^It would be easier to judge if we knew what "this" was.

Any word on this?  There were a lot of lights on in the building this morning but it was around 6:30 AM so there were no construction workers on site.

Sorry -- been in New England for the past week so I haven't had the chance to follow up on this. I will later this coming week.

A couple pics of the county headquarters pit from last week. I posted similar pics in early June (that was swallowed up by the server crash) and the pit was still full of debris and parts of the foundation of the eastern half of the P&H building. It looks like the site is mostly cleaned up and they starting the new foundation along the western edge along East 9th.

 

edit: Sorry, the pics are full of noise. It was evening and I couldn't get a decent focus on my crappy smartphone.

Thanks! Big project! And I like the exposed access points in the lower level of the old Ameritrust tower, er Breuer Tower, er The M.

exposed access points - now showing on cinemax late night.

exposed access points - now showing on cinemax late night Skin-A-Max after dark.

 

I fixed that for you.

Heinen's just did a focus group with some downtown workers and residents on whether or not they would patronize a Heinen's location in the routunda.  So Geis is apparently seeking Heinen's to utilize that public rotunda space.  Awesome!

Heinen's just did a focus group with some downtown workers and residents on whether or not they would patronize a Heinen's location in the routunda.  So Geis is apparently seeking Heinen's to utilize that public rotunda space.  Awesome!

 

That's pretty interesting... I remember someone finding a rendering with their logo a while back and there was some debate about this. I used to work for Heinen's and asked an old manager if she had heard anything about this a while back. She did not, only that Heinen's was pretty set on no more expansion in NEO. This would be very surprising. 

I was wondering which grocer was doing the focus group. I got an email last week requesting volunteers for it. A Trader Joe's would be preferred but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

A grocery at 9th and Euclid would be super duper awesome!  Especially when combined with the butcher on 4th.

Delete

Wasn't East 9th home to the Central Market a few blocks away at Gateway?  A grocer and a butcher downtown...things come full circle.

Am I understanding this correct?  Using the Rotunda as a grocery store?  No thanks.

^Geis showed very detailed plans of the rotunda used as a food market of some type several months ago, so it's clearly been on their mind from the beginning.  They were posted here but I think got swallowed by the hard drive crash.  They're probably still on a CPC agenda web page somewhere.

I was wondering which grocer was doing the focus group. I got an email last week requesting volunteers for it. A Trader Joe's would be preferred but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Question, why would TJ's be preferred over a local Heinen's?

Am I understanding this correct?  Using the Rotunda as a grocery store?  No thanks.

 

Don't ya remember the mockup? It didn't look like a grocery store per se, but more like a common area with food kiosks.

I remember something with tables and a salad bar in the middle.  When I think of a grocery store, I think of high shelves dividing multiple aisles, checkout lines, and shopping carts.  I don't trust mock-ups to give an accurate picture and I don't trust large grocers to put historical significance over profit.

Am I understanding this correct?  Using the Rotunda as a grocery store?  No thanks.

 

Don't ya remember the mockup? It didn't look like a grocery store per se, but more like a common area with food kiosks.

 

Even so and I agree with Hts121...no thanks.  A high end restaurant would sure be sexy in that space.

I'm happy with any retail use that doesn't involve tearing it up.  And I would be surprised if anyone planned on tearing it up.

I was wondering which grocer was doing the focus group. I got an email last week requesting volunteers for it. A Trader Joe's would be preferred but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Question, why would TJ's be preferred over a local Heinen's?

Just my personal preference.

^^I haven't given it much thought, but I would first and foremost like to see it preserved and not obstructed or perverted in any way.  I don't like the idea of retail in this building.  Perhaps the best use IMO (although probably not practical with private ownership) would be to use it as a museam of some kind or just leave it as is and open it up to the public for touring on a regular basis.

 

EDIT: I answered your question about my preference before you edited your post to remove it.

Sorry.  Still interested in your preference.  I see it as a building that was created for retail (banking) and shouldn't be reduced to museum status if we can get retail back in there.  When it was being considered as a museum (of itself) I had viewed that as advertising the space for retail.

 

 

Good news. Ran into the source who is familiar with the 1010 Euclid building. They are about to get back to work there.

A bank is not 'retail' in the way I generally think of the term, albeit it may fall within its general definition.  Would you be OK with it becoming an Old Navy?  How about a CVS?  I think the key here is that, whatever they do, it must be tastefully done.

