I wondered who these people were, they popped up on my Twitter as a suggestion to follow.

Also, in Gordon Square (from DSCDO's Catalyst Newsletter):

 

New Store Blooms in Detroit Shoreway's Gordon Square Arts District

 

PETALS x THREADS has opened next to duoHOME, in the former Detroit Studios space. Offering a fabulous fresh floral selection, PETALS x THREADS caters to everyday occasions, weddings, birthdays, events and more. They also offer a Cleveland clothing line to provide outfitting for the City Cleveland and area neighborhoods.

 

Many of you already know the owners, Ricci and Danni. They operate Ohio City Blooms at the West Side Market. While they are already open for business, an opening reception will be held February 4-5.

 

Stop by, say hello, and pick up a bouquet of flowers and a great shirt from the newest retail spot in the neighborhood.

 

Welcome to PETALS X THREADS!

 

They are open:

 

Mon-Tues:  10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wed-Thurs: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Fri-Sat: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Closed Sunday

Map Boy!!!

 

Call off the search, he is found!

 

Yeah....More shopping!  CHARGE IT!! :clap: :clap:

Crain's reports that, while it is only in the "talking" stage, Jacobs Group is developing plans to build an outlet store center in Avon on the 200 acres of property it owns.  The article does admit that the Avon hardly needs "more" retail but then goes on to quote various experts who reflect that this is a great idea on Jacobs part for a variety of reasons.  Again there is nothing concrete at this point (the mayor of Avon did not even know about it) but "sources" indicate that they are working on it.

 

I wish Jacobs Group's creative minds would spend more time coming up with a workable solution for its Public Square property which has been a parking lot for 20 years now.  I guess it is easier (by the way, nothing good was ever easy) to work with virgin land in the suburbs and reproduce a "shopping village" which has been done so many times my 13 year newphew could develop it. 

 

 

Crain's reports that, while it is only in the "talking" stage, Jacobs Group is developing plans to build an outlet store center in Avon on the 200 acres of property it owns.  The article does admit that the Avon hardly needs "more" retail but then goes on to quote various experts who reflect that this is a great idea on Jacobs part for a variety of reasons.  Again there is nothing concrete at this point (the mayor of Avon did not even know about it) but "sources" indicate that they are working on it.

 

I wish Jacobs Group's creative minds would spend more time coming up with a workable solution for its Public Square property which has been a parking lot for 20 years now.  I guess it is easier (by the way, nothing good was ever easy) to work with vigin land in the suburbs and reproduce a "shopping village" which has been done so many times my 13 year newphew could develop it. 

 

 

 

Boo more shopping!  Bad!!! :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip:

 

I bet you folks never thought I would say that!

What do you guys will think will be the outcome with our local big-box bookstore chain situation? Will Greater Cleveland's seven Border's left all close?  Be taken over by another chain? If 150 more Borders Books are to be closed around the U.S., which of ours do you think will be next to go?

I've noticed with Borders Beachwood and Barnes and Noble at Eton, the B&N looks somewhat healthier.  What do you think? I haven't been to the other Borders around here very recently (e.g. last few weeks). Have you seen many changes at those as well (e.g. more empty shelves than one would expect with usual shifting), more copies of same book filling out shelves, perifery display areas obliterated, fewer customers, etc?

I thought the Borders in La Place in Beachwood had been slated to close a long time ago..... 

I remember once upon a time that you could always expect a long line at that Borders in Beachwood.  It always seemed packed no matter the day or time (especially on Friday, Saturday and Sunday). 

The Borders in Beachwood is a complete disgrace, with half the store empty, books cluttered everywhere, nary an employee to be found for help.  It might get some business due to the nearby Beachwood Place, Sushi Rock, and overall affluent community, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it get the ax.  I mean, if they can't take pride in their work, then what hope is there really for that branch.

 

The Solon, Westlake, and Strongsville ones seem more professional: the staff, book selections, overall cleanness.  Cleveland Heights was interesting due to the occasional riffraff asking for money at the coffee area, not to mention how unpleasant Severance is in general, but its proximity to Case should have brought in more business.

