I drove past Playhouse Square in May or June and had remarked to my wife how all the marquees looked new. She advised me they’re old and were in fact due for a replacement. Tells you what I know (and that she was right). 

Good news for Palace and Allen - they need new marquees. I thought the others were OK. I just hope they don't look too cartoonish. 

 

How long has the Ohio Theater been the Mimi Ohio Theater?  And who is Mimi?

40 minutes ago, LibertyBlvd said:

How long has the Ohio Theater been the Mimi Ohio Theater?  And who is Mimi?

 

A donor gifted a large amount of money to the theater.  It was then named after his wife.

12 minutes ago, superior said:

 

A donor gifted a large amount of money to the theater.  It was then named after his wife.

 

Sooo it's not named after Mimi from the Drew Carrey Show...noted.

13 minutes ago, GISguy said:

 

Sooo it's not named after Mimi from the Drew Carrey Show...noted.

 

Would be a better closing act.

1 hour ago, LibertyBlvd said:

How long has the Ohio Theater been the Mimi Ohio Theater?  And who is Mimi?

Mimi from The Drew Carey Show  based in Old Brooklyn.   HeHe

So if Howard Hanna gifts a large amount of money to the Hanna Theater...

This little video has all the PHS marquee renders

 

The above mentioned just in photo form as presented to the landmarks commission this morning, they will be turned on June 10th

So cool!  Largest theatre district outside Manhattan - let’s do everything we can to highlight it and make the area even more of an incentive to visit and be in.  
 

I would LOVE to see more cool spots to dine in and walk through in the district - how ‘bout a piano bar? - and/or a jazz club (Think “Don’t Tell Mama”  adjacent to Broadway’s Theatre row) “.  Perfect for “after the show” to further activate the district.  It would make sense because people are already in the area for the theatres and wouldn’t need to make a special trip to visit the smaller attractions. 
 

Playhouse Square is another example of what distinguishes Cleveland from other mid market cities.  This is a town with big league attractions and culture. Let’s keep building on that.  (And let’s hope for a Lumen 2 - eventually.) 

Edited October 27, 20222 yr by CleveFan

54 minutes ago, CleveFan said:

 Let’s keep building on that.  (And let’s hope for a Lumen 2 - eventually.) 

 

Not "eventually" -- soon!

I think its going to take more than a few new Lumens to really wake up Playhouse Square.  I have a buddy who lives at the Lumen, and am constantly amazed at how very sleepy Playhouse Square is outside of actual performance times in the big theaters.   While Playhouse Square Foundation has done a fantastic job saving the theaters and literally creating a good looking neighborhood, in reality it is kind of a Potemkin village.   A lot of the "restaurants" in the Square are only open a couple of hours at a time, if at all.  The only place that is consistently open is Parnell's Pub.   

I work in Playhouse square and am constantly thinking the same thing.  I think there is still a lack of critical mass, Euclid is filling up but a block on either side is just parking.  There is also a lot of empty office space between the Hanna, US Bank and Keith buildings.   Could use another conversion to help consolidate, plus new construction on Prospect, Bolivar and E 14th. 

Interesting that while "Mimi" Ohio and "Connor" Palace.... and "Outcalt" and "The Helen" are on the marquees, all due to donors' naming rights - the currently-named "KeyBank" State Theater just shows as "State" on that marquee... perhaps not long-term enough to set in stone.  

Are those other names permanent or could they eventually be replaced by more generous donors?

1 hour ago, gruver said:

I think its going to take more than a few new Lumens to really wake up Playhouse Square.  I have a buddy who lives at the Lumen, and am constantly amazed at how very sleepy Playhouse Square is outside of actual performance times in the big theaters.   While Playhouse Square Foundation has done a fantastic job saving the theaters and literally creating a good looking neighborhood, in reality it is kind of a Potemkin village.   A lot of the "restaurants" in the Square are only open a couple of hours at a time, if at all.  The only place that is consistently open is Parnell's Pub.   

We need more apartments/condos in that area along with more establishments that can draw people outside of theatre hours. Easy to say but it will take hard work, investment and people with vision and the means to make it happen piece by piece. 
 

With the number of new apartments coming on line in the last few years within a very short walk , I’m more optimistic about the possibilities. 

