I was just thinking recently why doesn't downtown Cleveland have a 24-hour Denny's, or Perkins, or IHOP, or Bob Evans or -- for that matter any restaurant that's open 24 hours ? ? ? ?

 

A friend of mine was coming in from Chicago on Amtrak at 4 a.m. on a Saturday. He asked me what restaurants were open 24 hours downtown. That way, he could get breakfast and kill some time while waiting for the first outbound bus to my neighborhood at 6 a.m. After all, I have three 24-hour restaurants in my neighborhood (Gold Coast/West 117th), so I figured there had to be at least one downtown.

 

Not according to Cleveland.com's restaurant listing. The best option for him would have been to head over to Starbucks on West 6th and wait for it to open at 5 a.m. It was rather embarassing for me to tell him we don't have a 24-hour restaurant downtown. As it turned out, the train was four hours late and the point became moot!

 

So, I ask, if we want a 24-hour downtown, wouldn't it be helpful to have at least one restaurant open 24 hours? And, I figure, why not try to get a brand of restaurant that is typically open 24 hours in other parts of the metro area like a Denny's or Perkins or....whatever!

 

That's my question of "Why doesn't downtown Cleveland have.... ?" What's yours?

That's my question of "Why doesn't downtown Cleveland have.... ?"

I've probably answered everyones question with mine!  lol  I spent 15 minutes on this....next!

 

Local Stuff

American Greeting Kiosk

Central Market

Grocery Store

A Subway (as in mass transit)

A Bakery

 

Retail

Paul Smith

Comp USA

Haagen-Dazs

Express

Aeropostale

Finish Line

Cheesecake Factory

Applebees

Red Lobster

Charley's Crab

Palm One Store

off 5th

Nordstroms Rack

Kmart

JC Penney

DSW

Restoration Hardware

Zara

Tommy Bahama

Fossil

LL Bean

Bobbi Brown

Linens' and things

Toys R Us

Lego

Johnston & Murphy

Oakly

Tiffany

Jamba Juice

BCBG

Harvey Nick's

Prada

Kenneth Cole

Fresh

Polo Ralph Lauren/Polo

TJ Saks

Burlington Coat Factory

West Elm

William-Sonoma

Banana Republic

Puma

Kenneth Cole

Original Pancake

Joan & David

Versace

Krizia

Armani

Valentino

Barney's

DKNY

Calvin Klein

Tods

Crate & Barrel

Bally's

H&M

J Crew

Bose

Apple Store

Nike Town

Feragomo

Addidas

Bloomingales

Diesel

Lucky Brand

Anthropologie

Cartier

Coach

French Connection

Judith Leiber

Kate Spade

Louis Vuitton

Metropark

Montblanc

Oakley

PacSun

Solstice

Swarovski Crystal

TOUS

Gymboree

Jacadi

Buster Brown

Aveda tore

Kiehl's

L'Occitane

MAC Cosmetics

Neiman Marcus

Sephora

The Art of Shaving

Vidal Sassoon

Urban outfiters

Coach

David Yurman

Burberry

Club Monaco

French Connection

Hermes

Hollister Co.

Benetton

Guess

zegna

Filene's

Marshall's

Staples

Circuit City

Best Buy

Tar-Je (Target)

Original House of Pancakes

Pet Smart

Thomas Pink

Tourneau

Davidoff 

Stuart Weitzman

Cache

Tumi

Crabtree & Evelyn

FACE Stockholm

L'Occitane

Joseph Abboud

Cole Haan

Eileen Fisher

Borders

Sisley

A|X Armani Exchange

BOSE

Montmartre

Samsung

Express

Clarins

Design within Reach

Smith and Hawken

GHURKA

Furla

Leron Linens (simply fabulous!!!)

Frette

La Perla

An After Midnight Bar (Rande Gerber bar)

 

Hotels

Conrad

Hilton

Doubletree

Homewood

 

Park Hyatt

Grand Hyatt

 

JW Marriott

Courtyard

 

Holiday Inn(full service)

 

Four Season

 

Penisula

 

Mandarin Oriental

 

Klimpton Hotel

 

Loews Hotel

 

Omni Hotel

 

St. Regis

Westin

Sheraton

Aloft by W

W Hotel

 

Sofitel

 

 

There is an American Greetings store in tower city. Thats it.

