All my childhood memories of Richmond Mall are pretty much limited to the movie theatre which had only like 3 screens, the arcade (Fun'n'Games?), and that Burger King (pre-food court).  Oh yeah.... my friend worked at the pizza place (Scotty's?).

 

Hilltop Plaza was never the same after Yan-Yans and Kiddie City pulled out.

 

Scotto's Pizza.  There was also one where Chocolate Bar is now in the Arcade and at Euclid Square Mall.  Richmond Mall had those weird red and black sculptures throughout.  Would be pretty cool to see some photos of those.

All my childhood memories of Richmond Mall are pretty much limited to the movie theatre which had only like 3 screens, the arcade (Fun'n'Games?), and that Burger King (pre-food court).  Oh yeah.... my friend worked at the pizza place (Scotty's?).

 

Hilltop Plaza was never the same after Yan-Yans and Kiddie City pulled out.

 

Scotto's Pizza.  There was also one where Chocolate Bar is now in the Arcade and at Euclid Square Mall.  Richmond Mall had those weird red and black sculptures throughout.  Would be pretty cool to see some photos of those.

 

Used to LOVE their pizza as a kid. Are there any left in Greater CLE?

Didn't the old movie theater have 8 screens, but you had to go outside to get to 4 of them?

^There was a courtyard in between two sets of theaters.

Didn't the old movie theater have 8 screens, but you had to go outside to get to 4 of them?

 

WAAAY after my time there.

Totally underwhelming Eton expansion site plan/details just released... Trader Joe's moves to a new 20,000 square foot freestanding building, west of existing center/Mitchell's Fish Market. behind Alson's Jewelers, - more than doubling their space from 9,400 sf currently. New stores will fill the existing Trader Joe's space. Texas de Brazil appears to go to west of Alson's - about 6,500 square feet, with Chagrin frontage. Chipotle, Starbucks, AT&T store (lame) to be built - on west end of property - leaving space for several other small stores and a net +200 parking spaces to be added to complex. Moving Trader Joe's, alone, will free up dozens of spaces in center of complex at any given time... Good for merchants.  Bonefish & Carrabba's now gone from plan - so gain for center, for now, appears to be one sit down restaurants, not two. Interesting... Stark paid something like $6MM-$7MM+ for the Blockbuster office building and the apartments that sat on this expansion site, alone. And will spend millions more on demolition and building out the expansion... And this is all that's going on the site? [/img]

 

 

The developers of the Pinecrest lifestyle center at Harvard/271 in Orange Village presented updated plans in the past week. Here's how things are looking with that lease plan - which includes a movie theater, gourmet market (not shown in this image - but would go in upper right corner), an REI-like store, Pinstripes bowling alley/restaurant, Old Town Pour House and 3 Palms Pizzeria, a potential Container Store and West Elm, a hotel and apartments over the Main Street shops - and more...

 

Here is current rendering, with 271 at the bottom and Harvard to the right... [/img]

Glad to hear theyre finally going to do apartments over the retail now. This is beginning to look more and more like what Legacy should have been

Add several hundred apartments/hotel rooms at Pinecrest and you not only have height but a built-in customer base on site, nightly... The fancy movie theater is going to be my favorite part of this... Will be interesting to see how Legacy evolves with a new leasing agent, the Steiner Company (that owns the more or less benchmark lifestyle center. Easton Town Center), in charge.. - and some key vacancies to fill (Coldwater Creek, Claddagh, Apple Store, etc...)

 

I also heard a rumor Legacy Village is for sale... Rumor...

Too bad GCRTA plans to run buses out here from the end of the Blue Line at Warrensville, rather than extend the Blue Line.

I have such great memories from Legacy. During my highschool years it was THE place to be. It certainly doesnt need more retail space, but Id just love to see those terrible surface lots, which ive always thought of as by far its worst features, turned into some garages and redeveloped.

Legacy definitely needs to redevelop. I think the combination of realigning some streets within the complex, adding more office, some residential, some lodging and maybe a department storestore, as well as structured parking and building up to Cedar and Richmond would help Legacy attract new consumersconsumers and turn it into the mixed use center it was meant to be.

 

Next is redeveloping University Square.

