July 3, 20159 yr I mean this in a good-natured way, but the excitement in this thread for a suburban Container Store is slightly amusing. Think of Container Store as if it were a new downtown apartment building built without attached parking. Imagine the excitement on the board... (And Container and West Elm WERE confimed as signed in another Pinecrest PD article today, which indrectly confirmed a 45,000 sf Whole Foods there.) I emailed both authors of the REI articles and when point-blank asked if West Elm and the container store were signed and delivered they both said no that only the mayor had said that they were a go and we all know what this means from beachwood place and The Capital Grille. By the way those of you making fun about the container store I actually make trips to Columbus to buy stuff from there so I'll be happy to have one closer here when it is confirmed.
July 3, 20159 yr I mean this in a good-natured way, but the excitement in this thread for a suburban Container Store is slightly amusing. For a downtown starved of any non-Tower City retail? Yeah, I'm excited about it. Beggars can't be choosy. I really like the look of the repuposed EOG building with the apartments and ground-level, sidewalk-friendly retail.
July 5, 20159 yr a container store would be absolutely ideal retail for downtown or anywhere close it.
July 6, 20159 yr The Walking Company at Beachwood Place was relocated that now leaves three prime spots across from Kate Spade and Michael Kors.
July 10, 20159 yr The Walking Company at Beachwood Place was relocated that now leaves three prime spots across from Kate Spade and Michael Kors. The Walking Company is now next to Nordstrom. The Fur shop is temporarily in the old Skechers space, and word is that the mall muscled Fossil out. The three now vacant spots are to make way for Tommy Bahama, which the mall sees as a potentially huge traffic generator.
July 10, 20159 yr Didn't know it it was better to put this in the retail or restaurant thread. For the purposes of commercial real estate, I think this would qualify as "retail." Wonder where these will pop up... Corner Bakery set to open 13 locations in greater Cleveland market Corner Bakery Cafe is set to make a big impact in the Cleveland market. The restaurant chain — one firmly in the hot fast-casual market — in the second quarter closed a 13-location deal for the Cleveland market. This marks Corner Bakery Cafe’s first area development agreement in Ohio. Don’t expect the restaurant chain to slow down, either. The company says that it plans to double its footprint during the next two years. There are already more than 185 company-owned and franchise Corner Bakery Cafes open. The company also boasts franchise agreements representing commitments for 390 more units. http://www.rejournals.com/2015/04/21/corner-bakery-set-to-open-13-locations-in-greater-cleveland-market/ Still no word of a downtown location.... With dough in hand, developer eyes 13 Corner Bakery Cafe locations Posted: Friday, July 10, 2015 11:00 am | Updated: 11:03 am, Fri Jul 10, 2015. JACQUELINE MITCHELL | STAFF REPORTER [email protected] Corner Bakery Cafe will open 13 locations in Northeast Ohio thanks to an investment decision made by real estate developer Scott Berkowitz of Beachwood and his team of partners. This marks the fast casual restaurant’s first development agreement in Ohio, a deal projected to bring more than 500 jobs to the region in the next six years. “I’m always looking for the next business opportunity,” said Berkowitz. “I’ve been taking a close look at the fast-casual restaurant as an investment. I started doing some research on Corner Bakery and realized if I put a team together I might be able to secure the franchise for Cleveland.” Locations will span as far north as Mentor, as far south as Cuyahoga Falls and east of Interstate 77, said Berkowitz. The chain aims to deliver the atmosphere of a neighborhood café, specializing in sandwiches, soups and salads. MORE: http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/features/nosh/with-dough-in-hand-developer-eyes-corner-bakery-cafe-locations/article_2178e334-24c5-11e5-a2a2-3f6acda6777a.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 10, 20159 yr The Walking Company at Beachwood Place was relocated that now leaves three prime spots across from Kate Spade and Michael Kors. The Walking Company is now next to Nordstrom. The Fur shop is temporarily in the old Skechers space, and word is that the mall muscled Fossil out. The three now vacant spots are to make way for Tommy Bahama, which the mall sees as a potentially huge traffic generator. Ok Tommy Bahama, yes that is big, I am still hoping we see Tory Burch and Burberry next at this mall
July 17, 20159 yr Ikea!! IKEA applies for permit in Brooklyn, new store could open as soon as 2016 http://fox8.com/2015/07/16/ikea-applies-for-permit-in-brooklyn-new-store-could-open-as-soon-as-2016/
July 17, 20159 yr Sorry to burst your bubble... Ikea still studying Brooklyn site, but reports of 2016 store opening are wrong BROOKLYN, Ohio -- Social media was all atwitter Thursday night after a local television station reported that Ikea could start construction soon in the Cleveland area and open a local store in 2016. Sorry to burst your bandblad (that's Swedish furniture-speak for a fancy pillow). But even if Ikea was ready to announce a Cleveland-area store - which it isn't - there's no way the retailer could welcome shoppers to a local warehouse next year. The tizzy started after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office in Buffalo posted a public notice about a potential Ikea project in Brooklyn, where the retailer has been studying 35 acres owned by the city and The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. Read More...
