not sure what you've been reading..........

No, it's true - there was an article in a Pittsburgh paper about a Nordstrom opening at Ross Park Mall, much to the delight of Pittsburghers who used to trek to Beachwood with Nordstrom being the primary reason for their trip.

^ Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Whole Foods, American Apparel, Kenneth Cole, etc. are stores that look for a large metro area to open up.  In the following article...

 

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/business/158775

 

they quote "Ikea typically looks at cities with about 2 million people for one store, said Joseph Roth, an Ikea spokesman."  (And in the context of the article, by "cities" they clearly mean "metro areas".)  I would think that Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Northeast Ohio (whether that be Cleveland or Canton/Akron) could all support an Ikea based on the current business model.  I am surprised that they don't seem to be looking here.

 

Kenneth Cole?  American Apparel?  Child....    :roll: :roll:

thank you, pope

Excerpt from the article found at this link: http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/1999/11/01/focus3.html

 

and this is from '99!

 

Regardless of not having a store in Western Pennsylvania, Nordstrom is indeed a shopping destination for Pittsburghers.

 

In fact, the retailer is now in the midst of its second year of a special service where it buses anywhere from 75 to 150 Pittsburghers three times a year to its store in Beechwood, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland.

 

What makes the bus trips from Pittsburgh to Beechwood unique is that the Seattle retailer only offers this service at some of its stores where there is demand.

 

In the case of Beechwood, there are enough Pittsburghers willing to take the two-hour trek to make the service worthwhile.

 

"Every store is different, depending on the community," said Tracy Lacrosse, a Nordstrom's spokeswoman. "Beechwood offers the bus trips because of the proximity. We have a great location in Beechwood Place and can reach out to neighborhoods in the east, north, south and west."

 

It helps that the Beechwood store, which Nordstrom opened in 1997, is the closest location the Seattle retailer has to the Pittsburgh area.

 

 

I won't even drive to Cleveland Heights to go to American Apparel. No offense to any AA fans, (I've purchased a t-shirt there!) but that place looks like "To Catch a Predator" attire. Velvet daisy duke jogging shorts for guys freaks me out, I'm sorry.

 

Musky makes a good point about IKEA and Lake Erie. That store is played out anyway, imho. I say that mostly because my  apartment is a mish-mash of furniture hand-me-downs and DIY projects that that modern stuff would never work with, haha.

 

OH YES, what I purchased at Marshalls: Tie from from Jones NY; dress shirt from the Sean John (that tailored line he sells) and then a dress shirt from some Kenneth Cole sub-brand I've never heard of... $30+ tax. I'm very happy with the tie and Sean John shirt, but I took a chance with the Kenneth Cole shirt which is 25% synthetic fabric, and that was a waste of $10. It's too baggy, too. I learned my lesson. I also finally figured my shirt size out. Put a TJ Maxx down there!

My point about those other stores are that they are ones which they usually only put a couple per state, and for which the company's require large populations before they will consider a location.

 

Regardless of how far people have to drive to get to a place, Ikea stated they look for a metro area of 2 million people.  Obviously, we have that beat.  Even if people only came to Cleveland from the Cleveland and Akron/Canton MSA's, we'd have 3 million people within range of an Ikea right there.  Add to that all of the people closer to Cleveland than Detroit or Pittsburgh (or I believe Cincinnati will have one) and you have a pretty large customer base.

 

Just because some people will drive to Pittsburgh doesn't mean that we couldn't support a store.  I would be willing to bet 90% of the shoppers at an Ikea in Cleveland would be people who would not make a trek to Pittsburgh or Detroit to shop at one.  I, for example, would fit into that group.

Kenneth Cole?  American Apparel?  Child....    :roll: :roll:

 

Read the article.  I simply picked out the stores we have which are stated to be ones which will only open in major markets.  I was using them to point out that we can support major market stores such as an Ikea.  If you have enough people in the area, you don't need to rely on people who would have to drive over 2 hours to get to the store.

 

I wonder how an Ikea survives on Long Island?  The Atlantic Ocean must buy a lot of furniture.

^ I think people reacted negatively to the idea of IKEA in Cleveland because it seemed the ruled us out for the immediate future when they picked the Cincy-area location for expansion. They seem to have some very stringent criteria for placing stores. Maybe that'll change, ala H&M, but I would argue that that retailer is in danger of making itself a commodity.