There is an American Greetings store in tower city. Thats it.

 

I'm talking street kiosk, where people could take  picture and send a greeting card with a picture of themselves, ive and direct(from Playhouse Square; TowerCity; RRHoF; East 4th Street; the Westside Market, University Circle, Edgewater Park; Shaker Square, etc.) to someone .  Kodak/Fuji and american greeting could partner.  the Kiosk could have a payphone, history of the area; maps of the area that give and information on that area, they could even be attached to bus stops.

Well we'll need a huge population down there to support all of that. Some if those may come along with the stark development, while I ve got to believe some retailers will return to the vacant storefronts. (Wishful thinking).

Stores of any sort.

How is Tower place doing these days? I remember they had a thing on CNN about how Cleveland and Cincinnati was booming in the early 90's with the opening of Towerplace and Cincinnati's Scripps center.

The adult bookstore is open 24/7.  Maybe they have something you could eat?

there is a johnston and murphy in TC. 

 

we could also use a baja fresh.  i think a baja fresh / jamba juice combo would make a killing.  unfortunately, the real estate people at both of these places don't think so (and i've contacted them consistently for the past 2 years). 

 

it does suck not to have a 24/7 place downtown though. 

Grocery Store

A Subway (as in mass transit)

A Bakery

 

I'm not too disappointed with the grocery store situation downtown right now. You've got Constantino's in the Warehouse District and the expanding grocery store in Reserve Square. Plus, with Dave's in Ohio City and in Chinatown, it's not a huge gaping hole in the market. Granted, it would be great to have a full-service grocery store on Public Square or near East 4th, but I don't consider the grocery store situation to be an outright omission anymore.

 

A subway, yeah that's a toughie.

 

The bakery situation isn't as glaring as it used to be either. Aladdin's Bakery and Market at 1301 Carnegie is a terrific asset for downtown. Plus, the West Side Market is only the next station west on the Red Line from Tower City Center. And, Constantino's makes a lot of its own baked goods (and prepared meals for take-out or eat-in).

 

Any basic services missing downtown? I remember someone saying that downtown lacked a real good gym/recreation center. But I thought the Cleveland Athletic Club was decent, and there's the new gym at CSU.

Grocery Store

A Subway (as in mass transit)

A Bakery

 

I'm not too disappointed with the grocery store situation downtown right now. You've got Constantino's in the Warehouse District and the expanding grocery store in Reserve Square. Plus, with Dave's in Ohio City and in Chinatown, it's not a huge gaping hole in the market. Granted, it would be great to have a full-service grocery store on Public Square or near East 4th, but I don't consider the grocery store situation to be an outright omission anymore.

 

A subway, yeah that's a toughie.

 

The bakery situation isn't as glaring as it used to be either. Aladdin's Bakery and Market at 1301 Carnegie is a terrific asset for downtown. Plus, the West Side Market is only the next station west on the Red Line from Tower City Center. And, Constantino's makes a lot of its own baked goods (and prepared meals for take-out or eat-in).

 

Any basic services missing downtown? I remember someone saying that downtown lacked a real good gym/recreation center. But I thought the Cleveland Athletic Club was decent, and there's the new gym at CSU.

 

We have 4/5 small to medium stores, and the WSM but not a a full service 24 grocer.  I realize that the RS store is expanding, but not sure what the overall impact is yet to be determine.  Also, I'm pissed that Hough bakery is gone!  I was crushed, that sugar cookies with sprinkles were taken away from me! :cry: :cry:

 

I regards to gyms there the CAC, gym at one cleveland center and Rezults

The big things that are missing imo:

 

24 hour diner/coffeeshop

large bookstore

department store/discount department store

used record store

an assortment of inexpensive ethnic restaurants

 

Obviously all of the above should be open not only as late as, but later than the average suburban store

 

I also wish the following were open later and/or on weekends

Convenient stores

Grocery stores

Gym/health clubs

Banks

Most of the lunch-hour only restaurants

Donut shops

Tower City

Yeah I think it would be real cool to have tower city open 24 hours. (Other than just the train station). I think one of the restaurants that recently closed because of Euclid Corridor construction was 24 yours before having to cut hours and eventually close. As of now the only hope we have of a 24 hour Denny's type spot anywhere near downtown is the new Steak and Shake opening in SYC. :-(

 

 

There is also a Mac cosmetics at TC.