July 20, 20159 yr well, today "Mall Mondays" features the still growing Great Lakes Mall, my childhood mall. It boasts the widest corridor, at 55 feet, of any mall in Ohio. Who knew? lol (though I miss those original "Brutalist" concrete floors :-() http://www.cleveland.com/mentor/index.ssf/2015/07/great_lakes_mall_vintage_photo.html#incart_related_stories http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
July 20, 20159 yr well, today "Mall Mondays" features the still growing Great Lakes Mall, my childhood mall. It boasts the widest corridor, at 55 feet, of any mall in Ohio. Who knew? lol (though I miss those original "Brutalist" concrete floors :-() http://www.cleveland.com/mentor/index.ssf/2015/07/great_lakes_mall_vintage_photo.html#incart_related_stories Thanks for the opportunity to make a bad pun. :evil:
July 21, 20159 yr I rarely venture down the Dillard's wing, so I totally missed this... When did PacSun open at Beachwood?
July 21, 20159 yr Pacsun opened in the last week or so. Finish Line next to it remodeled and took more space. Tommy Bahama "Opening Holiday 2015" sign now up across from Kate Spade.
July 25, 20159 yr The furniture store, Metro Home, is now open downtown in the Residences at 1717 building on E 9th & Superior. As I was walking from the Library to Heinens, I saw that the furniture displays were all set up inside. I figured it wasn't open yet as no announcement had been made, but I saw sales people mulling around so we went in. They said they had opened in the last day or two, and were pleasantly surprised at how many people had stopped in already. I, personally was pleased with the furniture selection there. I'm sure we'll be buying some new furniture from them soon. Super excited to have them in the neighborhood!
July 31, 20159 yr Word is, from a friend in the mall, Chick-fil-A will be leaving Beachwood Mall once their lease is up. They stated that they do just fine, but that the rents have increased so much that they just won't stay and pay that much.
July 31, 20159 yr Word is, from a friend in the mall, Chick-fil-A will be leaving Beachwood Mall once their lease is up. They stated that they do just fine, but that the rents have increased so much that they just won't stay and pay that much. Good riddance! Hopefully all of these moves and updates pay off soon with more upscale retail.
July 31, 20159 yr ^ That's sad news. For most of my life I associated Beachwood Place with Chick-Fil-A, as it was the only place in Cleveland you could find one. My cousins called Beachwood the "chicken ball mall" when we were little.
July 31, 20159 yr Has Chik fil a been there that long?? For some reason I don't remember it from back in the days when the food court was on the first floor and McDonald's was there.
July 31, 20159 yr Has Chik fil a been there that long?? For some reason I don't remember it from back in the days when the food court was on the first floor and McDonald's was there. It's been there for as long as I can remember. I was a west side kid until 2000, so we didn't go to Beachwood much before that, but it's at least been there for 15 years. Edit: I just looked it up. The Beachwood Place Chick-Fil-A was the first in Ohio and it opened in 1979 http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Media/Doc/Openings/Perrysburg-OH-release-Nov-2012.doc
July 31, 20159 yr Chick-Fil-A stores are franchised via owner/operator, so if they are leaving, they either close up their biz for good or (more likely?) move down Cedar or Mayfield, etc.. and build a free standing store. Nearest stores at 271/Harvard in (technically) Warrensville Heights and 91/Euclid in Willoughby. A new freestanding store will cost a ton more than mall rent but offers longer hours, better visibility and drive-thru. Hope mall has a real plan with these high rents and pushing out retailers, if true, as to observers the empty spots and turnover give a "mall is struggling" impression.
