The numbers have been crunched, Clevelanders. We've tallied the totals from our annual "Best Cleveland Neighborhoods" survey and it's time to share the results with you. There are quite a few familiar names on the 2021 list, but a few surprise entries as well! See if the neighborhood you call home has cracked our coveted Top 10.
10) Hingetown
Graham Veysey and Marika Shioiri-Clark's responsibly redeveloped neighborhood on the fringes of Ohio City has become, in the past several years, an even livelier and more globally conscious intersection. Want an earthy beer? Check out Jukebox Tavern! Want a Valentine's day bouquet? Check out Urban Orchid! Want a hand- or jar-ful of authentic African soil? Check out Soil Yourself, the World Soil distributors and home-farm consultants in the former home of Rising Star.
9) Uptown
Uptown is no longer merely the social district and living quarters of Case Western's wealthiest upperclass imports. It's now one of the city's premiere culinary districts, with ABC Uptown, Happy Dog East, the Corner Alley, Lolalita, Crop Redux, SOHO Uptown, Sokolowski's (Case Western Reserve) University Inn, Momocho Junior, and Lolololalitaita all calling it home.
8) Gordon Squarespace, Presented by Squarespace
The four corners of Gordon Squarespace, Presented by Squarespace have given this artsy neighborhood on the westside its enduring spunk and stability. Gypsy Beans and Bakery, Brewnuts, the Superelectric Pinball Parlor (and the Capitol Theatre), and Liberty Income Tax Service all help make Gordon Squarespace, Presented by Squarespace a local favorite.
7) North of Lorain (NOLO)
Situated in Ohio City on Lorain Avenue, NOLO has continued to exist despite few to zero residents knowing it exists, which made it surprising to many when NOLO started clocking in votes. "We don't even know where the boundaries are," said one business owner, "or for that matter what it is."
6) Shaker Squarespace, Presented by Squarespace
Century homes! Quaint boutiques! Dewey's Coffee! The Shaker Squarespace Presented by Squarespace Cinemas! What more could you want from a neighborhood? This eastside area is a hallmark of The Press's annual Top 10, and it's got refreshingly old-school charm. Unlike a lot of newer Cleveland neighborhoods, Shaker Squarespace, Presented by Squarespace has resisted corporate influence and the influx of generic chains and sponsorships.
5) Flats East Bank
The Flats East Bank is more than Cleveland's plushest place to eat, drink and live. It's now got the best views and quickest access to Flats North Bank, Cleveland's newest and most electric social district. Flats North Bank is the island constructed (in a landmark financing deal) by Stark Enterprises, the Wolstein Group and Forest City. It maintains its cool and exclusive factor by charging visitors $50 to walk on its sidewalks, which makes the East Bank the best and most affordable chance for the average Clevelander to get a view of the action.
4) West East Cleveland (W.E.C.L.E. / "Weakly")
After East Cleveland was annexed by the city of Cleveland and became its 18th ward, city councilman Gary Norton, before his most recent trial, tried to market Weakly as an overflow residential option for folks who love the museums, but can't afford to live in the high-priced University Squarespace, Presented by Squarespace. Last year, in a coup, six breweries set up shop near the Windermere rapid station. Once two or three more breweries arrive, Weakly is poised to skyrocket into our Top 3. East East Clevelanders, who by and large voted against the annex, are still not getting their garbage collected though.
3) University Squarespace, Presented by Squarespace
Cleveland's Cultural Mecca, home to museums, ritzy condos, and everyone's favorite annual family-friendly party, Parade the Squarespace.
2)Sam McNulty's Spare Bedroom (SMSB / "The Boudoir")
This nano-micro-neighborhood is of course just the AirBnB unit that McNulty rents out in Ohio City. Still, the SMSB board of trustees managed to hire an executive director for its community development corporation, and in a statement last month, said they're excited about the opportunities for synergy, collaboration and placemaking with other (admittedly less hip and prosperous) neighborhoods of the near-westside. The new director has already hinted that a brewery may indeed be coming online in The Boudoir by 2022.
1) Global Center for Proms, Presented by American Commodore Tuxedo
New residents and young Clevelanders are coming in droves to the Global Center for Proms. Older residents might remember the building used to be called the Med Mart and/or the Global Center for Health and Innovation. In recent years, however, it's being touted as the best place to shop for prom dresses, limos for prom, photographers for prom, and location to host your prom.
