$800,000 Grant Means More Improvements for Shaker Square, But EDWINS Reportedly Mulling Move

Shaker Square Credit: Warren LeMay/FlickrCC

Shaker Square is an iconic Cleveland property – it first opened in 1929 as the nation’s second planned shopping center. Yet in recent years, it’s been a bit down-at-the-heels, having gone through a foreclosure sale, fleeing merchants and, more recently, a rash of business break-ins.

That story is beginning to change thanks to an infusion of more than $5 million in property repairs by the new owners, Burten Bell Carr Inc. and Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, in the past two years. Now, thanks to an $800,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more improvements are slated to come. According to Joy Johnson, director of BBC, the funds will go to renovating Dave’s Market, adding an elevator to the CVS building, and assorted other repairs. She said the project will create 29 new jobs, at least 75 percent of which will be for low-income individuals.

Dave’s Market is in line to get new flooring, coolers, and possibly a sub shop like they have at their Midtown location at E. 61st St. and Chester Ave. (Calls to Dave Salzman, owner of Dave’s, seeking comment for this story were not returned.) The new elevator, which is expected to cost $225,000, will help to market the 7,000 square feet of vacant office space above CVS, said Johnson.

“The challenge with older architecture is not having modern amenities,” she said. “Some people inquire and then they find out there’s no elevator and the conversation is over. They’re interested and would love to be at Shaker Square, but they’re limited. The elevator allows us to utilize and benefit from the historic architecture, but also update it for today’s needs. It makes the property accessible to all people.”

Since buying the square two years ago using a combination of $10 million in grants and loans from the city, CNP and BBC have completed a raft of improvements, including replacing roofs, fixing leaky plumbing, and installing new HVAC systems. They also just released a new vision that calls for building off the square’s authenticity by adding local retailers, creating better outdoor space and slowing down traffic through the square, among other things.

Briana Perry, senior vice president of equitable development with CNP, said Shaker Square is now more than 90 percent leased. There’s only one vacant storefront at Shaker Square currently, down from five when they first purchased it, she said. New businesses that are opening soon include Cafe Indigo, a coffee shop, and Coyoacan, a Mexican brewery/restaurant.

Johnson said the job creation will happen through new businesses moving to Shaker Square as well as the renovations at Dave’s Market. The grocery store is matching $250,000 from the grant as well as $100,000 in city funding with its own investment, for a total of $700,000 in improvements.

“They were hesitant to make those investments before the physical improvements to the surrounding buildings,” said Johnson. “Now that the landlord’s improvements to the buildings have been made, they’re now ready to make those improvements to the interior.”

The grant will also be used to provide support to people working at Shaker Square, especially low income individuals who may face barriers to employment. Step Forward, a nonprofit workforce development organization, will connect workers to childcare, transportation and other services.

“We know from experience and research that access to employment does not solve everyone’s problem,” said Johnson. “There are issues before people become employed, wraparound services that even the most caring employer cannot address.”

Courtney Laves-Mearini, owner of Cleveland City Dance, said the square needs work but under the new owners, progress is happening. “The square had not been cared for for so long, there’s so much to be done,” she said. “They’re moving, it just takes time.”

City Dance, which occupies a storefront at the square, recently expanded into a second floor space, adding a fourth classroom. In the process they found water damage and electrical problems. Now, they’re working with the landlord to resolve these issues.

While parking and security remain issues, Laves-Mearini said the new owners have been very proactive, installing cameras and hiring security guards who regularly stop by to check on business owners.

Despite these improvements, Brandon Chrostowoski of EDWINS Restaurant, who sought to buy Shaker Square when it was in foreclosure several years ago, complained that it’s headed in the wrong direction. He cited numerous tenants leaving in the past two years, including Balaton and T-Mobile, though these spaces have since been filled.

“There’s still a long way to go for Shaker Square,” said Chrostowski, citing safety concerns including carjackings earlier this year. “Adding an elevator is great, but we’re looking forward to seeing real changes for the tenants at Shaker Square.”

None of the improvements made by the owners have pacified Chrostowski, who said the current ownership has a “lack of vision” for the square. “They’ve been here two years and they’re just now releasing a vision,” he said. “Because they don’t have the business chops, things take a while. And when you take time to make decisions, then people just up and leave.”

Chrostowski would not confirm rumors that he’s considering a move to the former Nighttown space in Cleveland Heights, saying only that he’s unhappy with the current situation.

Johnson brushed off these criticisms and said the owners are happy to work with EDWINS. Shaker Square is unique, she said, and the recently-released vision will build off of that authenticity. “There are so many benefits to this historic property that you can’t recreate,” she said. “There are all of these fake versions across the region, but we have the original.”

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