Stories
When Joe DiGeronimo first walked into the former Cleveland Athletic Club, he was shocked by the state of the historic property. The club was a shell of its once-thriving self, ravaged by water damage and years of severe neglect. Now he's at the helm of a $62 million renovation project to restore the building to its historic grandeur and turn it into apartments, retail, and office space.
Ever since the real estate housing crash in 2008, Cleveland communities have been faced with tackling the problem of vacant and blighted homes—pulling down property values and aesthetic appeal in neighborhoods already struggling.
According to Justin Fleming, director of real estate for Cleveland Neighborhood Progress (CNP), there are about 9,500 vacant homes in the City of Cleveland. “I’d estimate that approximately 4,500 of those are structurally capable of being rehabbed within a reasonable budget,” he says. “The other 5,000 are likely structurally too far gone to reasonably saved.”
But thanks to a three-year, $700,000 grant given to CNP by Detroit-based Quicken Loans, some of those homes that can be rehabbed will get that much-needed work. Read about how this grant will help blighted neighborhoods and rehab vacant homes here.
Tonya Kinlow and her husband, chef Craig Stevens, never intended to start an app or a mindful eating movement—they just wanted to open a restaurant. But as they got deeper into the planning process, their values pointed them in an entirely different direction. The result is UGottaEat, an app that acts as a social network where users can share home-cooked meals and obtain freshly made meals from local chefs. Learn more about how this innovative app works here.
It only seems fitting that someone named Mercedes Bell would open a boutique on wheels—and that's exactly what Bell did when she launched Lavora's Mobile Boutique earlier this year. An emerging style entrepreneur, Bell had already been running her online boutique for over one year when she debuted the roving fashion truck in late July 2017. In the months since, the truck has made appearances at events like Glenville Community Festival, Soul of Buckeye, Battle of the Bands at Shaw High School, and the recent pop-up shop at Spaces. Get the 411 on this roving retailer here.
For many longtime Clevelanders, the holidays conjure up memories of downtown shopping tips to the former Higbee’s Department Store in Public Square. Images of ornate arches, ribbons, and even Bruce the Spruce come to mind in the holiday season.
The historic 1931 Higbee Building at 100 Public Square seems to bring up nostalgic memories at all times of the year, with current office tenants like Quicken Loans incorporating Higbee’s décor into its modern office design and the famous 10th floor—known for its fashion shows and Silver Grille restaurant— recently up for lease.
But JACK Casino, located within the building, has for the sixth year now transformed the casino and the windows lining Public Square into a whimsical wonderland called Holidays at the Higbee.
Read more about JACK Casino's recycling of Higbee's holiday decor here.
With 2018 in sight, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) is again poised to make a significant impact on local non-profit arts organizations with $12 million in grant funding. While many associate Cuyahoga County's arts and cultural scene with the well-known institutions that receive general operating support, the smaller organizations that receive project support are often unsung heroes making a difference in their communities.
In early October, Cleveland became the first northern port city to sign a memo of understanding with Cuba’s maritime administration—effectively paving the way for future trade possibilities. The agreement makes a fitting cap for what has been a year of rich synergy between Cleveland and Cuba across the spectrum, from art to entrepreneurship to architecture to dance.
In November, Dale Schwartz began digging up his past when he officially celebrated the groundbreaking of Pinstripes just down the street from his native Beachwood. The bowling, bocce, and bistro establishment will be based at the Pinecrest mixed-use development currently under construction at I-271 and Harvard Road in Orange Village. Read more about the chain's growth and its opening, slated for mid-May, here.
Welcome to the latest edition of Fresh Water Cleveland's “Who’s Hiring” series, where we feature growing companies with open positions, what they’re looking for, and how to apply. This edition includes jobs from Playhouse Square, KeyBank, Cleveland Foundation, the City of Euclid, and more. Click here for the freshest opportunities fit to print.
Interested in learning more about Cleveland's rich history? Point your GPS toward Cleveland Starts Here, the new permanent exhibit opening tomorrow at Cleveland History Center.
According to director Angie Lowrie, Cleveland Starts Here will cover the time period from the city's origins in the 1790s all the way through the Cavs taking home the gold in 2016.
"We used to have a core exhibit that talked about the early history of the Western Reserve, but the history [coverage] ended at the Civil War," says Lowrie. "There was no one place that you could get the full story of what Cleveland is all about. Cleveland Starts Here is an opportunity to show a lot more of our stuff and do it in a way that shows people the story of Cleveland."
According to director Angie Lowrie, Cleveland Starts Here will cover the time period from the city's origins in the 1790s all the way through the Cavs taking home the gold in 2016.