3 hours ago, CleveFan said:

So cool!  Largest theatre district outside Manhattan - let’s do everything we can to highlight it and make the area even more of an incentive to visit and be in.  
 

I would LOVE to see more cool spots to dine in and walk through in the district - how ‘bout a piano bar? - and/or a jazz club (Think “Don’t Tell Mama”  adjacent to Broadway’s Theatre row) “.  Perfect for “after the show” to further activate the district.  It would make sense because people are already in the area for the theatres and wouldn’t need to make a special trip to visit the smaller attractions. 
 

Playhouse Square is another example of what distinguishes Cleveland from other mid market cities.  This is a town with big league attractions and culture. Let’s keep building on that.  (And let’s hope for a Lumen 2 - eventually.) 

Love this idea!

3 hours ago, CleveFan said:

So cool!  Largest theatre district outside Manhattan - let’s do everything we can to highlight it and make the area even more of an incentive to visit and be in.  
 

I would LOVE to see more cool spots to dine in and walk through in the district - how ‘bout a piano bar? - and/or a jazz club (Think “Don’t Tell Mama”  adjacent to Broadway’s Theatre row) “.  Perfect for “after the show” to further activate the district.  It would make sense because people are already in the area for the theatres and wouldn’t need to make a special trip to visit the smaller attractions. 
 

Playhouse Square is another example of what distinguishes Cleveland from other mid market cities.  This is a town with big league attractions and culture. Let’s keep building on that.  (And let’s hope for a Lumen 2 - eventually.) 

 

If we got a late-night jazz club in the theater district I might die. We need many more of those in the city (c'mon Nighttown... open back up already!). 

Edited October 27, 20222 yr by ASP1984

1 hour ago, RMB said:

I work in Playhouse square and am constantly thinking the same thing.  I think there is still a lack of critical mass, Euclid is filling up but a block on either side is just parking.  There is also a lot of empty office space between the Hanna, US Bank and Keith buildings.   Could use another conversion to help consolidate, plus new construction on Prospect, Bolivar and E 14th. 

Agreed.  CSU bringing students to campus has made a huge difference, and the Lumen and other residential have helped, but the number of residents within a fifteen minute walk isn't there yet -- lots of parking lots on Chester and Prospect still, and far fewer business workers in the buildings on Euclid.

 

Does anyone have any updates on what PS is doing with the Bulkley Building?

I may be alone here but l am pretty dissatisfied with the look of the marquees. I get that there can be value in a certain uniformity but in this case it looks like too much uniformity, too much sameness. And worse than that l think they look too plastic, too cheap. A little cartoonish even. 

 

A cool theater marquee is a draw. A bunch of them clustered together can be very enlivening. These are not that. 

7 minutes ago, cadmen said:

I may be alone here but l am pretty dissatisfied with the look of the marquees. I get that there can be value in a certain uniformity but in this case it looks like too much uniformity, too much sameness. And worse than that l think they look too plastic, too cheap. A little cartoonish even. 

 

A cool theater marquee is a draw. A bunch of them clustered together can be very enlivening. These are not that. 

I agree. There needs to be more of an assortment of colors to distinguish each of them. 

7 minutes ago, marty15 said:

I agree. There needs to be more of an assortment of colors to distinguish each of them. 

Yes, more contrast would be better.  I'm not very fond of the purple.   And there seems to be too much yellow/gold, especially for State.

To clear this up they are LEDs making the purple shades, they said the colors will change to either match what is being performed or will match city/nation events like terminal tower

Patience Grasshopper,

 

@Boomerang_Brianis correct.  Much of the backlight coloring can be changed as they are LEDs.  Some of the canopy lights facing downward are traditional marquee incadescent 11W bulbs. Other bulbs facing downward on the sidewalk are LEDs with full color spectrum.  Furthermore, the Playhouse Square organization claims the gold color powder coating on structures will reflect light differently in daylight hours depending on local conditions. Check out the presentation link on the Landmarks Commission website if you have a free 2 hr.  Bravo.  

Edited October 28, 20222 yr by DO_Summers

Thanks @BoomerangCleRes and @DO_Summers .  Playhouse Square rarely does anything half-*ssed, so these should look pretty sharp once they are installed and operational.

