CLEVELAND – Bedrock, the company that owns Tower City, announced three new leases with Cleveland companies to revitalize the historic city and mall.
Jaxon’s Closet, a boys’ clothing store, MiAmour, a women’s boutique, and Peach Fuzz, a beauty and personal care company in Lakewood, will all move into Tower City in Fall 2021. All three stores are owned by women and News 5 was able to confirm that at least two of the three women are women of color.
Kevin Barry
“We’ve been able to find at least three Cleveland African American companies we’d love to work with and they’ll be arriving in Tower City and there are about 10 more leases to come in,” said Bedrock CEO Kofi Bonner, speaking on Sept. 15 about the new endeavors.
It’s part of the company’s efforts to ensure that the downtown revitalization buys all of the people who live nearby.
“That lets me know that they care about the people, they invest in the people, but they want to see the city grow as much as we do,” said Jeremiah Perkins, co-owner of UJerk Caribbean Eatery. “To be honest, it’s good to have someone else in battle.”
Kevin Barry
Bedrock said earlier this summer that Tower City’s future is to be a “hub for shopping, pop-up retail experiences, dining and entertainment while bringing an influx of local small and minority businesses to downtown Cleveland’s busier areas” According to a press release.
Terry Schwarz, the collaborative director of Kent State Cleveland Urban Design, says she was wondering if a major anchor tenant will be announced anytime soon, especially after Tower City Cinemas announced that it will close for good in August 2020.
Kevin Barry
“I think that the old model with the cinema, the three department stores that make up the classic shopping centers, may not happen here,” said Schwarz. “Maybe there is a grocery store there.”
It’s also an interesting possibility that the latest report from the Downtown Cleveland Alliance says there are officially 20,000 residents downtown, and big projects like The Centennial are planning to bring many more homes and residents downtown.
“That’s not just what the wealthiest downtown residents need,” says Schwarz. “There are many people who live downtown, and what is the range of searches and products that serve that population? It really could be a living place. It sure is an experiment. I don’t know a model like this. “
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