 

Edit: God I hope the Nook is helping Barnes & Noble enough so that we can get a branch by Case.  That would be...tremendous.

What's "the Nook?" Does anyone know what Uptown construction phase is suppose to bring B&N? The current group of apartments going up? When is the next phase to commence?

Border's Beachood isn't that bad but it does look like an ailing store, at times. And no - I've not seen it too busy for awhile. Then they cut down on its hours, like Sat. nite when it used to draw good crowds.  Had the entertainment for years, too.

The Nook is barnes and noble's e-book reader. basically a kindle.

I wonder if they had actually closed the Border's at La Place, which had been public slated for months, had taken place, if they would not have closed the Border's at Severance.

The Nook first generation is comparable to a Kindle. The second generation is a cheaper version of the iPad.

The Borders at LaPlace was slated to close, but the decision was reversed and last I heard they were not closing (at least for the time being)

The Borders at LaPlace was slated to close, but the decision was reversed and last I heard they were not closing (at least for the time being)

 

I knew I wasn't crazy.

The Borders at LaPlace was slated to close, but the decision was reversed and last I heard they were not closing (at least for the time being)

 

I knew I wasn't crazy.

 

No, your still crazy!

The Borders at LaPlace was slated to close, but the decision was reversed and last I heard they were not closing (at least for the time being)

 

I knew I wasn't crazy.

 

No, your still crazy!

 

Blah, blah blah.

 

Oh, and I do have something I've been meaning to ask here.  What's the deal with the market under construction on Carnegie (near Hot Sauce Williams)?  Did they run out of money?  It's looked the same for quite a while now.

It was to be a food market - perhaps even on the upscale side. Construction was started again last year and now appears to be stopped.  And how about the luxury hotel planned for the former Cleveland Club/Tudor Arms building? The brick was cleaned a while back and I'm not really sensing anything much going on other than the demolition of the former flower shop next door (assumably for parking).  The Marons seem to be going full speed ahead in their other projects. Well the store on E. 4th or the restaurant on Lorain not that fast but I haven't looked in the past few weeks.

Tudor Arms is still moving full speed ahead as well. its hard for passers by to see what is happening behind brick walls. :)

^I think it has been mentioned in another thread that it is opening in March or April (although it does look like there is still much work to be done on the first floor).

Tudor Arms is still moving full speed ahead as well. its hard for passers by to see what is happening behind brick walls. :)

 

You can notice though that the parking lot (behind a fence) is full of trucks mosts days from the workers.  The fence tends to hide them.

<b>Borders closing two more Cleveland-area stores</b>

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two more Cleveland-area bookstores will close as a result of Borders Group Inc. filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Wednesday.

 

Borders superstores in Mentor and Medina, as well as five others in Ohio, will close by the end of April along with about 193 other stores nationwide. It warned that it may end up having to close another 75 stores later. Borders, which operates 642 stores with about 19,500 employees, had 20 stores in Northeast Ohio a year ago.

 

Borders said that because it costs $2 million a week to keep those 200 stores open, some stores will start clearing out their inventory starting Saturday....

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/02/borders_closing_two_more_cleve.html

A few years ago I would have said Severance would be the most likely to close, due to its not-so-ideal location. It did get quite busy, though, and many groups met in the cafe and elsewhere. Beachwood had announced its closing and then changed the prospective date a few times; it was all rather surprising.

 

Now I'd say I'm very glad if two are closing it's the two outside our central Greater Cleveland county. I think of this move as having at least a slightly anti-sprawl element. Let those in neighboring counties come to Cuyahoga for a Borders. In the case of the Medina one closing, this will leave Medina and Lorain Counties without a big-box bookstore again - as they were until quite recently.

 

I'm glad Tower City's Borders Express (formerly WaldenBooks) isn't closing (it already closed once). I see stories another 75 Borders may close in the not-too-distant future but it may be all Superstores again.