I guess I don't get what Ikea's strategy is.  If they want regional stores which serve an area within 2 hours drive, then why do they have 2 DC stores, 1 in Baltimore, and 1 in South Philly.  I would think 1 in DC and 1 in Philly would have more than covered that area if the company doesn't see a need for an Ikea to serve northern Ohio.

Old Brooklyn News:

 

Steelyard Commons

 

The newest stores at Steelyard Commons are Old Navy which opened on July 25th and the Chipotle restaurant which opened on July 27th. This month, Alltel is scheduled to open on August 6th, International House of Panckes IHOP is scheduled to open on August 13th and Rue 21 is scheduled to open on August 31st. They joined – or will join — The Home Depot, Target, Famous Footwear, Deals, PETCO, Sally Beauty, Best Buy, Payless Shoe Source, Staples, Radio Shack, T-Mobile, Kay Jewelers, Marshalls, Great Clips, Nail Lacquer, DOTS, Game Stop and Rainbow Apparel.

 

Phase I of Steelyard Commons still offers space availability. This includes one anchor space of 22,410 square feet, some small shop space at sizes up to 8,656 square feet, and lots from .75 acre to 4.12 acres.

 

Phase II of Steelyard Commons is now leasing anchor space in sizes up to 250,000 square feet. If you would like more information on Steelyard commons, visit www.steelyardcommons.com

 

In the months to come, the Old Brooklyn News will keep you updated as to what stores have opened and what stores are scheduled to open; stores to come include Starbucks, Avenue, GNC, Wal-Mart Super Center, Jimmy John’s, Applebee’s, Burger King, Steak ‘n Shake and Chick-fil-A. Most of these stores will be open by 2008.

The Towpath dedication is coming up.....September 4th?????

sounds like SYC is doing good business.  the xmas holiday season will be a true test. 

I try to come to terms with this place...in the end when I need a bag of premium cat food, or a Target visit, I am deeply grateful I don't need to drive to rocky river and put money in suburban coffers. I think they are doing quite well. I just wish the walmart was a no go. its possible we are more savvy than the giant thinks and they wont do so well.

I noticed today that bike racks were installed yesterday along the Towpath in Steelyard Commons.  So all of you cyclists now have a place to park your bikes!  I don't know if there are racks near the stores, so you may have to haul all of the things you buy through the parking lot to your bike, though.

The Towpath dedication is coming up.....September 4th?????

 

Yes, at 10:30 a.m. North end of the Home Depot.

The Plain Dealer:

 

Developer hailed for trail

 

Local dignitaries gathered Tuesday at the Steelyard Commons shopping center to hail the developer's $1 million investment in the multicounty Towpath Trail. U.S. Sen. George Voinovich and Mayor Frank Jackson thanked Mitchell Schneider, whose First Interstate Properties Ltd. built a one-mile stretch of the trail and two tunnels through Steelyard Commons. That section, between Jennings and Quigley roads, opened in May. The Steelyard Commons stretch is part of the unfinished six-mile link between the trail's end at Harvard Avenue and downtown Cleveland, which is scheduled for completion by 2014. Local, state and federal officials are tapping a variety of revenue sources to finance the downtown link, whose cost is estimated at $48 million.

 

On the radio yesterday they were playing a quote from Voinovich over and over. He told Jackson this must mean as much to the mayor as the announcement to locate BP America World Headquarters in Cleveland meant to Voinovich. Sounded like a slap in the face to me.

And then the BP World Headquarters left. That's like me bragging 20 years later about dating a bikini model who dumped me.

I was at the ceremony yesterday morning, and when I heard the quote from Voinovich about BP, I thought "that's not exactly the best example to use."

And then the BP World Headquarters left. That's like me bragging 20 years later about dating a bikini model who dumped me.

 

and she's fat, has three kids and lost a foot to diabetes

Maybe he was clumisly trying to say, this might rank with Mayor Jackson's proudest moments as mayor.  I did not hear it, so it is easier to give the benefit of the doubt.

Wasn't Mayor Jane Campbell the one responsible for bringing Steelyards Commons to Cleveland?  Didn't city council do everything they could to try and kill the project?  Wasn't Frank Jackson president of city council at the time?  I like Frank Jackson, but this situation seems odd.

Ricky Davis is looking to be Jackson's greates accomplishment since winning that election!

I don't know if this was mentioned elsewhere, but the grand opening for Steelyard Commons will be tonight, 9/6/07 from 4-8:30pm.  The flyer says that there will be an animal petting zoo, an obstacle course, bounce tents, a climbing wall, balloon artists and face painters, food (doesn't say if it's free), and merchant raffles (gas grill, charcoal grill, an AC unit, iPods, hair care products, gift cards, and coupons).  There is also supposed to be a "parade of performances" featuring local talent.