"We used to have a core exhibit that talked about the early history of the Western Reserve, but the history [coverage] ended at the Civil War," says Lowrie. "There was no one place that you could get the full story of what Cleveland is all about. Cleveland Starts Here is an opportunity to show a lot more of our stuff and do it in a way that shows people the story of Cleveland."
‘Tis the season to feast with family, hit the malls, and surf the sales. It’s also time to open our hearts and support worthy causes and others who may not be as fortunate. Here are a few ways you can give back in the #CLE this “Giving Tuesday.”
If your idea of the perfect gift is a locally made one, Cleveland doesn't disappoint. From a Black Friday event at 78th Street Studios to a CIA student art sale, these six shows offer the best of locally made products and art.
Looking for something meaningful to do this holiday season? On Saturday, Nov. 18, MetroHealth is hosting a free panel-making workshop for those who want to contribute to the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
Founded in 1987, the AIDS Memorial Quilt is the largest piece of ongoing community art in the world—consisting of 48,000 panels (and growing). Friends, family, and significant others of those who have passed from AIDS-related illnesses are welcome to create a panel in honor of their lost loved one.
The workshop goes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will provide artistic guidance, professional sewing instruction, and materials. Parking validation and food will be provided. To learn more or to register, click here.
Founded in 1987, the AIDS Memorial Quilt is the largest piece of ongoing community art in the world—consisting of 48,000 panels (and growing). Friends, family, and significant others of those who have passed from AIDS-related illnesses are welcome to create a panel in honor of their lost loved one.
The workshop goes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will provide artistic guidance, professional sewing instruction, and materials. Parking validation and food will be provided. To learn more or to register, click here.
From making pilgrimages to the A Christmas Story House to downing 30,000 barrels of Great Lakes Christmas Ale, Clevelanders take holiday celebrations very seriously. This year offers a significant addition for The Land’s yuletide revelers: a bar dedicated entirely, for just over a month, to Christmas cheer.
Let it snow, and let it glow and sparkle. That’s what the Downtown Cleveland Alliance (DCA) elves have in mind this week as they busily prepare Public Square for the holidays and the upcoming Winterfest on Saturday, Nov. 25.
Decorating is already in full swing, but will officially kick off today, Tuesday, Nov. 14, with the arrival of the holiday tree. The evergreen, donated by the Hlavin family, makes its debut on the north end of Public Square around 2:30 p.m.
Read more about the tree and Winterfest here.
Decorating is already in full swing, but will officially kick off today, Tuesday, Nov. 14, with the arrival of the holiday tree. The evergreen, donated by the Hlavin family, makes its debut on the north end of Public Square around 2:30 p.m.
Read more about the tree and Winterfest here.
In another step forward on the Irishtown Bend project, The Port of Cleveland and NOACA applied for a federal $11.5 million Infrastructure For Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant earlier this month. The grant would install bulkheads and stabilize 1,400 linear feet of the hillside along Irishtown Bend and save maritime commerce along the Cuyahoga River from shutdown if the hill collapses.
Read more about the grant application and what it means for Irishtown Bend here.
Read more about the grant application and what it means for Irishtown Bend here.
One wouldn't guess by its industrial past, but Cleveland has surprising ties to the roots of urban farming in America—and they're on full display at these local farms, which were spotlighted recently at the global Meeting of the Minds conference. See why Chateau Hough, Green City Growers, Rid-All Green Partnership, and Ohio City Farm are now serving as a blueprint for MOTM experts to apply in their own cities.
An East Cleveland couple is taking it upon themselves to preserve the rich history of the city’s Forest Hill neighborhood by restoring the famed homes, one house at a time. Their work on the house located at 16237 Forest Hills Blvd. recently earned them a Cleveland Heights Historic Preservation Award. Read about the meticulous renovation work done by Jamain and Kesha Owens here.
That time David Bowie played his first show in Cleveland back in 1972? Anastasia Pantsios was there.
The time the Jacksons visited Playhouse Square in the late 70s, or when an emergent U2 played the Agora Ballroom? Also there.
And when Bowie returned to play the Richfield Coliseum in 1990? Yep, she was there, and so were Bono and Adam Clayton—both of whom got their photo taken with Bowie backstage, by none other than Pantsios herself.
In just under three years, Literary Cleveland has launched the annual Cleveland Inkubator conference (which attracted 500 people in 2017), gained nonprofit status, and hosted a wide array of workshops, programs, networking events, and author readings—all geared at empowering Northeast Ohio writers. This year, the organization also introduced a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel. That momentum continues with the launch of Lit Cleveland's literary journal, Gordon Square Review.