 

I mentioned Neiman Marcus in the past and said they were evaluating greater Cleveland, but said they would most likely locate in Beachwood. They said they were evaluating the city in 2006. I haven't heard anything so they either moved on or are in secret negotiation. :-P

 

I think KJP mentioned Stark saying something abnout Bloomingdale's. If Stark wants to open parts of Phase one of Pesht by 2009 or 2010, I would think he would need to start construction like now, which means hopefully we'll be getting some names of some of the stores that will be leasing space this year.

 

That said as people continue to move down there the city should market DT as the hippest place to be. That should attract more people and more private investment in the form of retail, restaurants and 24 hour places.

 

X, I forgot about the large bookstore!

Yeah I think it would be real cool to have tower city open 24 hours. (Other than just the train station). I think one of the restaurants that recently closed because of Euclid Corridor construction was 24 yours before having to cut hours and eventually close. As of now the only hope we have of a 24 hour Denny's type spot anywhere near downtown is the new Steak and Shake opening in SYC. :-(

 

 

There is also a Mac cosmetics at TC.

 

I mentioned Neiman Marcus in the past and said they were evaluating greater Cleveland, but said they would most likely locate in Beachwood. They said they were evaluating the city in 2006. I haven't heard anything so they either moved on or are in secret negotiation. :-P

 

I think KJP mentioned Stark saying something abnout Bloomingdale's. If Stark wants to open parts of Phase one of Pesht by 2009 or 2010, I would think he would need to start construction like now, which means hopefully we'll be getting some names of some of the stores that will be leasing space this year.

 

That said as people continue to move down there the city should market DT as the hippest place to be. That should attract more people and more private investment in the form of retail, restaurants and 24 hour places.

 

 

Most stores on my initial list were just typed. 

 

IIRC, NM has first rights to downtown Cleveland, so if the expansion of TC (yeah right) happens I would expect them to be a desired tenant.

 

Beachwood had a NM Fine art gallery and at this point NM (in my opinion) would not be a good fit to Beachwood since Saks is already there.  In this market Saks and NM would canablize each other in the same mall.  Best case scenario, Saks expands and upgrade the selection.  Beachwood is better off expanding the stand alone store inventory.  Beachwood with a Saks (luxury tier) and Nordstrom (upper tier) are a good mix.

 

Now a Needless Markup (luxury) and a Bloomies (upper tier) downtown would be perfect since there is a mix of residents, in DT proper as well as the growing adacent nabes, surely tourist (think TC when it first opened - PACKED) and DT proper and workers.  Hell, I even think a Barneys (luxury) could do well again in DT.  A Borders downtown also is a must have!

 

 

"Back in the day" we always ended a late night drinking session downtown with a stop at the Best Steak and Gyro's on Euclid Ave by CSU, which was downtown's only 24 hour restaurant that I know of.  It closed this past fall due to construction on Euclid Corridor, and its contents were auctioned off.  Here's a quote from its owner (courtesy Cleveland.com):

 

"There's no way I can stay downtown," Sarris said. "When I first moved to Cleveland, the economy was beautiful. In those days, if you worked hard, you could make it. Today, you work hard and you can't even pay your bills."

 

I know that the Campus Partners project in Columbus was controversial, but I'd like to see something with streetfront retail, a nice bookstore, and restaurants succeed near CSU (The University District, anyone? - "The Quadrangle" has always sounded like a stupid name for a neighborhood to me)

"Back in the day" we always ended a late night drinking session downtown with a stop at the Best Steak and Gyro's on Euclid Ave by CSU, which was downtown's only 24 hour restaurant that I know of.  It closed this past fall due to construction on Euclid Corridor, and its contents were auctioned off.  Here's a quote from its owner (courtesy Cleveland.com):

 

"There's no way I can stay downtown," Sarris said. "When I first moved to Cleveland, the economy was beautiful. In those days, if you worked hard, you could make it. Today, you work hard and you can't even pay your bills."