 

I hadn't heard about this anywhere until yesterday.  I stopped at Home Depot and Staples, and only Staples was selling the grand opening event. 

It was in today's Sun Newspapers ;)

I recall Jackson was against SYC (he said so during his campain) but the main concern seemed to be Walmart. 

West Side Sun:

 

Center's grand opening marks end of first phase

Thursday, September 06, 2007

By Ken Prendergast

West Side Sun News

 

Although the first store opened at Steelyard Commons in January, the retail center's grand opening ceremony will be held from 4-8:30 p.m. today.

 

Officials from developer First Interstate Properties Ltd. will be joined by city and neighborhood leaders to celebrate the official opening of Cleveland's largest retail complex since downtown's Tower City Center was built in 1990.

 

There will be games, rock climbing, magicians, raffles to win merchant giveaways and live entertainment that includes Outback Ray, featuring exotic reptiles, and a parade featuring local high schools. Most of the activity will be centered near the T-Mobile's store, by Home Depot. Home Depot was the first store to open at the $120 million, 70-store retail center.

 

The reason for waiting until now to hold a grand-opening ceremony is because phase one is nearly done. Twenty of 33 stores are already open, including Home Depot, Target, Best Buy, Staples, Marshalls, Old Navy, Famous Footwear, PETCO, Radio Shack, Game Stop, Chipotle, IHOP and others.

 

Mitchell Schneider, president of First Interstate Properties, said a Super Wal-Mart is scheduled to open in November. And, he said that within the next 12 months construction on phase two of Steelyard Commons is set to begin. It will add up 350,000 square feet of additional retail, bringing Steelyard Commons' total to 1 million square feet.

 

"Steelyard Commons offers retail that has not been available in the city," Schneider said. "Every year, Cleveland residents spend $600 million outside Cleveland on retail. We hope to capture some of that."

 

Stores feature roofs that look like those on steel mills. There are also other features including a railroad car for moving molten steel, recovered from the old steel mill and re-used. A former Otis Steel building at the north end of the site was renovated as the Steel Heritage Center that houses exhibits on Cleveland's steel-making past.

 

Next to it will be a playground designed with a steel mill theme and a future station on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Schneider said. Planning work is continuing on extending CVSR train service north of Independence to downtown Cleveland, said Steve Wait, CVSR president. All of those amenities are next to the newest segment of Towpath Trail, which Schneider paid $1 million to build.

 

"We're not only providing shopping, but amenities that Clevelanders want," Schneider said.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/westsidesun/news/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1189018037172260.xml&coll=4

Yeah, but you can't believe everything you read in the paper...

***RUMOR ALERT****RUMOR ALERT***RUMOR ALERT***

 

I do not know how true this is, but here's the story.

 

Supposedly there was an organic grocer looking to locate in Tremont. They struck a deal with a local church to use a portion of their parking lot. In return, the organic grocer would pay for half of the parking lot maintenance.

Over the past several days the organic grocer decided to pull out of their project.

 

Why?

 

Because they felt they could not compete with the Trader Joes that is going to built in SYC next year.

 

 

There you go - that's all I know.

Ok if this happens I will NEVER leave city limits ;except when I am leaving the country or state of course).I think there is still market for an organic grocer though. I think TJ would do outstanding at SYC. We city folk hate driving to cracker park quarterly to stock up on cases of cocktail party wine (no I  do NOT serve 2 buck chuck either). I wonder if suburbintes know some of us hate going to the burbs as much some of them coming to the city.

I wonder if suburbintes know some of us hate going to the burbs as much some of them coming to the city.

 

Brilliant!!

I'm sure they are clueless to that fact and think we should consider ourselves lucky they allowed us into their wonderful little communities.

Exactly.

 

Interesting about TJ possibly coming to the SYC (OMG!). But I'd like to see one take the place of Giant Eagle at West 116th and Clifton.

^ eeh. I think westlake is close enough for those in Lakewood. I have to admit I get in selfish mode regarding where a TJ should go...ie downtown. But SYC really is a good central location for so many. I think those of us that live in the city hate making the pilgrimage way east or west. from a business perspective, they could get a lot of people from points south at SYC.  I am sure they would do extremely well.

***RUMOR ALERT****RUMOR ALERT***RUMOR ALERT***

 

I do not know how true this is, but here's the story.