 

A few years ago I would have said Severance would be the most likely to close, due to its not-so-ideal location. It did get quite busy, though, and many groups met in the cafe and elsewhere. Beachwood had announced its closing and then changed the prospective date a few times; it was all rather surprising.

 

Now I'd say I'm very glad if two are closing it's the two outside our central Greater Cleveland county. I think of this move as having at least a slightly anti-sprawl element. Let those in neighboring counties come to Cuyahoga for a Borders. In the case of the Medina one closing, this will leave Medina and Lorain Counties without a big-box bookstore again - as they were until quite recently.

 

I'm glad Tower City's Borders Express (formerly WaldenBooks) isn't closing (it already closed once). I see stories another 75 Borders may close in the not-too-distant future but it may be all Superstores again.

 

 

Not sure if you are aware, but the Severance Borders closed about 6 months ago.

WELL aware of it. Guess I meant to imply it without actually saying it....

It's sad about Borders' closures, but we're just going to see another round of this in few years unless Borders gets its ass into gear and actually formulates a plan that will keep it competitive in the real world.

 

Just some ideas off the top of my head.

 

-Start having classes and lectures in the stores with free refreshments.  Get those people inside and they will buy!

-Put in restaurants in the stores - make them more a destination.

-Get rid of that Kobe crap and develop your own unique e-reader.  Make it completely different than the Nook and other e-readers.

-Experiment with renting books (especially academic and SAT-type), both hard copy and electronic.

-Diversify merchandise beyond those cards and board games.  Partner up with an electronic developer and start distributing those kinds of goods.

-Improve computer system. 

-Have some kind of computer lab station

-Better customer support in the store.  Trying to find someone to help is often cumbersome.

Great ideas!

 

My wife used to be a manager at Borders Akron-Fairlawn back in the 90's. Her actual title was CRC- Community Relations Coordinator, and her job was to bring in as many people as possible through events for teachers, young readers, authors, ufo enthusiasts, musicians and more.

 

The programming was not only fun, but extremely effective at bringing a lot of diverse people into the store.

 

When my wife left her position to become a teacher, corporate made the strange decision to completely disband the CRC position company-wide.  As you might imagine, the quality and frequency of special events went way south.  Very unfortunate.

 

Anyhow, your ideas reminded me of just how cool Borders used to be. 

 

It's sad about Borders' closures, but we're just going to see another round of this in few years unless Borders gets its ass into gear and actually formulates a plan that will keep it competitive in the real world.

 

Just some ideas off the top of my head.

 

-Start having classes and lectures in the stores with free refreshments.  Get those people inside and they will buy!

-Put in restaurants in the stores - make them more a destination.

-Get rid of that Kobe crap and develop your own unique e-reader.  Make it completely different than the Nook and other e-readers.

-Experiment with renting books (especially academic and SAT-type), both hard copy and electronic.

-Diversify merchandise beyond those cards and board games.  Partner up with an electronic developer and start distributing those kinds of goods.

-Improve computer system. 

-Have some kind of computer lab station

-Better customer support in the store.  Trying to find someone to help is often cumbersome.

Thanks surf, but those ideas are mostly cosmetic improvements.  I really don't see any realistic way the stores can stay in business, even if these ideas are implemented.  Not with online shopping, wall-mart venues,  and the rise of ebooks - people at the end of the day can't afford the markups when such vastly inexpensve alternatives are available. 

^ you are exactly right, borders has really lost it and gone down the toilet. just the latest in a long line of bookstore chains and mini-chains fading away. i dont think anything can save it now.

 

btw our best friend is the chief marketing exec of the nook -- it had a late/slow start vs the kindle but its doing fine now. not so for the B&N retail stores tho either -- they are closing too, everything's going online. what next? little magazine stores and newspaper stands? inevitable i guess.  :wtf:

Waiting to find a list of the 136 stores Borders is considering in their likely shuttering of another 75....

Link to List

 

 

 

 

http://media.bordersstores.com/pdf/Borders_Reorganization_Closure_List.pdf

 

It's been more than a month since the last poster posted on this board - so.....