July 31, 20159 yr Word is, from a friend in the mall, Chick-fil-A will be leaving Beachwood Mall once their lease is up. They stated that they do just fine, but that the rents have increased so much that they just won't stay and pay that much. Good riddance! Hopefully all of these moves and updates pay off soon with more upscale retail. Dude, it's a food court. I don't think they're courting any Michelin restaurants for its spot, and they shouldn't. It's a loss for the mall which has seen quite a few due to General Growth's negligence in informing them of skyrocketing taxes and frankly a very shortsighted, if not corrupt, school board that pressured both the county board of revision and eventually the board of tax appeals that they wanted MO MONEY!!!! And here's the result: lots of holes in a once thriving mall.
August 3, 20159 yr Chick-Fil-A stores are franchised via owner/operator, so if they are leaving, they either close up their biz for good or (more likely?) move down Cedar or Mayfield, etc.. and build a free standing store. Nearest stores at 271/Harvard in (technically) Warrensville Heights and 91/Euclid in Willoughby. A new freestanding store will cost a ton more than mall rent but offers longer hours, better visibility and drive-thru. Hope mall has a real plan with these high rents and pushing out retailers, if true, as to observers the empty spots and turnover give a "mall is struggling" impression. The one in Macedonia seems to do very well. Chik-fil-a's become politically tinged, and that may impact what locations work for them. These days they and Popeye's seem to be the growth franchises. There's one each in Macedonia and you simply can't find KFC nearby.
August 3, 20159 yr That Chik-Fil-A was the first place I ever ate it, and it's consistently the best. The Harvard one is right around the corner, and I know the owner, and I still prefer the Beachwood place location. Something about the Harvard location is off. The chicken doesn't taste the same. That stinks. Well, maybe they'll replace it with a high end food place, like a walk up French Restaurant, or a fine purveyor of 'craft food'. :roll:
August 3, 20159 yr The one in Macedonia seems to do very well. Chik-fil-a's become politically tinged, and that may impact what locations work for them. This location was always busy, and the one on the Warrensville Heights/Beachwood border does very well, so I don't think that's it. If nothing else, I think it probably has to do with (1) not wanting to be in a mall and pay the high rents and (2) being so close to a free-standing location (the one at Richmond and Harvard is only about 3 miles away and sucks in a lot of the Beachwood office lunch crowd now).
August 4, 20159 yr A friend of mine got his first job in the mid-1990s working at the Beachwood Place Chick-Fil-A. I remember we would often go up there during the summer and harass him and joke about his chicken suit. Not much else to do in the pre-internet, pre-cell phone era. Regardless, I don't really frequent the place, but it does seem to me that it has the name and following that dictates that freestanding locations are probably easier and more accessible for customers. I think having one in a mall is akin to having a Chipotle in a mall.
August 4, 20159 yr A friend of mine got his first job in the mid-1990s working at the Beachwood Place Chick-Fil-A. I remember we would often go up there during the summer and harass him and joke about his chicken suit. Not much else to do in the pre-internet, pre-cell phone era. Regardless, I don't really frequent the place, but it does seem to me that it has the name and following that dictates that freestanding locations are probably easier and more accessible for customers. I think having one in a mall is akin to having a Chipotle in a mall. True, and to a higher degree because Chipotle rarely has a drive thru, and Chik-Fil-A rarely doesn't.
August 4, 20159 yr A friend of mine got his first job in the mid-1990s working at the Beachwood Place Chick-Fil-A. I remember we would often go up there during the summer and harass him and joke about his chicken suit. Not much else to do in the pre-internet, pre-cell phone era. Regardless, I don't really frequent the place, but it does seem to me that it has the name and following that dictates that freestanding locations are probably easier and more accessible for customers. I think having one in a mall is akin to having a Chipotle in a mall. True, and to a higher degree because Chipotle rarely has a drive thru, and Chik-Fil-A rarely doesn't. Yeah, I thought about the drive thru aspect as well, which is also a definite negative for any mall Chik-Fil-A location.
