Legend of the Land: The Arcade
The Arcade opened in May of 1890 as the first indoor shopping center in America, nicknamed Cleveland’s Crystal Palace. The plans for the building began four years prior with the idea of building an indoor street. It is a Victorian-Era structure that features two nine-story office buildings connected by five stories of shops and offices topped with a glass and steel roof. Designed by John M. Eisenmann and George H. Smith, the building at the time of its construction was the largest and tallest in the US. The cost of constructing the building in 1890 is equivalent to approximately $28 Million in 2022.
Interior of Arcade 1946
The building connects two high-traffic streets, Superior Ave. and Euclid Ave. also known as Millionaire’s Row at the time. From 1870 to 1920 Euclid Ave. was known as one of the finest and grand residential Avenues in America with people comparing it to the avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris. The neighborhood was also the most expensive in the nation exceeding New York’s Fifth Avenue. East 9th Street to East 55th Street was appropriately named Millionaires' Row. Included in those millionaires were well-known people such as John D Rockefeller, Marcus Hanna, and Samuel Mather.
Greenwood’s Diamonds, one of the Diamond merchants located in The Arcade 1931
When the Arcade opened it was immediately flooded by top-tier restaurants and retailers. One more notable tenant was Baxter and Beattie (later known as H.W. Beattie and Sons). The Diamond merchant was best known for its breathtaking diamond displays created by the youngest son Milton. The designs, made of odd or misshapen stones, included portraits of presidents, flags, birds, and even three-dimensional designs for special events. The displays stopped patrons in their tracks to gawk at the mosaic-styled gems. Although the last store closed in 2005, the legacy of H.W. Beattie and Sons lives on in many ways, including the groove worn into the floor of the Arcade from patrons halting to gaze at the precious stones.
Another noteworthy tenant was Thomas Edison’s Ohio Phonograph Company. The Edison Phonograph and Kinetoscope Parlor occupied a storefront by the Euclid Avenue entrance from 1890 until 1902. Invented in 1877, the Phonograph, later forms called a gramophone, or more notably the record player, and the Kinetoscope, an early motion-picture exhibition device invented in 1891 were instrumental in creating the way we watch and listen to music and film today.
Edison Phonograph and Kinetoscope Parlor 1901
Mrs. Severance A. [Marguerite S.] Millkin (left) and Mrs. Gilbert W. [Louise Ireland] Humphrey, members of the committee for the Musical Arts Association's Showboat Ball. This picture was published in the Cleveland Press as an advertisement for the Showboat Ball in Jan 1962
Due to it grand size of the Arcade, it acted as the perfect host to large-scale events such as the 1895 National Convention of Republican Clubs, which included visits from future president William McKinley and his chief adviser and campaign manager Clevelander Marcus Hanna. In 1961 The Arcade held The Showboat Ball raising over $5,000 for the Cleveland Orchestra and soon after in 1973 the building held the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Through the years, the Superior Avenue entrance has managed to keep its original arched design. However, in 1939 the Euclid entrance was replaced to reflect that of a more modern storefront. The renovation also included reinforcing the load-bearing walls with steel beams. In 1975 the Arcade was the first Cleveland building to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Superior Ave. Entrance 1925
The Arcade began to deteriorate until a 60-million-dollar renovation took place in 2001. The upper floors have become home to a Hyatt Regency Hotel with interior balconies looking out to the indoor street. Currently, you can find retailers such as Marengo Luxury Spa, Next Level Barbershop, Essential wellness, and The Arcade Art Gallery. There’s always a bite to eat with restaurants such as Pizza 216 and Rising Star Coffee. The Arcade is a significant part of Cleveland’s rich history and we remain fortunate to have the ability to step back in time by crossing the threshold of the Arcade.