 

I know that the Campus Partners project in Columbus was controversial, but I'd like to see something with streetfront retail, a nice bookstore, and restaurants succeed near CSU (The University District, anyone? - "The Quadrangle" has always sounded like a stupid name for a neighborhood to me)

 

The quadrangle is designation for several various neighborhoods.

X, forget about the large bookstore!

 

Wait....Is this something that's coming because that would just be fantastic!

 

And can we get a Bloomingdales like this one?

 

 

I <3 that look.

Jamiec.  The SoHo Bloomies is exactly why I stated, what I did earlier.  Thanks for a the pic.

 

However, a larger bloomingdales (since they have a larger assortment of price points and larger brand assortment) can appeal to more people and a smaller NM and or Barney's would fit perfect.

MTS your post does make since. When I talked with a NM person he said there main worry was if Cleveland could support Saks and Neimans. I don't see why it couldn't if a city like St Louis (little smaller than Cleveland) could support both stores and more. Anyway He also said they look at markets when "development opportunities arise", makes me wonder. It would be nice to have at least two upper market retail districts in the city.

 

That said I hope the rest of the retail, will cater to a more diversifies crowd so not only that people outside the well off can find what they are looking for in DT.

 

We also need a REAL Amtrak station downtown not that shack.

 

Isn't a large bookstore part of Wolstein's plan?

Wait....Is this something that's coming because that would just be fantastic!

 

Sorry for leading you on. I mistyped. Speaking of which, I think Mov2Ohio is correct, that a bookstore was proposed as part of Wolstein's plan.

It blows my mind there isn't a Chipotle downtown yet.

 

Couple folks mentioned gyms -- Rezults in Tower City is the best IMO. I've also belonged to the CAC and the Colonial Marketplace Fit Works.. I tried the gym at One Cleveland a few times and was unimpressed (it does have a pool, though). CAC I left because even with the downtown residency discount it's still more expensive than it should be. I've since heard from other members they're going through an especially rough time and there are some real questions as to whether it's going to make it. Apparently they're pressuring members to pay additional fees above and beyond the quarterly food minimums and monthly enrollment fees just to keep afloat. Supposedly they stooped so low as to keep the majority of money raised at a charity benefit for one of the workers that suffered a stroke (although that was the prior owners and was somewhat remedied when they were busted after the books were opened).

 

 

 

 

Wait....Is this something that's coming because that would just be fantastic!

 

Sorry for leading you on. I mistyped. Speaking of which, I think Mov2Ohio is correct, that a bookstore was proposed as part of Wolstein's plan.

 

Bahh!!!

MTS your post does make since. When I talked with a NM person he said there main worry was if Cleveland could support Saks and Neimans. I don't see why it couldn't if a city like St Louis (little smaller than Cleveland) could support both stores and more. Anyway He also said they look at markets when "development opportunities arise", makes me wonder. It would be nice to have at least two upper market retail districts in the city.

 

Thats rubbish.  Beachwood and Downtown are far enough away to support more than one luxury good dependant department store.  Without high jacking the thread, I'll say----

 

I want everyone to think about this.  From a very very reliable inside source at NM.  NM was approached for TowerCity, the Mgmt. was put off by the indecision and the RRHoF mess.  But they still wanted into the market (note:  Cleveland is the no. 1 city in the country for people to buy lux goods via the internet/catalog or go to CHI or NYC to shop.  The No. 2 reason for travelers from Cleveland to go to CHI or NYC is shopping, right behind business purposes.) as there is a large market.  The early success of TC can be emulated, with the right mix of stores, TC was too HIGH END for the time.

 

This is the kicker, when Dillards closed, nobody tried to get NM to move there...and NM knew the space was available.  Thus they feel that they were not seriously wanted.  That tid bit got around, thus making FC appear not to be serious about expanding the nice collection of stores in a profittable TC, therefore shooting themselves in the foot, since they have not tried to bring in a new "anchor" tenant nor keep the retailers first brought in.   

 

Lastly, not all stores in TC left because of bad sales, (Politix, Joan & David and LV to mention a few; Gucci over expanded and built stores in the old mottif right at the same time Tom Ford was coming on) some left because of their own financial issues (Barney's (they closed 5 stores), Vittadini, went bankrupt).  IIRC, Beachwood had three years of declining sales after TC arrived on the scene.

