Often described by visitors as the most beautiful grocery store in America, the Heinen’s store and its former Cleveland Trust Bank rotunda will have to find a new use after July 31 (NEOtrans). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Closure rumors had swirled since March
Northeast Ohio-based Heinen’s grocery stores announced today that their iconic location in Downtown Cleveland will close permanently on July 31. A new use for the for space, described by many visitors and shoppers as the nation’s most beautiful grocery store, has apparently not been found.
The closure had been rumored since March. NEOtrans visited the store then, taking the pictures that appear in this article, and asked store employees if they had heard about the closure. If they had, they weren’t revealing it.
The store briefly closed during the COVID-19 pandemic but reopened Oct. 7, 2020. But it was reduced in size since. Pre-pandemic, Heinen’s did a brisk business at lunchtime as hundreds of office workers often crowded the rotunda to enjoy its prepared foods. But that business faded with downtown’s office workforce post-pandemic.
Heinen’s operates 24 grocery stores, with 18 in Northeast Ohio and five in the Chicago suburbs. When that number drops to 23 next month, employees at the downtown store will be transferred to other locations. Thus, no layoffs are anticipated and no other stores are to be closed, Heinen’s officials said.
“After more than 11 years serving the community at East 9th Street and Euclid Avenue, we have made the difficult decision to close the Heinen’s store in Downtown Cleveland. Our final day of operation will be Friday, July 31,” read a Heinen’s company statement.
The former Cleveland Trust Bank rotunda has stood at the southeast corner of Euclid Avenue and East 9th Street since 1908. Its banking operations closed in 1996 (NEOtrans).
“We are proud to have been part of the Downtown Cleveland community and grateful for the customers who chose to shop with us,” the statement continued. “The support and loyalty we received, along with the dedication of our associates, made this store truly special. While we wish the outcome had been different, we will always appreciate the relationships and memories created there.”
“I am deeply disappointed by the closure of Heinen’s downtown location,” said Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb. “For years, this store has been an important resource for downtown employees, residents, and visitors alike, and its presence has been a key part of the neighborhood’s continued growth and vitality.”
He said that in his tenure as mayor since 2022, his administration has worked with Heinen’s and provided more than $250,000 of incentives to support its operations. Bibb, City Council President Blaine Griffin and Ward 5 Councilman Richard Starr, in whose ward the store is located, pledged to attract new retailers downtown.
“Our commitment to a vibrant downtown remains unwavering,” said Bibb. “We will continue working alongside our downtown stakeholders to expand access to high-quality food options and strengthen the services and amenities that residents, workers, and visitors deserve.”
E-mails sent in March and today to officials at Geis Companies, which owns the store’s downtown property, were not responded to prior to publication of this article. Geis has offices in suburban Streetsboro and in The 9 tower it owns next door.
Most of the products in the Downtown Cleveland Heinen’s store are actually in a less-glamourous space — the ground floor of the neighboring 1010 Euclid Building (NEOtrans).
A real estate industry source in March told NEOtrans the store closing rumors were likely planted to help it in negotiations with Geis to extend its lease. No one confirmed the closure rumor back then so NEOtrans didn’t report it.
But that source, who spoke to NEOtrans on the condition of anonymity, today said Geis was aware of the possibility of this closure because the retailer had until Aug. 1 to extend its lease.
Heinen’s hadn’t informed Geis about its intentions until today. Given the lack of a response from Heinen’s in recent months, Geis reportedly began looking at other opportunities to lease the space but hasn’t yet secured any new tenants.
Downtown Cleveland Inc. (DCI) which promotes economic development in the central business district, also is looking at attracting another grocer downtown, be it at the former Cleveland Trust Bank Rotunda or another location.
The main entrance to the Downtown Heinen’s store is through the 1010 Euclid Building (NEOtrans).
DCI President & CEO Michael Deemer said that, since Heinen’s opened in 2015, downtown’s population grew to more than 21,000 residents, and there’s more than $5 billion in investment planned and underway and transformational development on downtown’s waterfronts.
“Retailers that succeed here will be the ones that adapt to how people live, shop, and spend,” Deemer added. “Ensuring our residents have access to affordable, convenient grocery options is a priority.”
“Downtown Cleveland, Inc. is moving with urgency to attract grocers and retailers that can serve residents, workers, and visitors with affordable goods and services,” Deemer continued. “Downtown remains a strong growth market and we are confident the right operators will want to be part of its future.”
In the meantime, he encouraged shoppers to visit Constantino’s Market on West 9th Street in the Warehouse District, a 20-year-old family-owned grocer that has built a loyal customer base.
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