🚨 Cleveland businesses vs. City Hall

Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: Something’s in the air lately — and it feels a lot like 2016 🏀🏆

Don’t keep us a secret: Share the email with friends (copy URL here)​

John Petkovic & Jude Perez

Cleveland’s affordability has made it one of country’s success stories.

 So, why is it making things less affordable – and more difficult – for bars, restaurants and clubs?

Increasingly, that’s the question Cleveland operators are asking in response to a series of measures by City Hall.

The most recent involves a plan that would remove street parking to create two dedicated bus lanes through the West 25^th entertainment district.

“Property and business owners invested hundreds of millions of dollars, created thousands of critical jobs, a massive tax base that supports the economy,” says Sam McNulty of Market Garden Brewery.

The $52 million, two-year project would disrupt business, eliminate 72 parking spaces, increase the speed of traffic and pose a danger to pedestrians, adds McNulty, echoing the view of West 25^th merchants.

It follows moves by Mayor Justin Bibb that have drawn criticism from downtown operators:

A “parking modernization initiative” that increases street parking by 50-162% -- $10.50 for four hours -- and cuts free weekend and evening hours.

“Just another reason to say Cleveland is not welcoming, by adding to the cost and challenges of parking for events,” says Nick Kostis, owner of Pickwick and Frolic.

Bibb used the same logic to propose installing cameras to bust illegal parking downtown. (The current $25 penalty would jump to $60 and could be issued immediately upon detection.)

He also proposed a “small tax” on downtown bars and restaurants to help pay for repairs to Progressive Field and Rocket Arena – in his ‘fight’ against billionaire sports owners.

On Friday, Bibb implored people to stay home during the weekend storm when the city was low of salt for trucks: “Watch some Netflix, binge on some bad reality TV -- but, please, be safe.”

There was no advance notice of a salt shortage or the stay-home directive given to merchants, according to three operators, who found the message unserious.

It’s an Art Deco gem filled with eye-popping murals and floorwork. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. It was designed by Abram Garfield, aka the son of President James A. Garfield.

And it could be yours for the cool $2.4 million.

The 1930 Art Deco landmark known as the Hangar is for sale. See listing.

The Cedar Avenue property in Beachwood features an indoor clay tennis court and a swimming pool – to go with lavish glass roofs and woodwork and 4.15 acres.

It was a year of triumph and transformation – when sports glory, politics and urban revival made Cleveland the center of the universe.

The Cavs made a believer out even the biggest pessimist with a historic comeback to win the NBA title.

The Indians came oh-so-close to winning the World Series.

The city received endless praise for its hosting of the RNC.

So, it’s no surprise that Clevelanders are all-in on the wave of 2016 nostalgia.

Searches for "2016" on TikTok surged by over 450%. Millions of videos have captured fashion, music, culture and 2016 vibes.

Call it a yearning for the last "normal" year, before politics, algorithms and COVID-19 reshaped the world.

Our defining 2016 moment was the Cavs – a gritty underdog that triumphed over long odds, like the city itself.  

It comes into view yet again tonight, when LeBron and the Lakers hit Rocket Arena.

He’s not the player he was a decade ago. And the last 2016 champ to play on the Cavs was Tristan Thompson.  

But 2016 nostalgia will be in full force.

When stress hits and your thoughts won’t slow down, meditation apps often ask for focus you simply don’t have. Moonbird® is a screen-free breathing coach designed to calm your nervous system naturally — no counting, concentrating, or techniques to remember. Just hold it, breathe with it, and feel your mind settle in under 5 minutes.

Backed by EEG brain-scan research, trusted by 80,000+ users, and created by PhD scientists, Moonbird® uses gentle tactile guidance to help reduce stress, improve sleep, and train your body to relax over time — even without the device. With a 30-day money-back guarantee, it’s a simple, science-based way to bring calm back into your day.

Curling on the Square: The Olympics are coming and it Cleveland feels like the Canadian tundra. Perfect for this curling bash, hosted by the Mayfield Curling Club at the Skating Rink in Public Square. 6-8 tonight. Info.

Country Tonk presents: The Bakerfield Sound: The Telecaster twangers will roll out tunes inspired by Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and the rest of the gang that pioneered the Cali country sound. 7 p.m. Thursday at Forest City Brewery. Info.

👉 View Listing on Zillow

Maybe it’s AI fatigue or digital exhaustion or a romance with the tactile.

Either way, 2026 is emerging as the "Year of Analog” – where physical media and hands-on hobbies make a comeback.

The written word plays a big part: Print book sales increased in 2025 and follow a period of growth since the pandemic.

The area has several stellar bookstores, from the long-running Mac’s Backs to the just-opened Visible Voice.

It’s also getting a familiar face that opens today in South Park in Strongsville’s: Barnes & Noble.

The 26,000-square-foot store will fill a void in Strongsville that was created by the closing of Borders 15 years ago. It also boasts a café and will offer a 40% discount on movies.

A 1950s postcard of the Greyhound Bus Station. The architectural gem is set to cease operations as a bus station next month. To get a look inside, check out our Instagram and Facebook pages.

Ooh and don’t forget! Tag @The216Scoop on Facebook & @scoopcle on Instagram to get your photos in the Scoop!

12 °F 🌡️ 6 °F | 🌨️ (Light Snow / Frigid) | 50% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 15 mph (≈ 13 knots)

10 °F 🌡️ 2 °F | 🌥️ (Cloudy & Arctic Cold) | 30% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 12 mph (≈ 10 knots)

15 °F 🌡️ 8 °F | 🌨️ (Scattered Snow Showers) | 40% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 14 mph (≈ 12 knots)

_{Please note that weather conditions can change rapidly. For the most up-to-date information, consider checking a reliable local weather service.}

Home vs. Lakers, 7:00 PM January 28 (Wednesday)

Away vs. Suns, 9:00 PM January 30 (Friday)

Away vs. Trail Blazers, 9:00 PM February 1 (Sunday)

Thanks for reading The 216 Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who’s been to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History a dozen times.

Watch this quick video (start at 0:50) to see how easy it is to add our app to your home screen!