JAX is right on target about CAC. They are in a serious financial crisis and will probably close sometime in 2007. The sale of the building fell through....again and the city didn't follow through with a promised renovation loan. It needs to raise 1.2 million just to keep its doors open and the club needs an addition 200k to finish its renovations. The club lost 600 members in the last 6 years, it currently has about 700 members.

The club could be a great asset for downtown if it were properly managed, I always thought condos on floors 2-5 would work

-- is it too much to ask for a friggin' 24-hour drug store (like the old Leader Drug Store on E. 9th & St Clair)?  I can't believe, w/ all the E. 4th Street activity, esp the boom created by Corner Alley, Lola's and HOB, that CVS at 9th & Euclid still closes at 6p every night.  I mean, is this Podunk or what? 

 

And yes, Wolstein is planning a bookstore.  But why does that have to be the only one downtown?  And even when Wolstein's opens -- several years into the future -- it'll still be off the beaten path of the core of downtown which, still, centers around Public Square, Gateway and WHD.  I for one think at least a small grocery store -- even a 7-11/Convenient Food Mart-type deli would be excellent for one of those empty slots in 515 Euclid.

 

That said, I do kinda like Jake's on Public Sq.  Though small, it has a New York feel about it and does stay open pretty late.

 

^^ And yes, Mov2Oiho, I'm getting a bit antsy about the Stark talk and no plans/action, yet, and we're into 2007... Neither City Council nor the Planning Commision still has yet to be approached by Stark's people re his specifics -- am I wrong? And yet, as of last Oct, the man was still talking as if he's planning to open portions of his development by 2008.  How?...  It's all well and good to talk big about plans to stretch development to the Lake, but right now, I'd high-5 the man if he could get going with something, anything, within the horrible hole btw Public Sq and the WHD... You can't build Rome in a day, and as developers go, Stark is still a little guy, relatively speaking.  And right now, he's deeply involved with presenting a massive (admirable) TOD proposal for the end of the Blue Line in Shaker Hts.

Neither City Council nor the Planning Commision still has yet to be approached by Stark's people re his specifics -- am I wrong?

 

OK, since MTS let one out of the bag regarding Nieman Marcus (thanks, MTS -- interesting stuff), I'll let a hint out....

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=2591.msg154686#msg154686

-- is it too much to ask for a friggin' 24-hour drug store (like the old Leader Drug Store on E. 9th & St Clair)?  I can't believe, w/ all the E. 4th Street activity, esp the boom created by Corner Alley, Lola's and HOB, that CVS at 9th & Euclid still closes at 6p every night.  I mean, is this Podunk or what? 

 

AMEN!  AMEN!!!  Leader Drug was a hoot at 3 AM....the customers were real characters!  LOL

I wonder if that news stand/small convience store in TC between The Mall and the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel could be persuaded to stay open 24 hours. It would seem like a nice fit for people catching a bus or train in the early morning hours.

OK. Let me be more descriptive!

 

I wish downtown Cleveland had a bar like this http://www.vigbar.com

 

When I lived in NYC, this was were we went all the time. It's was small and just sort of "chill." You didn't need to dance around or anything like that. I personally don't like clubs so this fits my personality more. I wish there was little places like this around.

^ That sort of reminds me of the Velvet Tango Room in Ohio City (well, actually Duck Island.)

That place looks a little like Mars Bar in Lakewood (at Madison and Mars avenues). Alvie's downtown on Ontario was like that too. But I think that's the Ontario Cafe today. I haven't been in there since I graduated from college.

I'll have to check those places out!

 

I like the Warehouse District and E.4, but I'd prefer a place that was just really laid back. Maybe Pesht will help fix this, too. Those parking lots kill some of the vibe for me.

^Bah! I live across the street from vigbar's other location and wish it nothing but agonizing pain, with its late night garbage pick up and loud smokers and line waiters.

 

I wish there were more old-timey bars/taverns left downtown.

^ That sort of reminds me of the Velvet Tango Room in Ohio City (well, actually Duck Island.)

 

technically duck island is part of Industrial valley.

^Bah! I live across the street from vigbar's other location and wish it nothing but agonizing pain, with its late night garbage pick up and loud smokers and line waiters.

 

I wish there were more old-timey bars/taverns left downtown.

