By Steven Litt, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Merchants at the nearly century-old Shaker Square shopping center on Cleveland’s East Side can be a tough audience.

They’re impatient for change more than three years after the historic property fell into foreclosure in late 2020, jeopardizing a regional landmark and a retail anchor as important to the city as the West Side Market.

It took nearly another two years before Cleveland City Council voted in 2022 to spend $12 million to enable a pair of local nonprofit community development agencies to buy the troubled property from creditors and carry out a 21st century reboot.

Since then, the nonprofits Cleveland Neighborhood Progress (CNP) and Burten Bell Carr Development, Inc., (BBC) have raised and nearly spent $5.25 million on urgently needed repairs.

This Month at Shaker Square

Season’s greetings from Shaker Square! Get ready to delve into the latest edition of the Shaker Square Newsletter. We’re thrilled to bring you exciting updates, stories, and insights that shine a spotlight on the incredible support and enthusiasm in our community. As we uncover the newest happenings, events, and initiatives that contribute to the vibrancy of Shaker Square.

Save the date! On December 17th from 2pm to 6pm it’s going to be festive fun at Shaker Square, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you. Dust off your holiday cheer because we’ve got a festive lineup that’ll jingle your bells.

Say Cheese with Santa
Join us at Quad B (Next to Breakfast Club) from 2 pm to 6 pm for a holly jolly photo session with Santa! It’s first come, first served, and the best part? The photos are on the house! All participating families will receive a link to download their edited snapshots.

Fireside Festivities and Melodies by Brent Kirby
Captain Tony’s patio space will be lit with an outdoor fire and live holiday tunes by Brent Kirby. Grab a seat, stay warm, and let the festive vibes sink in.

Gingerbread Galore
Head over to Quad B (Next to Captain Tony’s) of Shaker Square for some sweet fun. We’re hosting a gingerbread man decorating party!

Horse-Drawn Wonderland Wagon Rides
Take a magical ride around Shaker Square on a horse drawn wonderland wagon ride!

RTA Holiday Trolley Extravaganza!
All aboard the RTA Holiday Trolley! This trolley is bringing the holiday spirit with tours, a festive elf, music, and giveaways. Check out more about the trolley here: RTA Merry Trolley

Merchant Magic!
Our Shaker Square tenants are spreading the joy too:

• Cleveland City Dance: Open house with studio tours and complimentary lessons. Dance your way into the holidays!
• Goldenrod Montessori: Open house with family activities (surprises await, so stay tuned!).
• Psychopomp Coffee: Enjoy a cozy cup of coffee and hot chocolate as you wander throughout the event.

Zanzibar’s Culinary Comeback: Creator Akin Affrica Returns

Exciting news unfolds as Akin Affrica, the previous owner of Zanzibar, makes his triumphant return to Shaker Square! Affrica’s deep-seated motives and unwavering mission stem from cherished childhood memories spent at Shaker Square.

But this isn’t just a homecoming; it’s a culinary renaissance! Zanzibar is unveiling six tantalizing new menu items, and the maestro himself, Chef Tony Fortner, is back to weave his culinary magic.

As the pioneering full service African American-owned restaurant in Shaker Square, Affrica is determined to restore Zanzibar to its premier status. To ensure this success, a dynamic new management team has been assembled, infusing the venture with fresh energy and unwavering motivation.

Stay tuned for the flavorful revival of Zanzibar, where tradition meets innovation in every dish!

Explore the incredible food and exciting new energy at Zanzibar!

Zanzibar Soul Fusion 

Fresh Look for the Square: Illuminating the Season Ahead

Recent Façade Enhancements
Acknowledging the importance of maintaining a visually appealing environment, we are pleased to share that recent refurbishments have taken place in prominent storefronts, including the two corners at South Moreland and Shaker Square. These spaces have received a fresh coat of paint that has brought a refreshing look to the Square.

Holiday Lights Installation
Our dedicated team is installing the holiday lights across the Square. It is great to see how the Square is starting to sparkle as our holiday event approaches! Check out this process with behind the scenes content of the Seasons Greetings from the Square event on our social media platforms!

Celebrating a Season of Gratitude, Giving, and Community Success

We hope your Thanksgiving was joyous! As always, we extend our gratitude to residents, visitors, and businesses for making Shaker Square a special destination. Your love and support are the heartbeat of the Square. In the spirit of giving this season, we invite you to invest in local ownership and contribute to the thriving community we cherish. We appreciate your essential role in the success of our community.