Legacy's original plan had a department store (Jacobsen's) anchoring it... Then that chain went out of business during planning... and the tenant mix changed a bit. A smaller store like Von Maur (originally announced as a tenant at Crocker Park) - never seemed to be in the plans after the other depth store loss -  Legacy has considered a hotel on the edge oaf the property before (too little space, they said), has drawn up plans, I'm told, to put a theater on upper level in back... and has at least twice had leases from the Container Store in the bag... and then didn't.

 

Also, I seem to recall zoning problems with Cedar-facing parking garages, which left them with the surface lots that essentially define the development. Add in the Apple fiasco (the rumor has long been that Legacy called Apple's bluff when they got too demanding when they wanted a larger/different store... and Apple - and a thousand customers a day - left the development... A huge blow...)

 

The Nordstrom Rack, by all accounts, does well - as does the Cheesecake Factory (one of the top 20 out of 200+ in the chain, I've been told by those in the know) - and Crate&Barrel seems to do OK - though I know Beachwood Place has been trying to poach retailers, including Crate - and may succeed with Restoration Hardware. Beyond that, not sure - though the majority of the closures in the center (15 or more, unbelievably) have been related to whole chains going out of business...

 

Legacy's design simply pales in comparison to the crowd-attracting Crocker Park - which is much more conducive to just going to walk around/hang out...

I was thinking new mixed use buildings fronting cedar and Richmond. With garages hidden behind those buildings.

^ He's too young to get that reference. He's probably trying to find out what cowboy movie Jonathan Taylor Thomas was in.

 

Maybe this is a better reference point for the millennials who don't recognize the actor....

 

 

 

I have such great memories from Legacy. During my highschool years it was THE place to be.

 

Where is MTS when you need him.  I feel old.

I have such great memories from Legacy. During my highschool years it was THE place to be.

 

Where is MTS when you need him.  I feel old.

 

Yep. And here I reminisce about Richmond Mall and Randall Park Mall in the 1970s and early 80s.

 

Legacy's design simply pales in comparison to the crowd-attracting Crocker Park - which is much more conducive to just going to walk around/hang out...

 

Crocker is much more appealing on a number of levels. CP has more acreage than LV, correct?

 

I've never been a huge fan of Legacy Village, but for the sake of Lyndhurst, I sure hope its owners figure some things out to revitalize it a bit. It definitely has potential.

Legacy's design simply pales in comparison to the crowd-attracting Crocker Park - which is much more conducive to just going to walk around/hang out...

 

Crocker is much more appealing on a number of levels. CP has more acreage than LV, correct?

 

I've never been a huge fan of Legacy Village, but for the sake of Lyndhurst, I sure hope its owners figure some things out to revitalize it a bit. It definitely has potential.

 

I would think the mixed use residential would be an even bigger hit in that Legacy Villiage area, where there is already some higher density living surrounding Beachwood Place.

 

They should take a play from the Crocker book and blow out some of the surface parking for parking ramps and residential elements. 

habitat for humanity set to open second restore in north randall

ERIN O'BRIEN | TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015

 

Fortified with grants of $25,000 and $75,000, respectively from the Gund and Cleveland Foundations, Habitat for Humanity will be opening the area's second ReStore location this spring at 4601 Northfield Road.

 

Similar to the existing ReStore at 2110 West 110th Street, the North Randall location will sell a mix of new and used furniture, appliances, housewares and construction materials. The new location is adjacent to a number of discount retail outlets as well as a Salvation Army thrift store, but ReStore director Matt Haren feels confident that the venture will add a new dimension to the existing competition.

 

"I think we're bringing in that uniqueness of furniture and building materials and household wares," he says.

 

MORE:

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/habitatrestore011315.aspx

Athleta may open soon in Westlake's Crocker Park

By Mary Kilpatrick, Northeast Ohio Media Group

on January 16, 2015 at 4:48 PM, updated January 16, 2015 at 5:29 PM

 

WESTLAKE, Ohio – Athleta, a women's fitness clothing store, may open soon in Crocker Park.