 

Maybe you should move back to Cleveland....

^ That sort of reminds me of the Velvet Tango Room in Ohio City (well, actually Duck Island.)

 

technically duck island is part of Industrial valley.

 

he was referring to the bar in tremont:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=46550596

 

i went there once, as i recall it's in a house and i thought it was mellow & very cool. is it still in existence? i've been to vig bar too in nolita in manhattan, yes it does remind me of that. yes, downtown needs a less bar-ish, mellower, loungey hang-out bar like these. not sure if pesht could provide that vibe as it kind of begs for a old space.

i didn't care what he was referencing to, he implied that Duck island is part of ohio city.

why doesn't downtown cleveland have:

 

- convienently located (or any really) recycling containers for residents/visitors/transit users - that are within walking distance of large population clusters. 

- unified approach to streetscape, signage and amenities (tashcans, benches)

i didn't care what he was referencing to, he implied that Duck island is part of ohio city.

 

No, I didn't.  The bar is so close to Ohio City that people often think that it's there, when it's actually in Duck Island.

i didn't care what he was referencing to, he implied that Duck island is part of ohio city.

 

its not industrial valley duck island either, he's talking about the tremont bar. yes vtr is also in tremont not oc.

 

i didn't care what he was referencing to, he implied that Duck island is part of ohio city.

 

No, I didn't.  The bar is so close to Ohio City that people often think that it's there, when it's actually in Duck Island.

 

wait a sec -- hmmm, now im just confused...so im out. heh. but if anyone can explain...slowly...thx!

 

OK. Let me be more descriptive!

 

I wish downtown Cleveland had a bar like this http://www.vigbar.com

 

When I lived in NYC, this was were we went all the time. It's was small and just sort of "chill." You didn't need to dance around or anything like that. I personally don't like clubs so this fits my personality more. I wish there was little places like this around.

 

Jamie, isn't there a new club like this in the WHD around near where the 6th St market used to be?

i didn't care what he was referencing to, he implied that Duck island is part of ohio city.

 

its not industrial valley duck island either, he's talking about the tremont bar. yes vtr is also in tremont not oc.

 

i didn't care what he was referencing to, he implied that Duck island is part of ohio city.

 

No, I didn't.  The bar is so close to Ohio City that people often think that it's there, when it's actually in Duck Island.

 

wait a sec -- hmmm, now im just confused...so im out. heh. but if anyone can explain...slowly...thx!

 

What /where is Duck Island?  I've never heard of this neighborhood.

 

it is between ohio city and tremont. can you picture the w.25th rapid station? its the small little neighborhood just behind it.

it is between ohio city and tremont. can you picture the w.25th rapid station? its the small little neighborhood just behind it.

 

just to confuse things, or make them interesting? -- ive also seen that area called west tremont.

 

http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/around_town/map/neighborhood/industrial_valley.swf

The pics of the Vig Bar reminded me a little of Touch (Lorain & W. 28th) as well.  New York is feels so CLEVELAND!

 

I agree with the first post of this thread (and many thereafter) that we could use a 24-hour spot Downtown.  There isn't even one in Ohio City, for what I can tell.  I love that the diner at the Shaker Square rapid station is still open 24 hours (anyone ever been there late at night?).  You'd think that with all the hotels and late-night clubbers and the growing residential population that a 24-hour spot would be viable. 

 

Back in the late-nineties, just after I turned 21, I spent the entire night Downtown.  We took the rapid down to the flats from Shaker and thought it was running until 2 AM.  Turns out it stopped doing that after Labor day and we were stuck and didn't feel like paying for a cab.  We found out that the first train from Tower City was supposed to leave at 5:30, so we went back to the WHD and hung out at the Drip Stick, which was open until around 4 or so.  They closed the doors, but let us stay because the guy who was running it had to be back at 6:30 to open, so he juts crashed on a couch.  Around 5:00, we went back to Tower City and found out that the first train left the E. 55th Street yard at 5:30 and didn't leave Tower City until about a half-hour later!  We gave up a paid for a cab...

... an internet cafe.

internet cafes still exist?

CPL has decent public internet computer terminals.. Just make sure Carl Monday isn't lurking in the stacks.

 

Tower City used to, but that seemed ill-concenceived from the start.