Want to make a lasting impact on Shaker Square?

Contribute Online

Keep Up With Us

Whether it’s events at Shaker Square, in the neighborhood, or across Cleveland, stay up to date by following Shaker Square and the BBC on social media!

Shaker Square Social Media

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter

BBC Social Media

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter

Events

Since its opening in 1929, Shaker Square has been a place to meet and share experiences, together. There is always something happening in the Square inviting you to gather, engage, and enjoy the spirit of community!
Visit the Shaker Square website to see all upcoming events.

North Union Farmer’s Market
December 2, 8 am – noon
Shaker Square Market will be on East and West Bound Shaker Blvd. You will find an assortment of fresh produce, meats, dairy, baked goods, and more every Saturday.

Shaker Square Holiday Event
December 17, 2 pm – 6 pm
Join us in Shaker Square’s public space to celebrate the holidays! Get a family photo with Santa, create fun crafts, and listen to live holiday music!

Don’t see your event listed above?
Submit it through the link below!

Submit an Event for the Calendar

This Month at Shaker Square

Welcome to the latest addition of the Shaker Square Newsletter! In this issue, we’re thrilled to share exciting updates, stories, and insights that showcase the continued support and excitement in and around Shaker Square. Join us as we explore the latest developments, events, and initiatives that make our community thrive.

Shedding Light on Ongoing Capital Improvements

Walk around Shaker Square, and you will see many – but not all! – of the capital improvements that we already have underway.

You’ll notice many improvements to lighting around the Square. All lighting in the parking lots for Dave’s and CVS have been replaced with LED bulbs. We have also added additional light poles in those parking lots to increase brightness and security at night. We have also transitioned the lightbulbs in the historical lampposts to LED bulbs. Last, you’ll notice that the trees and gardens around Shaker Square have new uplighting, allowing them to show off at night.

In addition to the improved and new lighting in the Dave’s and CVS parking lots, we also laid new asphalt and painted new striping for parking spaces. All of this work looks and feels great. There are other improvements happening throughout the Square that you won’t always be able to see. For example:

• Flat roof repair and replacement – Our team has been working to repair and replace all of the flat roof sections of Shaker Square. We expect to wrap up this work in November.
• Masonry – Across the Square, we are investing in repairing brickwork and tuck pointing.
• Storefront repairs and updates – Before we can install new awnings in the Spring, we are making repairs to facades and carpentry. This work is happening now, all in preparation for a refreshed look with new awnings in 2024.
• HVAC – Among all the lessons we learned during the pandemic, one important one is that HVAC systems matter. And Shaker Square’s HVAC systems already had a long list of deferred maintenance issues. For both of those reasons, we will be replacing the HVAC systems throughout Shaker Square, and – to get this process started – we’ve begun placing orders for everything we’ll need to begin this process.

Celebrating One Year of Progress, and Making Plans for the Future

Thank you to everyone who came out on September 28 for the first fundraiser to support the future of Shaker Square. It was a great opportunity to share the investments made in the first year of new ownership in this historic anchor of the East Side. Those updates included planned investments in Shaker Square public spaces, including improved signage, updated landscaping, new murals and playscapes, and a stage – all of which is contemplated for 2024.

On top of those updates, guests at this event also heard about the initiatives underway in the surrounding neighborhoods. Those initiatives complement the work happening at Shaker Square, and though they require longer term, systemic changes, they will have a magnified and transformational impact for everyone.

It was wonderful to feel the excitement and positive energy in the room as plans were outlined to activate the Square on a near daily basis – not just for major events – and to develop a vision to position the Square for the next generation. This is all possible if the broader community stands with us to support the revitalization of Shaker Square!

Contribute Online

Improvements You Can Feel: Investing in Safety and Security

Based on feedback from tenants, patrons, and other stakeholders, the Shaker Square ownership team and its leasing and property management partners FASS are making changes and investments to improve safety at and around Shaker Square. To that end, we are contracting with Safe Choice Security Service to provide patrol and safety services. These improvements will include a mobile unit and guards who will patrol the Square and escort employees and patrons to cars.

The Shaker Square leadership team also recently met with local police departments from the City of Cleveland, the city of Shaker Heights, and the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority to coordinate and improve security at and around Shaker Square. As we work with these partners, we hope to bring alignment to safety and security efforts in this historic commercial district that sits at the border of two cities and near multiple other police departments.