 

With Beachwood Place's owner, General Growth, finally reorganized, it appears leasing is once again occuring  - at a pretty decent pace:

 

Lego - first Cleveland store - 2000ish square feet - opens this weekend

Forever 21 - approx 8000-10000 square feet - opens this weekend

Children's Place - taking Mario's Spa space - under construction

Skecher's - opening in front entrance wing - under construction

Vera Bradley - first Cleveland store - just announced opening on first floor in Saks or Dillard's wing (as noted on site)

 

With that said - still several key unleased spaces - including the Brooks Brothers 8,000ish square foot space on 1st floor (they moved a year ago - and announced they were moving 2 years ago... - still not tenant) - plus the Sony Style space - another 6000-8000 square feet. Also, several underutilized/temporary spaces - with nail (or eyebrows?), massage, etc...

 

Three years ago, some on this board were hearing strong rumors of Burberry (already in Columbus. Indy, Pittsburgh), A/X Armani Exchange (actually announced by Beachwood Place as coming to what is now a new Limited), Tiffany & Co (already in Cincy, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Indy, tc... - Cleveland is largest market in country without one) - and last year a Michael Kors store was announced on site - still there, I think - but never came...

 

Anybody know anything about what else might be on the way?

 

Now for Legacy Village... Z Gallerie's 10,000 foot space remains empty after two years...  Joseph-Beth's 25,000 or so sq ft space now vacant... Two tough spaces to fill based on size - too big for most mall retailers, too small for big box, etc...  Container Store, West Elm, Dave & Buster's, maybe a restaurant, etc... come to mind, depending on which space and how it might be subdivided, if at all...

 

Also, Legacy continues to have some spaces not leased in the nearly 8 years they've been there..

 

Anybody have insight or rumors?

Now on to Eton -

 

Two restaurant tenants (maybe more) locating in interior mall space opposite B Spot. Lululemon (once announced for Legacy on their own site) - opening first Cleveland store in old Penzey's space (which has relocated into a bigger space...).  Former Design Within Reach remains vacant next to Orvis. Work just begun on old Smith & Hawken - not sure if this is being reworked as another entrance into mall - a store, a quick service restaurant (Potbelly? Appears they'll be entering the market soon based on what I've heard) or perhaps Michael Symon's new pizza concept (my guess). Or maybe another retail store?

 

Anybody in the know?

Crocker Park..

 

After years of hinting - Anthropologie finally opening in old Z Gallerie space.. BCBG being added on Main St, B Spot in current Agave space - plus they have quite a social media campaign going - "you deserve more..." and are promsing more big announcements (though likely for stores already on east side... - though would be nice if Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie's sister store, woudl return the favor and move east to Legacy's Z Gallerie spot, etc...)

 

Any idea what is next to be announced?

 

Thanks for all the updates!

I always hear rumblings about Saks Fifth Avenue at Beachwood Place closing but usually don't pay them any mind.

 

However I was cruising the web and learned that Saks is closing 7 sevens this years including those in San Diego, Denver, Portland, Mission Viejo, Charelston, South Carolina, Plano, Texas, Southhampton, New York and most recently announced the store in downtown Pittsburgh (leaving Pittsburgh without a Saks).  This concerns me.

 

Also the closing of the Pittsburgh store leaves their downtown with only one department store (they had 4 as recently as 10 years ago) and the remaining store, Macy's is downsizing from 10 floors to six (remember when Higbee's (Dillards actually) did that.

 

When people on this board complain about lack of retail downtown, this is a perfect example of why "it ain't so easy", since we tend to look at Pittsburgh as such a success story.

Speaking of store closings - looks like NEO is good in this round:

 

Lowe’s to Close 20 U.S. Stores, Slow North American Openings

 

    Oct. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Lowe’s Cos., the second-largest U.S. home-improvement retailer, will close 20 U.S. stores, affecting 1,950 workers, and plans to slow its North American expansion next year as it works to improve sales.