August 4, 20159 yr Not exactly sure if it would fit in that location, but there has been rumors going around the mall that a Panera would be opening for a bit now
August 5, 20159 yr Word is, from a friend in the mall, Chick-fil-A will be leaving Beachwood Mall once their lease is up. They stated that they do just fine, but that the rents have increased so much that they just won't stay and pay that much. Good riddance! Hopefully all of these moves and updates pay off soon with more upscale retail. Dude, it's a food court. I don't think they're courting any Michelin restaurants for its spot, and they shouldn't. It's a loss for the mall which has seen quite a few due to General Growth's negligence in informing them of skyrocketing taxes and frankly a very shortsighted, if not corrupt, school board that pressured both the county board of revision and eventually the board of tax appeals that they wanted MO MONEY!!!! And here's the result: lots of holes in a once thriving mall. Dude, I'm aware. I was speaking of the mall as a whole, not the food court. The storefronts have been updated around the mall and they are moving them around.
August 7, 20159 yr looks like bonobos wants to come to cleveland - help'em out with where! https://mobile.twitter.com/bonobos/status/484744364221280256
August 7, 20159 yr ^ I'm not really familiar with Bonobos, but perhaps they should talk with Stark to be a Nucleus tenant! Or one of the developments on Euclid like the Garfield Building.
August 7, 20159 yr Nice - I'm a fan (wearing one of their shirts as I type this). I've been to one of their stores in the DC area. Unless they've changed their model, the stores are basically just fit shops and then they essentially purchase the order online for you and the items aren't shipped to you. So you don't actually purchase the clothes there. Either way I sure hope they come here.
August 11, 20159 yr ^ yes that is the deal. i recently visited the new lower 5th ave/union sq shop and its the same. they are a online business with this new concept of fitting stores. its an interesting business model. i think another more unique chain that would be a good get is superdry. that one might be good for a tower city setting actually.
August 11, 20159 yr i think another more unique chain that would be a good get is superdry. that one might be good for a tower city setting actually. I love Superdry. I got a great windbreaker/raincoat from them at their Beverly Center store a few years ago. One of my favorite coats for Cleveland weather. One of their stores downtown would do great I'm sure.
August 11, 20159 yr ^ yes exactly! its too youthful for me personally, except for those coats/windbreakers - i love those. its a perfect and unique big chain store for downtown cleveland retail. absolutely.
August 12, 20159 yr Speaking of tower city the 2nd floor (main entrance floor) on the Brooks Brothers side is in severe need of some help. With Jones New York leaving that is 5 vacancies on that side with only 9 stores total on that side including Tower Deli. There are also rumblings that Rainbow clothing store will be leaving potentially 6 vacancies on one side out of 9 storefronts. For that to be the main entrance to the mall and the first thing people see, including tourists, I hope they have a plan in place to attract long term big name tenants.
August 12, 20159 yr Speaking of tower city the 2nd floor (main entrance floor) on the Brooks Brothers side is in severe need of some help. With Jones New York leaving that is 5 vacancies on that side with only 9 stores total on that side including Tower Deli. There are also rumblings that Rainbow clothing store will be leaving potentially 6 vacancies on one side out of 9 storefronts. For that to be the main entrance to the mall and the first thing people see, including tourists, I hope they have a plan in place to attract long term big name tenants. WOW I didn't know it had gotten that bad. I was there soon after it opened in 1990 and it was so impressive. That is very sad. I had hoped that the Casino would help, but people must just not venture out into the mall, or maybe the mall has sunk to the point that it cannot induce people to leave their slots etc.
August 12, 20159 yr Speaking of tower city the 2nd floor (main entrance floor) on the Brooks Brothers side is in severe need of some help. With Jones New York leaving that is 5 vacancies on that side with only 9 stores total on that side including Tower Deli. There are also rumblings that Rainbow clothing store will be leaving potentially 6 vacancies on one side out of 9 storefronts. For that to be the main entrance to the mall and the first thing people see, including tourists, I hope they have a plan in place to attract long term big name tenants. It is unfortunate. Unfortunately, I don't think TC will be able to capitalize on the recent increase in population downtown; there just isn't a draw right now. I remember coming there in the late 90's/early 00's and seeing the dancing fountain choreographed to music, plenty of crowds, and few empty storefronts. I still hold out hope that they will be able to attract more stores and more clientele.