I would be okay with an old navy.  Downtown needs more than sexy restaurants to grow into a better neighborhood.  a full grocery store on the east side of the square is one of those things that would help.

Agreed on the last two sentences....... just not in THIS building.  There is more than adequate space elsewhere in downtown to fill those needs.

I think the key here is that, whatever they do, it must be tastefully done.

 

We all have differing ideas over whatever best use would be, but this point is something we can agree on.

Good news. Ran into the source who is familiar with the 1010 Euclid building. They are about to get back to work there.

  This is awesome news.  Keep us posted if you hear or see anything else

http://m-news.walgreens.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5679

 

Repurposing an historic bank structure into a high-end grocery/retail store? Here's the model to follow, IMO. If Heinen's has similar ideas to this Walgreens concept in Chicago, I say hell yes.

I dont mind (maybe because im younger and dont have any real attachments to this structure) this is probably the best chance at a possible full grocery store that we have and for it to be Heinens is icing on the cake.

I'm with Hts121 on this.  A high end retail store would be good for this spot with a grocer on Euclid between CSU and 9th.  A high end restaurant, no thankyou.  I'm getting burnt out from restaurant after restaurant opening up.  And restaurants seem to have a much shorter life then retail anyhow.  They seem to come and go to frequently, and the risk involved in that business could leave us with a beautiful vacant building after a couple years. 

I'm with Hts121 on this.  A high end retail store would be good for this spot with a grocer on Euclid between CSU and 9th.  A high end restaurant, no thankyou.  I'm getting burnt out from restaurant after restaurant opening up.  And restaurants seem to have a much shorter life then retail anyhow.  They seem to come and go to frequently, and the risk involved in that business could leave us with a beautiful vacant building after a couple years. 

 

Please show me what restaurants have shorter life spans than retail?

I dont mind (maybe because im younger and dont have any real attachments to this structure) this is probably the best chance at a possible full grocery store that we have and for it to be Heinens is icing on the cake.

 

I'm sure Heinen's would do some things to differentiate itself, and maybe they'll even have more space for product, but I'm thinking of their take on the Constantino's style store. I haven't been in the Rotunda in ages, and I visited Constantino's all of one time, so good possibility I'm totally off base in how I'm picturing things.

I dont mind (maybe because im younger and dont have any real attachments to this structure) this is probably the best chance at a possible full grocery store that we have and for it to be Heinens is icing on the cake.

 

I'm sure Heinen's would do some things to differentiate itself, and maybe they'll even have more space for product, but I'm thinking of their take on the Constantino's style store. I haven't been in the Rotunda in ages, and I visited Constantino's all of one time, so good possibility I'm totally off base in how I'm picturing things.

But I doubt Constantino's would move here since they just opened a store in UC and have a (small) presence already on W.9th.

 

Edit: My mistake I read too fast but I think since they are a NEO grocer that they will/would have a natural respect for the rotunda's historical architecture.

 

I dont mind (maybe because im younger and dont have any real attachments to this structure) this is probably the best chance at a possible full grocery store that we have and for it to be Heinens is icing on the cake.

 

I'm sure Heinen's would do some things to differentiate itself, and maybe they'll even have more space for product, but I'm thinking of their take on the Constantino's style store. I haven't been in the Rotunda in ages, and I visited Constantino's all of one time, so good possibility I'm totally off base in how I'm picturing things.

But I doubt Constantino's would move here since they just opened a store in UC and have a (small) presence already on W.9th.

Reread Loretto's post.

I dont mind (maybe because im younger and dont have any real attachments to this structure) this is probably the best chance at a possible full grocery store that we have and for it to be Heinens is icing on the cake.

 

I'm sure Heinen's would do some things to differentiate itself, and maybe they'll even have more space for product, but I'm thinking of their take on the Constantino's style store. I haven't been in the Rotunda in ages, and I visited Constantino's all of one time, so good possibility I'm totally off base in how I'm picturing things.

But I doubt Constantino's would move here since they just opened a store in UC and have a (small) presence already on W.9th.

Reread Loretto's post.

Ahh I see I read too fast

I dont mind (maybe because im younger and dont have any real attachments to this structure) this is probably the best chance at a possible full grocery store that we have and for it to be Heinens is icing on the cake.

