Downtown Cleveland Hits Key Milestones in Retail Strategy
Downtown Cleveland, Inc. has made significant progress in its Downtown Retail Strategy, successfully implementing nine key recommendations from the comprehensive plan developed with Streetsense, a nationally recognized strategy and design firm. These achievements underscore the organization’s commitment to driving economic vitality and transforming the core into a more vibrant neighborhood.
“This past year, we’ve made meaningful strides in advancing our retail strategy, making downtown a more attractive place in which to live, work, shop and dine,” said Michael Deemer, President & CEO of Downtown Cleveland. “Our retail strategy, Downtown Ambassadors, Safety Specialists and the 300-plus events our team produced helped attract 29 storefront businesses in 2024.”
Unveiled in November 2023, the Downtown Retail Strategy provides a roadmap for making the city center more inviting and supportive of retail. Downtown Cleveland has taken decisive action to bring these priorities to life.
Key Milestones
Retail Attraction & Retention
1. Create a dedicated staff position. Downtown Cleveland responded to this first recommendation – and highest priority – in the Retail Strategy with the recent appointment of Silvia Iorio as Vice President of Economic Development. Iorio previously worked in the City of Shaker Heights Economic Development Department, focusing on business retention and expansion efforts. She also served as the point of contact for prospective businesses and commercial property owners.
2. Establish a retail attraction effort targeting small and minority owned businesses. Iorio’s role includes:
Developing a retail attraction program with targeted categories, incentives and technical assistance.
Building relationships with brokers and property owners to identify and activate prime retail spaces.
Launching an online portal for prospective tenants, offering ongoing support and resources.
Hosting broker sessions to share district data, incentive availability and downtown tours for potential tenants.
Working closely with the City of Cleveland’s newly revamped Economic Development Department to support storefront businesses
Marketing, Promotion & Activation
3. Establish a night market. In partnership with Cleveland Bazaar, Downtown Cleveland introduced a successful happy hour vendor market series in the fall of 2024, rotating locations throughout downtown. Plans are underway to expand this series in 2025, providing more opportunities for small businesses and artisans to engage with the community and support the possible transition into a brick-and-mortar presence.
Public Realm
Many of the Retail Strategy recommendations focus on our commercial corridors – streetscapes, mobility, wayfinding, public art, etc. These initiatives are rooted in the understanding that retailers are more successful when they are located in places that feel welcoming, engaging and attractive.
4. Make retail corridor enhancements. Downtown Cleveland has partnered with LAND Studio to design improved streetscapes, beginning in the Gateway District. These efforts aim to create dynamic commercial areas that invite exploration and extended visits.
5. Improve connectivity and mobility. Downtown Cleveland is advancing projects that enhance accessibility across the core, including wayfinding signage, the Superior Midway and reimagined configurations for Public Square and the Gateway District. These projects make downtown easier to navigate for pedestrians, cyclists, public transit riders and drivers alike.
6. Invest in world-class Infrastructure and activations. Downtown Cleveland secured a $750,000 allocation from the State Capital Budget, which will fund the design and construction of a new play and recreation area in Meet Me Here Park, across from Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. This space will provide much needed gathering areas, encouraging increased foot traffic to nearby retailers.
7. Explore a pilot project on Huron Road that enables targeted retail activation. Downtown Cleveland is working with Playhouse Square and neighborhood partners on a pilot planning initiative for Huron Road to improve connectivity and accessibility in this key corridor.
8. Create and prioritize bike and micro-mobility infrastructure. Downtown Clevland is actively working with the City of Cleveland, property owners, businesses, residents and community partners to improve bike infrastructure and mobility across downtown.
9. Support and advocate for a world-class land bridge. Downtown Cleveland remains an advocate for the North Coast Connector, which has secured significant state and federal funding and will enhance connections between downtown and the waterfront.
Looking Ahead
“We are optimistic about the future of downtown Cleveland's retail scene,” said Deemer. “Silvia Iorio is an exciting addition to our team. She brings great experience in helping to build strong retail corridors and supporting small businesses. Silvia will be a terrific resource for businesses, property owners, brokers and public officials.”
Downtown Cleveland’s plans for strengthening the retail environment in 2025 include:
Greater Downtown Vision – Communicating a cohesive strategy for improving public spaces, enhancing connectivity, supporting private development, aggressively attracting businesses, raising necessary funds and advocating for economic development programs and policies.
Safety Initiatives – Conducting an audit of downtown lighting, advocating for repairs, expanding the smart camera pilot, and utilizing special deployments of Downtown Ambassadors and Safety Specialists.
Gateway District and Playhouse Square Enhancements – Working to improve streetscapes, sidewalks, parks, bike lanes and storefronts.
Retail Corridor Development – Engaging Warehouse District, Flats and Erieview Historic District stakeholders to plan and design retail corridor improvements.
Small Business Marketing – Promoting downtown’s diverse small businesses to residents, office workers and visitors.
Programming and Activation – Animating downtown with over 300 events to encourage more foot traffic to support small businesses.
Return to Office – Urging employers to bring more office workers back downtown.
Economic Development Incentives and Policy – Advocating for programs and tools that support business attraction and office building redevelopment.