 

Westlake City Council on Thursday approved the storefront for the proposed store, at 105 Main Street. Athleta would replace Hollister, which closed last month, according to the plans. The approved design features a clean white and grey brick façade, sandwiched between Victoria's Secret and Abercrombie & Fitch.

 

MORE:

http://www.cleveland.com/westlake/index.ssf/2015/01/athleta_may_open_soon_in_westl.html

And Crocker will also be getting Lucy, another activewear chain (as part of expansion) - though no word yet on the most desired brand in this category-- lululemon....

Was surprised by the # of closed/closing retailers I saw while at Beachwood Place this weekend..  Bebe, Wet Seal and Delia's stores are closed/closing (the latter two closing all stores nationwide), the Lucky Jeans store is having a closing sale (but Crocker remains open), Mann Jewelers (per management) is closing the end of February, at least two space-fillers (Urban Home & Garden and Mello Yellow) are having 50%+ off sales and appear to be leaving.. - and Aeropostale has an "everything must go" sign up -  so appears this store is part of their closing plans...  And I didn't even walk fully into the Dillard's wing further to see what else might be going or gone...

 

With that said, this is the way retail goes... and the mall is presenting plans this month for the new Cedar Road side restaurants it will be building (Seasons 52 and Capital Grille) and the rest of the expansion appears to be starting this spring... With so many vacancies current or coming  on the west side of Saks wing... (up and down) - which is where the major externals expansion will be going, I'm wondering if these vacancies are intentional and if the the interior spaces on that side of mall will be holding a host of new retailers OR if the merchants building spaces as part of the streetscape expansion wills will be having interior entrances via these now-vacant storefronts.

If we get stores expected there and maybe Burberry and Tory burch that would be fine with me.

Nothing further down the Dillard's wing is closing however the bath and body works store up front is now closed and moving into a temp spot 1/23 on first floor saks wing in the old j Jill spot., Delia still open , wet seal and Bebe already closed and lucky jeans had nothing left but belts. Aeropostale was getting down on merchandise too.

If we get stores expected there and maybe Burberry and Tory burch that would be fine with me.

 

my spouse worked in the same bldg as the tory burch hq offices. all the women there wear tory burch stuff to work. its a pretty funny sight and so obvious what floor they will be getting off on.

 

Is it a bad sign about all of these closings?

 

I don't know much about bebe but Lucky shouldn't be going out of biz I would think...decent jeans at a pretty good price.

 

However, I bought a pair at their store - in the mall close to me in Chicago - for $85 (on sale) only to return them when I found the exact same pair at Marshall's for $39.99.  Their stuff is easily found on the discount market.

$85 for a pair of jeans?!?  Wait.... I'm starting to sound like my dad

True religion I believe recently expanded or remodeled there

Didn't the old movie theater have 8 screens, but you had to go outside to get to 4 of them?

 

WAAAY after my time there.

The most I remember from Randall is Jeepers amusement park in the late 90s early 2000, not too long after, closings accelerated.

I have such great memories from Legacy. During my highschool years it was THE place to be.

 

Where is MTS when you need him.  I feel old.

 

Yep. And here I reminisce about Richmond Mall and Randall Park Mall in the 1970s and early 80s.

 

 

I'm super stoked about athleta coming in to CP. I love their stuff but it's very expensive in the catalog and with an in-person store, I'll be able to visit regularly and get stuff on sale without having to pay shipping. It's really high quality workout wear, unlike anything else I can get anywhere else.

 

 

I'm super stoked about athleta coming in to CP. I love their stuff but it's very expensive in the catalog and with an in-person store, I'll be able to visit regularly and get stuff on sale without having to pay shipping. It's really high quality workout wear, unlike anything else I can get anywhere else.

 

They have been in Beachwood Place a little over a year now too

I never, ever go to Beachwood. It's just way too inconvenient and out of my way for me to get to. But yes I did know they had a store there.

Is it a bad sign about all of these closings?

 

I don't know much about bebe but Lucky shouldn't be going out of biz I would think...decent jeans at a pretty good price.

 

However, I bought a pair at their store - in the mall close to me in Chicago - for $85 (on sale) only to return them when I found the exact same pair at Marshall's for $39.99.  Their stuff is easily found on the discount market.