 

Supposedly there was an organic grocer looking to locate in Tremont. They struck a deal with a local church to use a portion of their parking lot. In return, the organic grocer would pay for half of the parking lot maintenance.

Over the past several days the organic grocer decided to pull out of their project.

 

Why?

 

Because they felt they could not compete with the Trader Joes that is going to built in SYC next year.

 

 

There you go - that's all I know.

 

But I wonder if Wal-Mart has a clause in its lease with First Interstate that no other grocers can be located within Steelyard.  But then again, maybe TJ can be considered a specialty store.  TJ would be excellent there!

 

 

I wonder how an Ikea survives on Long Island?  The Atlantic Ocean must buy a lot of furniture.

 

you're kidding right? btw there are soon to be two ikea's on l.i., another is under construction.

 

 

I wonder how an Ikea survives on Long Island?  The Atlantic Ocean must buy a lot of furniture.

 

Well, Long Island does have a population of 7,500,000. I'm sure there are quite few Ikea shoppers among them. :)

 

Anyway, a Trader Joe's in SYC would be good for the area, what with its close proximity to Tremont, although you'd obviously need to hop in a car to get there.

Wellll, there is the Circulator route that goes through SYC. As long as you don't adopt the "stock up on everything" approach, it would be do-able.

^ If I can put a case of wine on scooter  to downtown from westake than you all can carry a bag of cheese and nuts on the ciculator.

^ If I can put a case of wine on scooter  to downtown from westake than you all can carry a bag of cheese and nuts on the ciculator.

 

You did NOT! That's awesome!

^yes anything is possible when you think cars are evil, stinky things only to be used as a last resort.

 

I wonder how an Ikea survives on Long Island?  The Atlantic Ocean must buy a lot of furniture.

 

you're kidding right? btw there are soon to be two ikea's on l.i., another is under construction.

 

 

Yes, I was kidding.  I am saying that the population in an area is more important than the geography.  There is a pretty large population within 1 or 2 hours of Steelyard Commons.  And if Long Island can support three Ikea's with a population of 7.5 million, then I would think Northeast Ohio could support one.

well Metro Toronto has 2-4 Ikeas (depending on how much of the sprawl you count).  Population cannot be the reason that Ikea has chosen to ignore us--there has to be some other underlying issue because I don't buy the idea that 3 million in NEO can't support it and must drive at least 2 hrs. to the nearest store.  Then again, this city doesn't even have ONE Jamba Juice so.... :x

 

A Trader Joe's in SYC would be SWEET!!!  A Sunflower Market would fit nicely in Tremont,too.  These places would only add to the value of the neighborhood and I think it's important that there's a grocery store within walking distance of the heart of Tremont.  One of the reason's I chose to live in OC over Tremont was b/c walking to a grocery store was much more convenient. 

How is business going now that the newness has wore off a bit?

As more and more stores open, to me, traffic appears to be increasing. Walmart should be opening on Thursday and I'm sure you'll see a large increase of traffic at that point.

 

I don't think that there is much of a newness factor. If anything, I think people are getting used to driving over there. As people become more and more familiar with the place, I think that traffic will only increase. And then there's phase II..

I bailed on Chipotle last night after seeing the huge line.. So I guess they're doing well.

I bailed on Chipotle last night after seeing the huge line.. So I guess they're doing well.

 

I always question Chipotle's decision to locate there rather than/in addition to downtown. When i look out my window and every single day Jimmy John's has a line out the door.......(they are competitors in my book)

As more and more stores open, to me, traffic appears to be increasing. Walmart should be opening on Thursday and I'm sure you'll see a large increase of traffic at that point.

 

I don't think that there is much of a newness factor. If anything, I think people are getting used to driving over there. As people become more and more familiar with the place, I think that traffic will only increase. And then there's phase II..

 

I drive through there to and from work almost every day, and can attest to the increase in traffic.  Parking lots are pretty well filled afternoons and evenings, and SYC is drawing very well on the weekends.  Seems like the anchors - Home Depot and Target - are enjoying the greatest patronage. 

 

Has Steelyard even advertised anywhere, or is it just relying on word-of-mouth?  I never see anything about it.

as individual stores open, they've done their own marketing.  I've gotten stuff in the mail from Target and Home Depot about the new stores.  I actually got mail from Target for both SYC and W. 117th.  SYC did marketing with the PD, where the Sunday news bag was a big SYC ad.  That was for a couple weeks right when the place opened.

Looks like some work has begun on the northern end for phase II or one of the out-lots.