August 12, 20159 yr Personally I think the issue is the property is just not marketed properly (like at all). People who work near the mall and go there a small items, or lunch occasionally (like me) know the condition and know its not scary or unsafe. Others I've spoken to have an image of a dark decrepit, declining and dangerous mall. It does need a renovation, it does need anchor tenants and it needs to be advertised.
August 12, 20159 yr As long as Forest City runs it, it will continue to fail. Someone needs to step in and buy it ASAP, put in some $$$ on a major overhaul, and I really do believe it can be a success. Sadly so far everything has just been rumors of a new owner... Hopefully soon
August 12, 20159 yr I feel it can be successful again as well. You would be hard pressed to find another mall with original marble floors, and gold finishes. As well as a train station underground, with two hotels attatched (one of which holds the various sports athletes.) In addition to that a surrounding population of 14,000 and growing (not including the immediate west and east side population along with a downtown work population of around 100,000. Not to mention it has a connection to an office tower itself, a casino and two sports arenas. The point is there are too many positive and unique factors for tower city to not be able to at least become a mid range mall, somewhat similar to the line up of great lakes mall.
August 12, 20159 yr I really loved going to Tower City in the 1990s, making my parents take me to the Disney Store among other places. Even now when I ride the train down I enjoy strolling around, maybe grabbing some food before heading to a Cavs or Tribe game. But I'm also not as bullish as some of you. I think that there are accessibility issues (by car) for shoppers that don't really exist in other malls and yes the perceived safety concerns present a challenge. It's probably more convenient for downtown workers at least to head back home and do their shopping at their "neighborhood" mall. But beyond even that, the retail model in this country seems to be changing quickly with an increasing number of people shopping online. That's a growing challenge for shopping centers everywhere in the region and nationwide, not just Tower City.
August 12, 20159 yr I really loved going to Tower City in the 1990s, making my parents take me to the Disney Store among other places. Even now when I ride the train down I enjoy strolling around, maybe grabbing some food before heading to a Cavs or Tribe game. But I'm also not as bullish as some of you. I think that there are accessibility issues (by car) for shoppers that don't really exist in other malls and yes the perceived safety concerns present a challenge. It's probably more convenient for downtown workers at least to head back home and do their shopping at their "neighborhood" mall. But beyond even that, the retail model in this country seems to be changing quickly with an increasing number of people shopping online. That's a growing challenge for shopping centers everywhere in the region and nationwide, not just Tower City. During the late 90s I would literally drive downtown at lunch time from west Maple Heights rather than go to Randall. Better food, better stores, and much better "scenery", that last part meaning it was popular with office workers. Now, they face several challenges. Indoor malls in general have problems gracefully controlling loitering, and those on lots of transit lines feel this more than others. TC also has safety perception problems, and of course a little bit of decline feeds more and more decline. Plus, as you say, online shopping is becoming more and more prevalent.
August 20, 20159 yr I was disappointed Jones New York went out. I think the security issue of TC is overblown. It is a women's clothing store and it was near the Public Sq entrance next to Brooks Bros and (indoor) accessible to 2 above-avg to high end hotels. Do you think women are thinking they're going to get hit over the head by some punk who's going to hop on the Rapid to escape? During the day, TC is humming with activity and there are TC security plus some Cleveland cops that are visible throughout the mall. It's pretty much like Beachwood Place, South Park or any other mall, just more urban with a lot more people in business attire. Downtown is in a renaissance period that's widely been publicized locally and nationally; more people are living downtown and more are coming down for food and entertainment. The problem legit stores like JNY face is more geared to Forest City's poor management and lack of promotion than irrational fears of crime. With that kind of mentality, no retail will be successful downtown because poor people and the homeless, including young kids of color (the biggest fear for E Rocc and others of this mentality) are all over downtown. If you eat at Chipotle and sit in the window, you'll see such individuals pour off the HL, for example, at 2nd & Euclid every time and inbound bus comes into Public Sq. Bottom line is that somebody needs to take TC off FCE's hands ... immediately, or this negative retail momentum will not turn around.
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