Old Thyme Herbs was a natural fragrance/soap type store - not Penzey's/cooking type store...

 

Legacy's issue has been that, with Beachwood Place nearby, many of the big draws - like abercrombie, J Crew, Banana Republic, Pottery Barn, W=S. etc  were already across the street - and secondary retailers, retailers with many locations (Jos Bank) - or upscale retailers with strong followers, but limited interest from most consumers -(( Lilly Pulitzer) were the ones left.  This was never going to be a draw like Crocker is to the west side.

 

Couple that with all the closings noted due to chains going out of biz or closing large groupings of stores - and you're left with basically a home goods/furniture and restaurant destination now. This does not bring browsing crowds or hang out crowds like Crocker Park. But with so many retailer skipping NEO - as I outlined last week - it would seem there are many opportunities.  Just needs to happen before more retailers go... I think I can guess which ones are next.

 

Always thought Legacy would be perfect place for an upscale (Cine Arts, etc...) movie theater... as there is no east burbs cineplex of note at this point (like Valley View or Crocker Park)... Great combo with the many restaurants - they'd feed off each other.

 

don't know what they do now... They'll say they are 90% leased, etc.. - but that's total space, not storefronts... Empty storefronts hurt/deter...

MyTwoSense... just wanted to make sure you knew that I knew that... (me, too)

MyTwoSense - you are right about those stores currently operating in some cases - but I did note some chains closed "large chunks of stores" - with Legacy being part of that... (not just Legacy-specific)... Here's some background:

 

- Z Gallerie closed all 4 Ohio stores (along with 21 others, 1/3 of their total stores at time) in Feb 2009

 

- Sept 2008 - Norwalk closed all company-owned stores - and then new owner came in and took over.Tthere are now some Norwalk stores open again.

 

- Oshkosh - all non-outlet "lifestyle" stores like those at Legacy were announced to close by end of 2005 when new owner Carter's took over and these didn't fit with their mix. There may now be Oshkosh stores again.

 

- Ritz Camera - 300 of 700 stors nationwise were close April 2009 - including Legacy

 

and I forgot Joseph-Beth... 5(?) of 8 J-B stores were closed in 2010 and 2011 when company went bankrupt (Charlotte and Nashville  have already been turned into Container Stores, FYI - Conatiner Store originally announced for Legacy but never built - and Legacy Joseph-Beth remains vacant)

 

-

 

I know all that lol.  Trust me, I'm a retail whore! :wink2:

 

Yes we know  :roll:

I should have said left with "home goods/furniture, middle aged womens' fashions and restaurant destinaton now"...  - Legacy...

MyTwoSense - you are right about those stores currently operating in some cases - but I did note some chains closed "large chunks of stores" - with Legacy being part of that... (not just Legacy-specific)... Here's some background:

 

- Z Gallerie closed all 4 Ohio stores (along with 21 others, 1/3 of their total stores at time) in Feb 2009

 

- Sept 2008 - Norwalk closed all company-owned stores - and then new owner came in and took over.Tthere are now some Norwalk stores open again.

 

- Oshkosh - all non-outlet "lifestyle" stores like those at Legacy were announced to close by end of 2005 when new owner Carter's took over and these didn't fit with their mix. There may now be Oshkosh stores again.

 

- Ritz Camera - 300 of 700 stors nationwise were close April 2009 - including Legacy

 

and I forgot Joseph-Beth... 5(?) of 8 J-B stores were closed in 2010 and 2011 when company went bankrupt (Charlotte and Nashville  have already been turned into Container Stores, FYI - Conatiner Store originally announced for Legacy but never built - and Legacy Joseph-Beth remains vacant)

 

-

 

I know all that lol.  Trust me, I'm a retail whore! :wink2:

 

Yes we know  ::)

 

 

By far the coolest Cleveland retail idea I've seen in a long while was someone in this thread (or the Tower City thread) suggesting an LL Bean in the back of Tower City with actual river frontage for kayak sales.  That would be amazing and, I'd guess, a bit of a regional draw for the novelty alone.