Well I feel better already lol.

Greyhound bus terminal sold   -  again. https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/cleveland-downtown-greyhound-depot-sold-again-time-17-million

Bus Terminal seen as adaptive reuse & development site. https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate

Should bus terminal reuse be a new thread?

 

Edited February 3, 20232 yr by LibertyBlvd

On 2/3/2023 at 12:38 PM, simplythis said:

Bus Terminal seen as adaptive reuse & development site. https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate

 

Oops, that was a link to the real estate section of Crains - here's the story link: https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/cleveland-greyhound-bus-station-seen-adaptive-reuse-redevelopment-site

 
Oops, that was a link to the real estate section of Crains - here's the story link: https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/cleveland-greyhound-bus-station-seen-adaptive-reuse-redevelopment-site

The MLK article that was on there was some pretty big news though


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I’ve never been inside the bus terminal - so I have no idea about the viability of repurposing but, man, that evening shot (with lights on in Crain’s) really suggests an upscale supper club - dinner theatre vibe - and a really unique and classy one at that. I can  picture some classic cars  parked outside. 
 

I read that Playhouse Square had or has interest in it and it just seems like a natural - to further extend the district’s footprint as a performing arts and entertainment draw. A supper club attraction that could draw both after hours or pre show seems like it could benefit both the theaters and this venue reciprocally. 
 

Whether or not the inside of the large space would function well- that could be a  different story - but just imagine that Greyhound sign carrying a new entertainment venue brand - the building just looks classic and potentially elegant. 
 

Hope whatever eventual reuse happens is as special as the building appears in the photos. 
 

 

To me developing these parking lots are almost as vital as the Warehouse districts. You could argue it’s even more impactful. It would connect a section of downtown that seems so divided due to it being “inside of downtown” and would reactivate it into something vibrant l.

While the WHD was on the edge and while an ugly sight didn’t have the same disconnected feel imo.


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the station would make a cool movie theatre. I really think playhouse square should try to have a movie house somewhere (one screen or megaplex). it'd be benefitted by the film fest

Work began a few days ago on the marquees! Connor Palace is first.

 

 

^ the human construction cam - great view!

From below:

 

 

I assume the signage above the marquee will be removed.

Seeing that bit of Lumen garage in @GISguy’s pic reminded me of that “wicked” banner from the Lumen’s renderings - have they been projecting show banners onto the garage? 

1 hour ago, CleveFan said:

Seeing that bit of Lumen garage in @GISguy’s pic reminded me of that “wicked” banner from the Lumen’s renderings - have they been projecting show banners onto the garage? 

Yes

On 3/3/2023 at 7:34 AM, fujiyoshida said:

Work began a few days ago on the marquees! Connor Palace is first.

We will be expecting periodic updates.  😉

It looked like they were starting on the Allen marquee when I passed yesterday on the HealthLine

@sonisharrithat is correct, although not much progress has been made yet on the Allen marquee.  Interestingly, they have left the Connor Palace marquee untouched for the past few days and it look essentially the same as the last photos.  I will keep everyone updated!

Allen marquee (3-10-22)

Is that a blue screen of death?

1 hour ago, JohnSummit said:

Is that a blue screen of death

 More like a VHS "loading" screen. 

I am excited to see these new marquees in place. Hopefully the font styles have more of a classic look than the initial renderings.  My one wish in The Playhouse Square District is that all the street lamps would revert to a classic fixture rather than contemporary look of the Healthline.  They just don't feel correct with what the district intends to be.

That’s a great observation  @dave2017I wonder if the City would consider making a change if there was a public push of some kind. 
 

Also is there a hotel in or immediately adjacent  to Public Square?  If not, It sure feels like that would be the perfect place for one - especially a higher end one. 
 

Meantime, I think the new marquis’ will add some  Broadway-esque glitz to the 2nd largest theater district.  

Edited March 11, 20232 yr by CleveFan

Greyhound bus terminal news. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/future-of-cleveland-s-sleek-greyhound-bus-terminal-is-up-in-the-air-after-recent-sale/ar-AA18t7i4?cvid=bd2a0b9d783b4ebea2de19449e16f4b3&ocid=winp2fptaskbarhover&ei=5