 

2 of the stores that are closing, are closing all stores as eyheartfood said, bebe to me has had its better days, and lucky jeans has gone down hill since thier parant company sold them off to concentrate of it's Kate Spade brand

OK, so IKEA eyes a Polaris location (I-71 at I-270, north side) in 2017. They ID Cleveland as the second store, but nothing official has been announced....

 

Ikea eyes Polaris for 3rd Ohio store

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/01/26/ikea-eyes-polaris-for-3rd-ohio-store.html?ana=twt

We better not get ripped off...

Not the most encouraging news for CLE... Fingers crossed.. But also interesting to see the varied types of sites on which IKEA builds. In Cleveland, if built (at all) in Brooklyn - it would be in a centrally located, but working class, inner-ring suburb, adjacent to no other major retail. In Columbus, the store is being built in a prime, prime location - but on the north side side/less central part of city - near rapidly growing, well-off suburbs, adjacent to a major shopping area and other major retail draws.  The equivalent available land in Cleveland would be, say, the Chagrin Highland/Harvard/271 area, where IKEA originally wanted to locate 15 years ago.

I'm sure they already knew they were opening the store in Columbus when they bought the land in Brooklyn. It's not like they just made the decision within the last month.

 

This makes me think they still plan on opening one in the Cleveland market but its probably further away then we had initially thought.

As much as I like IKEA's stuff personally (the computer table on which I'm typing this message is from IKEA), I don't really see any game-changing aspect for having one in greater Cleveland, other than from a 'keeping up with the Jones' ' aspect... IKEAs are classic sprawl-inducing, big-box stores that just so happens to focus on unique, Swedish furniture, but sit out near freeway exits surrounded by seas of asphalt parking.  And since my personal focus, especially on this website, is toward building up cities' urban density, walkability -most particularly that of hometown Cleveland in its downtown and other transitionally urban areas, IKEA really doesn't excite me.

As much as I like IKEA's stuff personally (the computer table on which I'm typing this message is from IKEA), I don't really see any game-changing aspect for having one in greater Cleveland, other than from a 'keeping up with the Jones' ' aspect... IKEAs are classic sprawl-inducing, big-box stores that just so happens to focus on unique, Swedish furniture, but sit out near freeway exits surrounded by seas of asphalt parking.  And since my personal focus, especially on this website, is toward building up cities' urban density, walkability -most particularly that of hometown Cleveland in its downtown and other transitionally urban areas, IKEA really doesn't excite me.

 

I hear ya. For me, it's more the fact that Clevelanders have to drive to Sh*tsburgh (and maybe now Columbus) in order to shop there. If people like going to Ikea, I'd rather them be able to do it here than have to travel to another state or city.

The IKEA U.S. scorecard... Top 35 markets:

 

Rank Metro Area 2010 Census Population IKEA (Open or announced)

1 New York - 22,085,649 - YES

2 Los Angeles - 17,877,006 - YES

3 Chicago - 9,686,021 - YES

4 Washington, DC - 8,572,971 - YES

5 Boston - 7,559,060 - YES

6 San Francisco - 7,468,390 - YES

7 Dallas - 6,731,317 - YES

8 Philadelphia - 6,533,683 - YES

9 Houston - 6,051,363 - YES

10 Atlanta - 5,618,431 - YES

11 Miami - 5,564,635 - YES

12 Detroit - 5,218,852 - YES

13 Seattle - 4,199,312 - YES

14 Phoenix - 4,192,887 - YES

15 Minneapolis - 3,615,902 - YES

16 Cleveland/Akron/Canton - 3,286,359 - NO

17 San Diego - 3,095,313 - YES

18 Denver - 3,090,874 - YES

19 St. Louis - 2,878,255 - YES

20 Orlando - 2,818,120 - YES

21 Tampa - 2,783,243 - YES

22 Sacramento - 2,461,780 - YES

23 Pittsburgh - 2,447,393 - YES

24 Charlotte - 2,402,623 - YES

25 Portland - 2,226,009 - YES

26 Cincinnati - 2,172,191 - YES

27 San Antonio - 2,142,508 - NO

28 Kansas City - 2,104,853 - YES

29 Indianapolis - 2,080,782 - NO

30 Columbus - 2,071,052 - YES

31 Las Vegas - 1,995,215 - YES

32 Austin - 1,759,039 - YES

33 Milwaukee - 1,751,316 - NO

34 Raleigh-Durham - 1,749,525 - NO

35 Salt Lake City - 1,744,886 - YES

 