 

 

now there is one outstanding, doable and unique idea -- bean or rei. it would be a definate instant draw.

 

 

 

By far the coolest Cleveland retail idea I've seen in a long while was someone in this thread (or the Tower City thread) suggesting an LL Bean in the back of Tower City with actual river frontage for kayak sales.  That would be amazing and, I'd guess, a bit of a regional draw for the novelty alone.

 

 

now there is one outstanding, doable and unique idea -- bean or rei. it would be a definate instant draw.

 

Add in a man made rapids run and you really have a draw!

Megaplex?  Bleh.  I'd rather have more Cedar Lees and Capitols pop up than Valley Views.

If there has to be some kind of Cineplex, why not update TOWER CITY CINEMAS!  I would think the success of the film festival and the other attractions downtown would be reasons to do this.

A megaplex has its kind of movies and its kind of customers and the Cedar-Lee has theirs.  The kind of upscale 5-6 screen theaters w/food delivered to seats, etc... - showing popular films - not generally the Cedar Lee variety film - is something missing here, but doing well elsewhere. Why not one on the east side.  Not sure why the east side can't have its version of Crocker Park or Valley View theaters - to see The Avengers, Batman, etc... (not Cedar Lee type movies) in stadium seating/comfort. On the east side,we're stuck with blah old-fashioned (not in a good or historic way) theaters - most owned by the Cedar-Lee folks (Cleveland Cinemas) like ours here in Chagrin Falls, or Solon, or the Phoenix on the back side of Eastgate, etc... Yuck. 

There's already a 20 screen AMC theatre at Richmond Mall and a 12 screen theatre at Severance.

Richmond/Severance - interesting in that the rest of the shopping/dining focus on the east side is focused quite a bit S/SE of those - in movieless void. Megaplex at Harvard/271 was rumored.. I'd take it..

Speaking of Harvard/271- the last restaurant pad in retail center with Bed Bath & Beyond, DSW - is announced - a (yuck) Buffalo Wild Wings... Unfortunate, as a Roy's was originally announced for that spot pre-9/11,  Fingers crossed for an REI in old Filene's Bsmnt.

  The kind of upscale 5-6 screen theaters w/food delivered to seats, etc... - showing popular films - not generally the Cedar Lee variety film - is something missing here, but doing well elsewhere.

 

Been waiting for one of these to pop up ever since discovering the Alamo Drafthouse www.drafthouse.com/.  Seems like the perfect venture for the Pickwick and Frolic people.  It's just something that people could pull off terribly very easily.

I didn't know Heather's Heat & Flavor had closed but I'm not surprised. I went out there a few months ago with my Mom specifically to purchase a gift to send to an out of state friend and they couldn't have been less interested in providing any customer service to us, even when we asked questions.

This came over from the The Perfect Vacation to Cleveland, Ohio....What Would You Suggest? Thread

 

What Cleveland needs is a trendy shopping district like Soho where you can get goods from national chains as well as NYC warehouse style places where you can get goods for cheap. have the district interlaced with restaurants, and souvenir shops. The area along Payne and Superior Avenue between 17th and I-90 could be a good place for that. That could be a huge regional draw.

 

I know that none of you will believe I'm typing this, but I completely disagree! As much as I want high end retail, that isn't going to work.....today.

 

We do not need a "district" just because NYC or some other city/place has one.  We need good urban planning and mixed use spaces similar to what has taken place in Center City Philadelphia (look at Chestnut, Samson & Walnut Sts between 13 & 18 streets).  High, Huron, Prospect, Euclid, West 3, West 6 & West 9 are all prime for various types of everyday to luxury boutiques.  Tower City is the perfect anchor to all of that.

 

We must have the basics covered before trying to create artificial shopping districts that would only cater to a small segment of the population and I suspect would be tourist driven.

