Galleria at Erieview facts for kids
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| Location | Cleveland, Ohio, United States |
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| Coordinates | 41°30′16.9″N 81°41′21.6″W / 41.504694°N 81.689333°W |
| Address | 1301 East Ninth Street |
| Opening date | 1987 |
| Developer | Richard E. Jacobs Group |
| Owner | James Kassouf |
| No. of stores and services | 28 |
| Total retail floor area | 138,000 square feet (12,800 m2) |
| No. of floors | 2 |
The Galleria at Erieview is a two-story shopping mall located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. It opened in 1987 in the eastern part of downtown Cleveland. This mall is right next to the Erieview Tower, which is a tall 40-story office building. The Galleria is also just a short walk from the famous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
History of the Galleria
How the Galleria Started
The idea for the Galleria began in 1985. At that time, a man named Richard E. Jacobs bought the Cleveland Indians baseball team. He also bought the Tower at Erieview, which had been built in 1964. Mr. Jacobs then planned to turn the open area in front of the tower into a shopping center. He wanted it to serve people living in the Cleveland area.
The result was the Galleria, which opened in late 1987. It was a large, glass-enclosed mall covering about 207,600-square-foot (19,290 m2). This was the first big shopping center to open in Downtown Cleveland since the 1920s.
Changes Over Time
The Galleria helped to make downtown Cleveland a more lively place in the 1990s. However, over time, it became quite empty. This was partly because it didn't have a large department store. Also, some people felt it was too far from the main part of downtown. By 2005, the mall had only 36 shops, even though it could hold 66.
In 2003, the Galleria and Erieview Tower were bought by Werner Minshall. He first thought about closing the mall and turning it into a convention center. But this plan didn't happen. Instead, Mr. Minshall decided to try and bring the mall back to life. He worked to fill it with local businesses.
This plan has been slow, but it has seen some success. A few local businesses have bought space in the mall. Also, several local sellers set up stands during the week to sell their products. You can also find some non-retail businesses and groups on the second floor.
Food and Fitness
A popular part of the Galleria is its food court. Many people who work downtown come here for lunch on weekdays.
The Galleria was once known for a business called "Gardens under Glass." This was like a farm inside the mall, under its big glass roof. However, Gardens under Glass closed in 2013.
More recently, the Parker Hannifin Downtown YMCA has moved into the Galleria. It now takes up a large part of the mall and is open for people to use.
In 2019, James Kassouf and a group of investors bought the property for $17.7 million.