^ well that has always been pretty clearly known, but geez to see it on a list like that is really in your face. i just dont get the ikea footdragging. it reminds me of starbucks, which was also late in the game in coming to the area as well (at least there were reasons for that as cle had its own established coffee culture). i think they must have heard clev has a bad rep or something, there is no other explanation. they just use the pitts store as a politely swede excuse.

robots to replace retail employees?

 

http://nypost.com/2015/01/25/as-robots-start-to-take-over-retail-will-there-be-any-jobs-left/

 

^ well that has always been pretty clearly known, but geez to see it on a list like that is really in your face. i just dont get the ikea footdragging. it reminds me of starbucks, which was also late in the game in coming to the area as well (at least there were reasons for that as cle had its own established coffee culture). i think they must have heard clev has a bad rep or something, there is no other explanation. they just use the pitts store as a politely swede excuse.

 

The problem is that you can look at 20-30 of the fop upscale or trendy retailers --- and the list looks much the same for them (all or most major metros but CLE have a store in them...) I know, because I keep a list like this... Container Store, Louis Vuitton (freestanding), Burberry, etc...

robots to replace retail employees?

 

http://nypost.com/2015/01/25/as-robots-start-to-take-over-retail-will-there-be-any-jobs-left/

 

 

Whether or not this happens will be driven in part by minimum wage laws.

$85 for a pair of jeans?!?  Wait.... I'm starting to sound like my dad

 

That's why I ended up at Marshall's :)

robots to replace retail employees?

 

http://nypost.com/2015/01/25/as-robots-start-to-take-over-retail-will-there-be-any-jobs-left/

 

 

 

Whether or not this happens will be driven in part by minimum wage laws.

 

 

likely rapid advances in the technology of the robots and lowered costs will affect it's rollout much more than human wage changes.

Ikea plans Columbus store, but that doesn't rule out Cleveland-area project

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Furnishings giant Ikea will announce Tuesday morning that it is planning a second Ohio store - in Columbus, not Greater Cleveland.

 

But that news shouldn't discourage the retailer's fans in Northeast Ohio.

 

"A store in Columbus does not preclude a Cleveland-area store," Joseph Roth, a company spokesman, wrote in an email late Monday evening. "They are separate and distinct metropolitan areas, both of which can support an Ikea store long-term on their own."

 

Ikea confirmed, in a media alert, that it has staked out a Columbus-area site. The retailer expects to divulge more details at an 11 a.m. news conference at the Quest Conference Center off of Polaris Parkway, just east of Interstate 71.

 

Citing unnamed sources, the Columbus Dispatch reported that Ikea is planning a 354,000-square-foot building on 33 acres, on the site of the former Germain Amphitheater. The Dispatch said the store will open in 2017.

 

That site would put a third Ikea store within a 170-mile radius of Cleveland. The Swedish retailer already has stores in Pittsburgh - a two-hour drive - and Canton, Michigan - a slightly longer trek. Ikea's only Ohio store opened in 2008 in West Chester, near Cincinnati.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2015/01/ikea_plans_columbus_store_but.html#incart_2box

As much as I like IKEA's stuff personally (the computer table on which I'm typing this message is from IKEA), I don't really see any game-changing aspect for having one in greater Cleveland, other than from a 'keeping up with the Jones' ' aspect... IKEAs are classic sprawl-inducing, big-box stores that just so happens to focus on unique, Swedish furniture, but sit out near freeway exits surrounded by seas of asphalt parking.  And since my personal focus, especially on this website, is toward building up cities' urban density, walkability -most particularly that of hometown Cleveland in its downtown and other transitionally urban areas, IKEA really doesn't excite me.

 

I hear ya. For me, it's more the fact that Clevelanders have to drive to Sh*tsburgh (and maybe now Columbus) in order to shop there. If people like going to Ikea, I'd rather them be able to do it here than have to travel to another state or city.