This came over from the The Perfect Vacation to Cleveland, Ohio....What Would You Suggest? Thread

 

What Cleveland needs is a trendy shopping district like Soho where you can get goods from national chains as well as NYC warehouse style places where you can get goods for cheap. have the district interlaced with restaurants, and souvenir shops. The area along Payne and Superior Avenue between 17th and I-90 could be a good place for that. That could be a huge regional draw.

 

I know that none of you will believe I'm typing this, but I completely disagree! As much as I want high end retail, that isn't going to work.....today.

 

We do not need a "district" just because NYC or some other city/place has one.  We need good urban planning and mixed use spaces similar to what has taken place in Center City Philadelphia (look at Chestnut, Samson & Walnut Sts between 13 & 18 streets).  High, Huron, Prospect, Euclid, West 3, West 6 & West 9 are all prime for various types of everyday to luxury boutiques.  Tower City is the perfect anchor to all of that.

 

We must have the basics covered before trying to create artificial shopping districts that would only cater to a small segment of the population and I suspect would be tourist driven.

 

Someone call the police!!!! Someone call the police!!!!

 

MTS has just been murdered and an impostor is running around in his place, posting messages! Call 911!!

I think a district would be tough, because Forest City despite MTS' claims of incompetence would always be pulling tenants towards TC.

I think a district would be tough, because Forest City despite MTS' claims of incompetence would always be pulling tenants towards TC.

 

This is why I specifically stay we need street level retail and give a great example of how a mix of stores have been brought to main streets in Philadelphia, despite having The Shops at Liberty Place in sight.

 

Use google street view to view the streets I mention above.

and let me just clarify I didn't mean luxury retail mecessarily, just retail in general, and restaurants/bars along with the souvenir shops. Things that would give people another destination to visit in the city if they wanted to people watch, eat or do some shopping. That's the main thing I think the city lacks today, a place where you can go when the weather is nice where you can sit and just watch all the people walking around going about their business on ANY given day that is not a Life style center.

and let me just clarify I didn't mean luxury retail mecessarily, just retail in general, and restaurants/bars along with the souvenir shops. Things that would give people another destination to visit in the city if they wanted to people watch, eat or do some shopping. That's the main thing I think the city lacks today, a place where you can go when the weather is nice where you can sit and just watch all the people walking around going about their business on ANY given day that is not a Life style center.

 

Thats why I point to CC Philly as a model.  Did you look?

and let me just clarify I didn't mean luxury retail mecessarily, just retail in general, and restaurants/bars along with the souvenir shops. Things that would give people another destination to visit in the city if they wanted to people watch, eat or do some shopping. That's the main thing I think the city lacks today, a place where you can go when the weather is nice where you can sit and just watch all the people walking around going about their business on ANY given day that is not a Life style center.

 

Wouldn't E4th and Euclid pretty much fit this description in its current form??

 

Does it need more retail and less restaurants, sure, but I think that this stretch is mostly there already.

 

Wouldn't E4th and Euclid pretty much fit this description in its current form??

 

Does it need more retail and less restaurants, sure, but I think that this stretch is mostly there already.

 

Except that the buildings next to and including the Goldfish Army store along the south side of Prospect degrade that area. They desperately need to be rehabbed -- like with the kind of retail you all seem to want.

 

Wouldn't E4th and Euclid pretty much fit this description in its current form??

 

Does it need more retail and less restaurants, sure, but I think that this stretch is mostly there already.

 

Except that the buildings next to and including the Goldfish Army store along the south side of Prospect degrade that area. They desperately need to be rehabbed -- like with the kind of retail you all seem to want.

 

Exactly, right now we have streets that might fit that criteria, but not districts, or 5 or more streets of this type of activity. That may change in the next year with the opening of the casino and places that may open up do to proximity to the casino, but today I don't think we have any districts, except maybe Shaker Square???

 

And no MTS, I haven't looked yet, but I will.

 

Wouldn't E4th and Euclid pretty much fit this description in its current form??

 

Does it need more retail and less restaurants, sure, but I think that this stretch is mostly there already.