    Half of the locations closed at the end of business yesterday, and the remaining 10 will be shut within about a month, Mooresville, North Carolina-based Lowe’s said today in a statement. The closings will reduce earnings by about 17 cents to 20 cents a share, the company said.

 

 

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-17/lowe-s-to-close-20-u-s-stores-slow-north-american-openings.html

 

 

 

 

 

I always hear rumblings about Saks Fifth Avenue at Beachwood Place closing but usually don't pay them any mind.

 

However I was cruising the web and learned that Saks is closing 7 sevens this years including those in San Diego, Denver, Portland, Mission Viejo, Charelston, South Carolina, Plano, Texas, Southhampton, New York and most recently announced the store in downtown Pittsburgh (leaving Pittsburgh without a Saks).  This concerns me.

 

Also the closing of the Pittsburgh store leaves their downtown with only one department store (they had 4 as recently as 10 years ago) and the remaining store, Macy's is downsizing from 10 floors to six (remember when Higbee's (Dillards actually) did that.

 

When people on this board complain about lack of retail downtown, this is a perfect example of why "it ain't so easy", since we tend to look at Pittsburgh as such a success story.

 

Back in 2005 I was actually emailing back and forth with the man in charge of Neiman-Marcus' new store openings, he used to work for Saks and remarked at how well the Beachwood store did, which was why Neiman-Marcus was looking at Cleveland. I just mention Neimans because they are pretty much Saks' only similar competition.

Speaking of store closings - looks like NEO is good in this round:

 

Lowe’s to Close 20 U.S. Stores, Slow North American Openings

 

Which stores are closing? Based on the link/story, I couldn't see that Cleveland was spared, though I believe you. Just curious to see where the closings are. Thanks.

 

 

Los Banos, CA     Biddeford, ME     Old Bridge, NJ

Westminster, CA Ellsworth, ME Batavia, NY

Denver, CO Ionia, MI         N. Kingstown, RI

Aurora, IL         Rogers, MN Emporia, VA

Oswego, IL Claremont, NH S. Tacoma, WA

Chalmette, LA Hooksett, NH Brown Deer, WI

Haverhill, MA Manchester, NH

 

http://media.lowes.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=3093

I was in Columbus today at Tiffany's and the worker there when he found out we were from Cleveland said you'll be getting one of your own by the end of next year......has anyone else heard of Tiffany's coming in late 2012 to Cleveland area????

Welcome osu87! Thanks for posting. Next time you're in Tiffany's ask that person if they know where in Cleveland they will be locating.

^A Tiffany's downtown would be great, though they may end up on the East side, where the money is if they come to town at all. Actually, if they go Downtown, that means we'd have TWO Tiffany's in the Downtown/Flats area!

^A Tiffany's downtown would be great, though they may end up on the East side, where the money is if they come to town at all. Actually, if they go Downtown, that means we'd have TWO Tiffany's in the Downtown/Flats area!

 

That would be hilarious! I can just imagine an old, prim and proper lady asking a taxi driver to take her to Tiffany's and getting a strange look in return.

Welcome osu87! Thanks for posting. Next time you're in Tiffany's ask that person if they know where in Cleveland they will be locating.

 

I would guess tower city.  With an casino across the street tower city has the potential to finally live up to its potential.

I did ask him if he knew where Tiffany and Co would be going when he said they were coming to Cleveland, but he did not know which shopping area when I asked him, just that we would be getting our own by the end of 2012.

My guess (if true) would be the east side, proabably Beachwood Place (isn't the Columbus store in the 'burbs?)

^A Tiffany's downtown would be great, though they may end up on the East side, where the money is if they come to town at all. Actually, if they go Downtown, that means we'd have TWO Tiffany's in the Downtown/Flats area!

 

That would be hilarious! I can just imagine an old, prim and proper lady asking a taxi driver to take her to Tiffany's and getting a strange look in return.

Not that I would know this from any direct experience, but the place you are referring to is no longer named Tiffany's.