 

Point well taken... Can't deny IKEA has some good stuff.  And, yes, why should other towns have it while Cleveland's singled out in not having one?... I just wish we could get some of the downtown stores that some of these cities have as well..

As much as I like IKEA's stuff personally (the computer table on which I'm typing this message is from IKEA), I don't really see any game-changing aspect for having one in greater Cleveland, other than from a 'keeping up with the Jones' ' aspect... IKEAs are classic sprawl-inducing, big-box stores that just so happens to focus on unique, Swedish furniture, but sit out near freeway exits surrounded by seas of asphalt parking.  And since my personal focus, especially on this website, is toward building up cities' urban density, walkability -most particularly that of hometown Cleveland in its downtown and other transitionally urban areas, IKEA really doesn't excite me.

 

I hear ya. For me, it's more the fact that Clevelanders have to drive to Sh*tsburgh (and maybe now Columbus) in order to shop there. If people like going to Ikea, I'd rather them be able to do it here than have to travel to another state or city.

 

Point well taken... Can't deny IKEA has some good stuff.  And, yes, why should other towns have it while Cleveland's singled out in not having one?... I just wish we could get some of the downtown stores that some of these cities have as well..

 

I completely agree with that. Yesterday on WCPN Joe Marinucci was talking about how DCA's focus has been primarily on local, independent retailers. He also mentioned how Steelyard Commons is close by for downtown residents that want to go to a big box store. That's all great...unless you live downtown and don't have a car (like me). A trip to the Steelyard Target via the 81 bus can easily be a 2 hour endeavor on the weekend.

The IKEA U.S. scorecard... Top 35 markets:

 

Rank Metro Area 2010 Census Population IKEA (Open or announced)

1 New York - 22,085,649 - YES

2 Los Angeles - 17,877,006 - YES

3 Chicago - 9,686,021 - YES

4 Washington, DC - 8,572,971 - YES

5 Boston - 7,559,060 - YES

6 San Francisco - 7,468,390 - YES

7 Dallas - 6,731,317 - YES

8 Philadelphia - 6,533,683 - YES

9 Houston - 6,051,363 - YES

10 Atlanta - 5,618,431 - YES

11 Miami - 5,564,635 - YES

12 Detroit - 5,218,852 - YES

13 Seattle - 4,199,312 - YES

14 Phoenix - 4,192,887 - YES

15 Minneapolis - 3,615,902 - YES

16 Cleveland/Akron/Canton - 3,286,359 - NO

17 San Diego - 3,095,313 - YES

18 Denver - 3,090,874 - YES

19 St. Louis - 2,878,255 - YES

20 Orlando - 2,818,120 - YES

21 Tampa - 2,783,243 - YES

22 Sacramento - 2,461,780 - YES

23 Pittsburgh - 2,447,393 - YES

24 Charlotte - 2,402,623 - YES

25 Portland - 2,226,009 - YES

26 Cincinnati - 2,172,191 - YES

27 San Antonio - 2,142,508 - NO

28 Kansas City - 2,104,853 - YES

29 Indianapolis - 2,080,782 - NO

30 Columbus - 2,071,052 - YES

31 Las Vegas - 1,995,215 - YES

32 Austin - 1,759,039 - YES

33 Milwaukee - 1,751,316 - NO

34 Raleigh-Durham - 1,749,525 - NO

35 Salt Lake City - 1,744,886 - YES

 

 

Not to nitpick, but I think Dayton has to be added to Cincinnati's figure in this case.  The store is located 20 miles north of downtown on 75, placing it just about 30 miles from Downtown Dayton, and I think that was definitely intentional.  With the Dayton numbers added, the pop. would be a little over 3 million, placing it right around Denver, and closer to the top 15 markets.  Also, whenever I go to the Cincinnati Ikea, I see cars in the parking lot from Indy, Columbus, Lexington, and Louisville, so I think Ikea might have different metrics for store location than just metro population.  Seems like they might take more of a regional approach, which makes it even more surprising the NE Ohio doesn't have a store. I think Cleveland/NE Ohio should have had an Ikea a while ago, and it's a little perplexing that there is still not a store in operation in the region.