 

Except that the buildings next to and including the Goldfish Army store along the south side of Prospect degrade that area. They desperately need to be rehabbed -- like with the kind of retail you all seem to want.

 

Exactly, right now we have streets that might fit that criteria, but not districts, or 5 or more streets of this type of activity. That may change in the next year with the opening of the casino and places that may open up do to proximity to the casino, but today I don't think we have any districts, except maybe Shaker Square???

 

And no MTS, I haven't looked yet, but I will.

 

Well get to viewing, ya damn whippersnapper!

 

Fill-in at existing locations is exactly what Philly did.  Just as we now have hotels, housing and big ticket developments near completion, the street level retail now needs to come.  Residents, business folks should be writing/calling/emailing and the city/county should be working with real estate marketers to get those spaces filled!

They've been clearing out/cleaning up the (forgive me if I'm wrong as I'm not from here) old May Dept store??? building down on the Prospect side.  It's a huge space.

Colonial Marketplace retail in line for fixup

PlayhouseSquare group latest to try its hand, will try to create theme

By STAN BULLARD

4:30 am, April 9, 2012

 

The property management arm of PlayhouseSquare Foundation has been called upon to play the lead role in rejuvenating the retail portion of Colonial Marketplace, which consists of two historic arcades and a Residence Inn hotel near the East Fourth Street neighborhood in downtown Cleveland. Allen Wiant, vice president of strategic investment at PlayhouseSquare Real Estate Services, said Colonial Marketplace is in need of a new story to rebrand the property, which was created last decade as part of a $30 million investment that transformed upper-floor offices in the old Colonial Arcade to the extended stay hotel.

 

 

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?rls=com.microsoft%3A*%3AIE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7SUNA_en&hl=en&q=cache:hiGI1ps1bVkJ:http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20120409/SUB1/304099977/1004/toc&Profile=1004+Colonial+Marketplace+retail+in+line+for+fixup&ct=clnk

Interesting, thanks.  If nothing else, I would be thrilled if they ditched the name "Colonial Marketplace" as part of this, and the wretched signage with that name.

Interesting, thanks.  If nothing else, I would be thrilled if they ditched the name "Colonial Marketplace" as part of this, and the wretched signage with that name.

 

How about "E.6th Alleyway" or "E.6th Arcade"

 

There is a positive vibe with lower Euclid Ave, especially E.4th.  This rebranding could play off this.

I was just thinking about this the other day... The Colonial Arcade especially needs some help with the Euclid entrance. It could use a fix up. But with Colossal Cupcakes and Nexus on both ends hopefully these two arcades can come back to life!

How about their actual names:  Colonial Arcade & Euclid Arcade? 

How about their actual names:  Colonial Arcade & Euclid Arcade? 

AGREED!

^^Yes, double agreed.  I loathe the name "Colonial Marketplace" intensely because it conjures images of a strip retail center in suburban Virginia.  I don't get why the developers here casually discarded a century of place-making/branding with their tacky, superficial re-do.  Hopefully PHS will have the room in their management to de-tackify the place.

 

I get that "Euclid Arcade" could be a little confusing to people, but they could at least call them the "Colonial Arcades" or something like that.  Even though they are grossly underused, our arcades are a pretty nifty distinguishing feature of our downtown that should be played up, not obscured through icky 1980s Festival! names.

What does something big like dlsney even mean???  Someone in the article was quoted as saying they need to do something BIG... like dlsney

I think the arcades would be perfect for shops like Room Service, Salty Not Sweet, and other local stores that could all work well together, and make it somewhat a destination. Make it Cleveland. It could also be a stop for tourists wanting a piece of Cleveland to take home with them.

^^Yes, double agreed.  I loathe the name "Colonial Marketplace" intensely because it conjures images of a strip retail center in suburban Virginia.  I don't get why the developers here casually discarded a century of place-making/branding with their tacky, superficial re-do.  Hopefully PHS will have the room in their management to de-tackify the place.

