📰 The IKEA Odyssey Is Finally Over

Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: Lakewood’s creative celebration turns 49. Come for the art; leave with something 🎨🛍️

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John Petkovic & Jude Perez

The days of cramming clunky boxes in the car and hauling them back from Pittsburgh or Columbus are soon to be over.

Bring on the Swedish meatballs!

IKEA will open its third Ohio store in the space that once housed Dick’s Sporting Goods at Crocker Park.

The Swedish retailer’s arrival culminates a decade-long odyssey  that sparked high and letdowns.

In 2014, it signed an agreement to open a location to Brooklyn, on land near The Plain Dealer printing plant. Concerns over wetlands on the property killed the deal.

In 2018, it passed on opening a store in Garfield Heights, on the site of the abandoned Bridgeview Crossing.

Greater Cleveland was the largest metro area without an IKEA, which plans to open to Crocker Park location next spring.

The deal with Crocker Park developer Stark Enterprises was years in the works.

The 80,000-square-foot store reflects its strategy of smaller-format stores in urban and suburban areas – and will feature a deli with, yes, Swedish meatballs.

“This is about more than activating a premier retail space,” says Stark’s Lidia Saluan Richani.

“It’s about creating a destination that will attract visitors from across the region, enhance our retail mix, and reinforce Crocker Park's position as one of the nation's leading mixed-use lifestyle centers.”

When it opened in the opulent 1908 Cleveland Trust Rotunda, Heinen’s was hailed as a turning point for downtown.

Its closing on Friday is mourned by downtowners who moved into the city with high hopes.

“Many of us who live downtown, myself included, chose to build a life here because Heinen’s showed us that it was possible,” says Michael Collier, co-founder of Downtown Neighborhood Association.

The group hosted a mixer at Heinen’s last night to bid farewell to the beloved store.

Of course, it was more than a store to so many.

“What many have called the most beautiful grocery store in the world was right here,” says Collier. “That makes the closure both a symbolic and immensely practical loss.”

At its opening, the store’s co-president said: “We saw this as a chance to continue the momentum that’s happening in Cleveland and we thought it was worth the risk.”

That commitment resonated with residents who saw themselves building a neighborhood where there was none.

For decades, Lakewood has been hailed as one of the area’s most welcoming communities – where all walks are welcome not just to live, but to enjoy life.

For 49 of those years, the Lakewood Arts Festival has brought the color, spirit and life of the city onto the street.

It returns Saturday, August 1, with color, sound, and imagination on Detroit Avenue.

Founded in 1978, the fest started a small, simple idea: Bring neighborhood residents together for a summer stroll with art as the attraction.

It has grown and has transformed into one of the region’s most acclaimed juried showcase of over 170 regional and national artists displaying everything from ceramics to paintings, photos, jewelry and sculpture.

It rolls out multiple stages for eclectic bands and performers – to go with food trucks offering a wide range of international and local cuisines.

Above all, it’s a street party that helped mold the image of Lakewood as a welcoming place, where all walks are welcome and the spirit is creative. Info.

Check out our 216 Insider – it’s free for all subscribers – to read more about it here.

Raise a glass to the golden days of summer. How long they will last, no one knows – so enjoy them while they last. These seven patios boast stellar views of the skyline, the water, the street.

Bar 32: The views stir the drink on the 32nd floor of the downtown Hilton -- with stellar shots of the skyline, Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River.

Casa La Luna: Located on site of the Cleveland's first high-level bridge (built in 1878), it’s a wonderful perch to look out onto the skyline, Flats and Cuyahoga River

Collision Bend: Located in the 19^th-century building that once housed the storied Watermark, it boasts an energetic crowd and timeless views of the Flats.

Eden Rooftop Lounge: Sitting on top of the Metropolitan at The 9, it offers up-close views of downtown and its architectural wonders – to with greenery and stylish décor.

Fahrenheit: The rooftop patio next to the Sherwin-Williams building feels like a night in the city, with stellar cocktails.

Merwin's Wharf: This sprawling patio along the Cuyahoga sits amid a unique mix of industry and nature, old bridges and wild greenery. Great views and vibes.

Pier W: The patio feels like the wide deck of a ship, offering what might be the best views of Lake Erie, the downtown skyline and the setting sun.

👉 View Listing on Zillow

What do you get when you mix rock with traditional Korean music and Gangneung mask-dance rhythms.

Hmm, not sure – but Insun Park & Generals are hell-bent on delivering their version of that cocktail. The Korean group blends ancestral art and contemporary sound, traditional rhythms with modern rock influences.

At 7:30 tonight, it hits City Stages, the CMA’s popular block parties that take place in front of Transformer Station. Info.

It’s the most beautiful grocery store in America. Before it became Heinen’s, it was one of America’s most opulent banks — and a symbol of Cleveland’s financial might. The Cleveland Trust Rotunda opened in 1908 and was joined by the Ameritrust Tower in 1971. Both are architectural marvels, with the latter designed by Marcel Breuer -- the master who is the subject of the acclaimed film, ‘The Brutalist.’

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76 °F 🌡️ 67 °F | ☀️ (Mostly Sunny) | 4% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 17 mph NNW (≈ 15 knots)

78 °F 🌡️ 63 °F | ☀️ (Sunny) | 4% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 12 mph NNW (≈ 10 knots)

82 °F 🌡️ 70 °F | ⛅ (Partly Cloudy) | 3% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 7 mph NW (≈ 6 knots)

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

Away vs. Reds, 7:10 PM July 29 (Wednesday)

Home vs. D-backs, 7:10 PM July 31 (Friday)

Home vs. D-backs, 7:15 PM August 1 (Saturday)

Home vs. D-backs, 1:40 PM August 2 (Sunday)

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