shakersquare

CLEVELAND — A breath of fresh air is felt across Shaker Square Tuesday night as a new restaurant with a familiar face soft opened.

In January, after years of planning and critical repairs, the public got a look at what’s in the works for the re-envisioned Shaker Square, which was purchased in 2022 by two nonprofit organizations — Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and Burten, Bell, Carr Development Inc.

Retailers and neighbors have been watching firsthand as renovations gave a new life to the historic but aging shopping center. Recent improvements include new HVAC systems, new roofs, outdoor lighting, awnings, light fixtures and other updates to address 20 years of delayed routine maintenance.

Shaker Square recently released a request for proposals for its new vision, titled “A New Era for a Cleveland Classic,” aimed at attracting a mix of storefront tenants.

“Shaker Square has benefited from great momentum recently, and that brings us to a critical moment where it’s vital for us to conduct a comprehensive search for a lasting retail mix in line with what the neighborhood is looking for,” Tania Menesse, president and CEO of Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, co-owner of Shaker Square with Burton, Bell, Carr Development, Inc., said in a news release. “Through this initiative we’re truly casting a wide net, making the case to business owners that Shaker Square is the place to be.”

For many Northeast Ohioans, July 5, 2022, was a dark day in dining. That was the day Luchita’s Mexican Restaurant closed after a remarkable 40-year run. Family matriarch Maria de la Luz Galindo opened the restaurant in 1981, making it one of the first Mexican restaurants on Cleveland’s west side.

Since the closure, there have been rumblings about reviving the iconic local brand, but the right time, place and opportunity have not yet come together for the Galindo family. But now they have, says Reynaldo Galindo.

For the past six months, Galindo and partners Jorge Sierra and Elisa Maria Galindo have been reshaping the former Balaton space at Shaker Square into Coyoacán, a venture that was to combine a fast-casual Mexican eatery with bar and microbrewery serving regional Mexican food. After much consideration, the plan has shifted to dedicate the second space to a new Luchita’s.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Coyoacan Taqueria & Brew look to bring new energy to the northwest corner of Shaker Square when it opens next week.

Soft opening is scheduled 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 10.

Visitors will find a customize-your-own line for tacos, burritos, bowls and tortas as well as craft beer from business partner Compass Rose Brewery in Raleigh, N.C. Coyoacan has brewing equipment in the building and plans to make beer within the year. But that’s not all. The popular Luchita’s Mexican Restaurant — which closed its last location three years ago after a 40-year run — will rise again. A new version is part of the new Shaker Square address. Luchita’s signage will be installed once permits are in place.

New businesses are popping up in Shaker Square.

Developers don’t want to lose the momentum, which is why they are pushing to fill the remaining vacant spaces in the square.

Rey Galindo and his nephew Jorge Sierra Galindo are back in business in Shaker Square. The former owners of Luchita’s, a long-standing Mexican restaurant in Shaker Square, are opening a restaurant in early June. Different from Luchita’s and under a new name called Coyoacan Taqueria & Brew.

“We left about 20 years ago, and we are coming back. It’s a historic area. I just love this place. There is the rapid right in the middle and it is European,” said Galindo.

Shaker Square hopes to attract diverse businesses to its historic district with its new request for proposals.

The RFP, titled “A New Era for a Cleveland Classic,” was announced this week by Shaker Square co-owners Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc., in partnership with FASS Real Estate Services.

The RFP seeks businesses from within the Cleveland-area and beyond the region to set up shop in the square, which has several vacancies.

Shaker Square co-owners Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and Burten, Bell, Carr Development Inc. have launched a Request for Proposals (RFP) for new retail and restaurant tenants at Shaker Square.

The RFP, released in partnership with FASS Real Estate Services, is the first step of the retail center’s plan “A New Era for a Cleveland Classic,” unveiled in January, Tania Menesse, president and CEO of CNP, told Crain’s.

“One of the first things that we want to do is ensure that the tenant mix of the square that we’ve worked really hard to better understand is continued to be reflected in the new tenants that we’re bringing in,” she said.

Shaker Square is launching a comprehensive initiative aimed at attracting a vibrant mix of storefront tenants. Titled “A New Era for a Cleveland Classic,” Shaker Square co-owners Cleveland Neighborhood Progress (CNP) and Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc. (BBC) in partnership with FASS Real Estate Services, are building off community input received throughout the recently completed Vision Plan to seek a retail mix that aligns with neighborhood demand.

Those interested in leasing opportunities can learn more by viewing the RFP at this link or by contacting tenant@shakersquare.com 

For the past two decades, the corner of Shaker Square and N. Moreland has been home to a coffee shop. For most of that time, it was the site of Dewey’s Coffee, which closed in 2019 after 15 years. Biggby Coffee took over the space soon after but closed in 2022.

As of last month, a cafe has returned to the northern side of the square. Café Indigo (13201 Shaker Sq.), which opened in late February, brings coffee, ice cream and light fare to the square as plans for revitalization take shape, but anchor tenants like Edwins and Edwins move out.

Shaker Square patrons have gone a little over two years without a coffee shop, but that ended on Tuesday, Feb. 25, with the opening of Cafe Indigo.

“I’m excited for the community because I know they’ve been waiting,” said Melissa Hirsch, owner of the shop at 13201 Shaker Square. “And I kind of felt like the delays that I experienced, unfortunately, impacted them, but we’re going to be good for the spring and summer. We’re going to really fly.”