 

I get that "Euclid Arcade" could be a little confusing to people, but they could at least call them the "Colonial Arcades" or something like that.  Even though they are grossly underused, our arcades are a pretty nifty distinguishing feature of our downtown that should be played up, not obscured through icky 1980s Festival! names.

 

How could it be confusing?  To me that is a sign that two generation of Clevelanders have lost touch with downtown and its historic buildings/places!  Changing the names back to their original names would be a learning experience, especially since lower Euclid and Prospect are rip for redevelopment with the Casino, the existing Gateway development, East 4th.  East Ninth will come online early next year and potential rebranding of retail spaces in Tower City.

^I'm pretty sure it was confusing to a lot of people even 30 years ago to have both a "Euclid Arcade" and "The Arcade" on Euclid Avenue right across the street, especially for people who only occasionally came downtown.  Not saying I found it confusing. So, I'd be psyched of PHS restored the Euclid Arcade name, but am still sympathetic to building owners wanting to differentiate a bit. YMMV.

^I'm pretty sure it was confusing to a lot of people even 30 years ago to have both a "Euclid Arcade" and "The Arcade" on Euclid Avenue right across the street, especially for people who only occasionally came downtown.  Not saying I found it confusing. So, I'd be psyched of PHS restored the Euclid Arcade name, but am still sympathetic to building owners wanting to differentiate a bit. YMMV.

 

I didn't get it confused.  It's like saying go to Halle's and Higbees.  But that's just my opinion.

What does something big like dlsney even mean???  Someone in the article was quoted as saying they need to do something BIG... like dlsney

 

Wasn't Disney in the Galleria? 

There was a Disney Store in Tower city and a Warner Brothers store with those huge replicas of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.

I opened the WB store! I was one of the first staff members!

is colonial arcade the one that gets its swerve on? i always mix those up.

^The Euclid Arcade has the terra-cotta treatment and a barrel vault ceiling - and yes, has a slight bend.

 

In other news, Best Buy at Steelyard Commons is closing on May 12th. http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/the-best-buy-store-at-steelyard-commons-is-closing

^The Euclid Arcade has the terra-cotta treatment and a barrel vault ceiling - and yes, has a slight bend.

 

In other news, Best Buy at Steelyard Commons is closing on May 12th. http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/the-best-buy-store-at-steelyard-commons-is-closing

 

That sucks. That's the one I go to most often.

Does anyone remember Market 25 - the venue/space - that existed prior to the Bier Markt? What about something like that for the arcades? Let artists/craftsman and other small vendors rent small space on a monthly or maybe even weekly basis. There are so many cool pop up shops during Christmas time, it would be great if there was a venue that was a more year round destination.

Does anyone remember Market 25 - the venue/space - that existed prior to the Bier Markt? What about something like that for the arcades? Let artists/craftsman and other small vendors rent small space on a monthly or maybe even weekly basis. There are so many cool pop up shops during Christmas time, it would be great if there was a venue that was a more year round destination.

 

That is something that has been proposed and worked on, but it hasn't gone anywhere in the three years or so I've been involved with it.

Didnt they sort-of already do that?  I remember a few years ago when there were some scattered galleries/studios in there.

I guess there were galleries in there, but if the arcades really got their act together to rebrand, they would get in touch with better quality artists and craftsman. Something like a year-round Made in the 216 or Cleveland Handmade Market (Tower Press).

^^Yup, with the "ARTcade" effort http://www.cleveland.com/artseconomy/index.ssf?/artseconomy/more/06.html

 

But was focused just on galleries.  Ideally those arcade spaces would work as incubators without much of an organized effort.  Aren't some or most of the food court operators in there mom & pop?  Or maybe we just haven't found the winning cluster yet. 

 

As the residential population right around there continues to grow, could be pretty sweet to see some high quality groceries in some of those spaces to serve that part of downtown.  Sort of like a mini version of the food market at Grand Central Station.

Planet Fitness is going into the vacated Barnes and Noble space at Richmond Town Square. I don't know if this is their first location in Cleveland, but I've seen them around Columbus.