks down what is available. 

http://www.hannachartwell.com/listings-docs/186.pdf

 

btw does anyone have the original store directory for the opening of the Galleria? Would be interesting. Can't find it anywhere.

YMCA of Greater Cleveland will start building new downtown branch at the Galleria in September

 

 

By Michelle Jarboe McFee, The Plain Dealer

on August 26, 2014 at 2:55 PM, updated August 26, 2014 at 3:09 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The YMCA of Greater Cleveland expects to start construction next month on its new downtown branch at the Galleria at Erieview, where the 40,000-square-foot fitness center is set to open in late 2015.

 

More than two years after the YMCA announced its moving plans, the nonprofit finally has the financing to launch the project. Glenn Haley, the YMCA's chief executive officer, said in an interview Monday that construction should start Sept. 23. The new gym, which will occupy the southeastern corner of the former mall, should be finished by November of next year.

 

"There are no barriers to getting this done," Haley said.

 

The project, called the Parker Hannifin Downtown YMCA, will replace the longtime downtown gym at 2200 Prospect Ave. The YMCA has kept those quarters, in a historic, brick building, since 1911. But executives say they need newer facilities and a more central location to attract office workers and appeal to the growing crowd of downtown residents.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2014/08/ymca_of_greater_cleveland_will.html#incart_m-rpt-2

btw does anyone have the original store directory for the opening of the Galleria? Would be interesting. Can't find it anywhere.

 

Some I can recall:

 

Eddie Bauer

Williams Sonoma

Brookstone

Banana Republic (first in cleveland I think, was the old quonset hut style)

2 level Express (Including exp which was the mens stuff, I think it was the first men's express in Cleveland before the Structure concept)

Units (was a woman's store where everything was basics and in drawers and it was all white inside, I remember it because it was weird and my friend liked to shop there)

American High (I think was the name, it was a high school themed apparel store)

The Limited

Victorias Secret

Dino Palmiri salon (maybe opened later, not original)

There may have been a Benetton??. There was one later at Tower city

 

That's all I can remember, although if I went in and looked at the store fronts I could probably recall more. I think most of the stores relocated to tower city when it opened.

Construction to start Sept 23.http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20140826/FREE/140829823#email_daily

^^OK thnx for that,  still looking for the list.

 

Also in Michelle's article above she mentions that the current YMCA which is owned by CSU is 'currently negotiating a sale'. Terry Coyne is the broker. Here is the listing  http://looplink.cleveland.ngkf.com/ll/18750353/2200-Prospect-Avenue/

I think Cafe Sausalito was original too.  Someone should make it an UrbanOhio scavenger hunt. I bet if you got in the service hallways the back doors would still have the names on them. It was so short lived that most of the storefronts were never taken over and altered... so you can still figure out what they were by looking at the details on some of them. Although I haven't been in there forever, they may have covered the storefronts over?

I just remembered that I'm pretty sure there was a Sharper Image.

 

Maybe a Cignal (the higher end version of Merry Go Round)

Whats better than a list? Pictures...

 

 

btw does anyone have the original store directory for the opening of the Galleria? Would be interesting. Can't find it anywhere.

 

Some I can recall:

 

Eddie Bauer

Williams Sonoma

Brookstone

Banana Republic (first in cleveland I think, was the old quonset hut style)

2 level Express (Including exp which was the mens stuff, I think it was the first men's express in Cleveland before the Structure concept)

Units (was a woman's store where everything was basics and in drawers and it was all white inside, I remember it because it was weird and my friend liked to shop there)

American High (I think was the name, it was a high school themed apparel store)

The Limited

Victorias Secret

Dino Palmiri salon (maybe opened later, not original)

There may have been a Benetton??. There was one later at Tower city

 

That's all I can remember, although if I went in and looked at the store fronts I could probably recall more. I think most of the stores relocated to tower city when it opened.

There was a Koenig sporting goods, and a Thomas Kincade gallery

This is a pic of one of those Units stores...random find on the web so I don't think it is the Galleria one.... and a Banana Republic from that era

btw does anyone have the original store directory for the opening of the Galleria? Would be interesting. Can't find it anywhere.

There was also a Crabtree & Evelyn. A couple custom shirt tailors from Euclid Ave. re-located there, Custom Shoppe and Richard Bennett.

btw does anyone have the original store directory for the opening of the Galleria? Would be interesting. Can't find it anywhere.

There was also a Crabtree & Evelyn. A couple custom shirt tailors from Euclid Ave. re-located there, Custom Shoppe and Richard Bennett.

 

I dont recall a Crabtree and Evelyn.

 

This is a pic of one of those Units stores...random find on the web so I don't think it is the Galleria one.... and a Banana Republic from that era

That is what the original Banana Republics were like.  The merchandise was all Safari shirts, pants, socks and jackets.  I have a Chamios shirt and a rain coat from the original store.  You could also buy camera bags, photo vests and any manner of safari related items.

 

IIRC, there was a tie in with Jurasic Park.  As the Galleria Store was one of only a few Banana Republics.  The Galleria store was the 8th (or 18th I can't remember) store and only store in all of Ohio.  Chicago & New York didn't have a store.  Phily and Atlanta had stores and a few out west. Then the GAP designed to re-brand the line, they changed to a new design and the Tower City store opened with that design schematic.

It wasn't a Crabtree & Evelyn.  It was a Caswell-Massey.

There was a Cignal, Indians Team Shop and a pretty cool Koenig's Sports.

And a two story Victoria's Secret...or was that Tower City?

It's current shopping lineup...

 

Encore Women’s Consignment Shop

 

Hungarian Heritage Museum & Gift Shop

 

Rossio Pfister Fine Jewelry