 

I'm sure Heinen's would do some things to differentiate itself, and maybe they'll even have more space for product, but I'm thinking of their take on the Constantino's style store. I haven't been in the Rotunda in ages, and I visited Constantino's all of one time, so good possibility I'm totally off base in how I'm picturing things.

But I doubt Constantino's would move here since they just opened a store in UC and have a (small) presence already on W.9th.

Reread Loretto's post.

Ahh I see I read too fast

 

I think the rotunda would make a great space for an upscale market. Heinen's has their Village Market concept (the only current one is in Hudson's First & Main) which would probably fit that space or any space downtown perfectly. Its emphasis is much more on prepared foods, wine and produce than a larger Heinen's store. Judging by the Geis concepts, that's what they have in mind for this space. Outside of Constantino's, Heinen's is the only local retailer with experience in that small grocery/market cafe segment.

The rotunda square footage is very similar to the Hudson location (about 20,000 sq. ft.) so I think the Village Market concept would be a good one for the downtown space.

Heinen's Village Market in Hudson might be the perfect store - great size, great selection... everything you need, nothing you don't...  It's the main thing I miss from living in Hudson... 

August 11. 2013 4:30AM

Heinen's considering adding downtown Cleveland location

Area is aiming to land a major grocery store in multiple spots

By STAN BULLARD

 

Efforts are under way to bag a full-fledged grocery store to advance downtown Cleveland's residential redevelopment, with Heinen's Fine Foods acknowledging it is considering the idea.

 

Jeff Heinen, a third-generation owner of the Warrensville Heights-based grocery chain, said he has discussed a location at the “M on 9th,” the redevelopment by Geis Cos. of the Ameritrust skyscraper and associated buildings as apartments, a hotel, retail and a new Cuyahoga County government building.

 

“It's certainly something they are looking at and we are looking at,” Mr. Heinen said in an interview with Crain's Cleveland Business last week. But he cautioned, “It's a long way from being done.”

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20130811/SUB1/308119990&template=mobile#ATHS

 

^Thanks, KJP, that Crains piece was a fascinating read.

Wow, lots of interesting bits in there... will be neat to see how it all plays out.  Obviously this is pretty early in the game but I am surprised Heinens is even considering this.  Its a good sign though.

"We're not even close"

He's managing expectations. It's always better to surprise with good news than with bad. So he's downplaying things.

While I would certainly welcome a major grocery store downtown, I continue to believe that this is the wrong use for the rotunda.  Would much rather see it utilized as a restaurant or a cool, hotel bar, something totally lacking in the core of downtown. 

 

A grocery store in the rotunda would also seem to have some real challenges.  In a market like downtown Cleveland, where you can't necessarily rely solely on the downtown population to sustain your business, it would seem to me that a grocer would need to have some readily accessible parking for those who commute downtown.  Doesn't seem that the rotunda would offer that, unless you're willing to pay to park in the parking garage on the other side of prospect, and then be willing to haul your groceries on a pretty good trek to the car.  For those reasons, I think that a grocery store fits much better near the Greyhound station, where you can serve the downtown population, but also accomodate commuters with some available parking nearby, even if that means a surface lot or (preferably) constructing a garage attached directly to the grocery store.

Google image the Walgreens in Wicker Park, Chicago. Same idea, somewhat similar structure, and now a huge attraction. Cleveland has enough restaurants and pubs; a grocery store at the rotunda would work.

Google image the Walgreens in Wicker Park, Chicago. Same idea, somewhat similar structure, and now a huge attraction. Cleveland has enough restaurants and pubs; a grocery store at the rotunda would work.

 

Wicker Park alone has a population of 26k, never mind the fact that it's surrounded with tens of thousands of residents within a mile in every direction.  Also, that Walgreens is right on an L line.  Not really a fair comparison to downtown Cleveland, as much as I wish it were.  The reality is that grocers' margins are extraordinarily slim; it's a volume-driven business.  You need people flowing through constantly, all day, not just at the lunch hour. 

 

I agree with you on the restaurant and pub front.  What we don't have though is a truly hip, urban hotel bar. 

I can picture a Heinens that is a bit different than your average grocer. It would have to have flexibility to cater to special events and crowds. A large eat in/bar component is almost a necessity in that location. And on off-event days they could have special programming to make it a destination ie beer and wine tastings, happy hours, guest chefs, culinary classes, etc.

 

In other words, if you simply make a smaller version of Rocky River or Strongsville I don't see the point in it for that specific spot.