All of these changes and partnerships will improve safety and security at Shaker Square for you, for residents, for tenants, and for customers. We welcome your feedback as these changes are implemented, and we are committed to continuing to update you on these and future investments to the safety and security of Shaker Square.

Illuminating Shaker Square’s Future through a Community Visioning Process

Last month, we shared an update with you on the Community Visioning process that Burten, Bell, Carr Development Inc. (BBC) and Cleveland Neighborhood Progress started during the summer. They had released a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking urban design and retail professionals to work collaboratively with the community on visioning a future for Shaker Square. We are grateful for all of the responses from interested partners and the time and participation of our Advisory Committee members. There is so much interest in Shaker Square’s future – and everyone understands it must start by engaging the community and understanding their interests, hopes, and dreams for this neighborhood.

This process will build upon past planning efforts and engage community in propelling the historic Shaker Square shopping center into an even more vibrant future. In addition, the visioning process will position the Square for a new owner – not tomorrow, but farther in the future. It will provide a prospective buyer a blueprint for what the community would like to see at the Square and what is financially feasible from a merchandising and programming standpoint.

Community Visioning will likely be a year-long process, which we plan to start in 2024. We are currently fundraising for the planning process. This work is critically important because it is how we ensure resident and community voices get included in the future plans for Shaker Square.

Make a Gift to Support the Shaker Square Visioning Process Today 

Keep Up With Us

Whether it’s events at Shaker Square, in the neighborhood, or across Cleveland, stay up to date by following Shaker Square and the BBC on social media!

Shaker Square Social Media

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter

BBC Social Media

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter

Tenant Spotlight: Atlas Cinemas

Atlas Cinemas’ roots in Shaker Square date back to 1937. Today, the cinema proudly remains locally owned and independently operated. Since its 2019 renovation, it has not only hosted movie-goers in Cleveland, but has also been a host of wonderful events such as the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival (GCUFF) and the Short. Sweet. Film Fest, providing a platform for Black independent filmmakers.

Atlas Cinemas is also a venue available for event rentals. Host a private movie screening of current releases, bring a DVD of your favorite film, or utilize the theater stage for events, gaming challenges, and more!
Learn more about event offerings and book your next movie night here!

Events

Since its opening in 1929, Shaker Square has been a place to meet and share experiences, together. There is always something happening in the Square inviting you to gather, engage, and enjoy the spirit of community!
Visit the Shaker Square website to see all upcoming events.

North Union Farmer’s Market
November 4, 8 am – noon
Shaker Square Market will be on East and West Bound Shaker Blvd. You will find an assortment of fresh produce, meats, dairy, baked goods, and more every Saturday.

Shaker Square Holiday Event
December 17, 2 pm – 6 pm
Join us in Shaker Square’s public space to celebrate the holidays! Get a family photo with Santa, create fun crafts, and listen to live holiday music!

Don’t see your event listed above?
Submit it through the link below!

Submit an Event Through the Calendar

Support the Square

Join Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc. for a reception supporting the future of Shaker Square.

The event will support a community visioning process that will provide a blueprint for the future of the Square, in addition to other investments that improve Shaker Square for everyone. From signage and wayfinding to community programming, and from playscapes to murals, holiday lighting, and landscaping – we’ve got big plans for Shaker Square.

The gathering will be an opportunity to get a comprehensive update, not just on the Square but about the work that CNP and BBC are doing to strengthen the surrounding neighborhoods.

RSVP by Making Your Gift Today

Thursday, September 28, 2023
Doors open at 5:30pm
Program begins at 6:30pm

Edwins Too
13220 Shaker Square
Cleveland, OH 44120

Sponsorships & Tickets
The Square Level – $10,000
The Quadrant Level – $5,000
The Canopy Level – $2,500
The Storefront Level – $1,000
Individual Ticket – $250

RSVP
Make a gift to register your attendance, or
contact Karen Conavino by calling (216) 534-3343
or emailing her.

Make Your Gift Today

Channel 19’s Katie Tercek came to Shaker Square to speak with tenants, visitors, and Cleveland Neighborhood Progress’ Tania Menesse about the work underway to improve this historic destination.

Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and Burten Bell Carr Inc. took over ownership of Shaker Square in August 2022. “To bring Buckeye, Shaker Square, and Larchmere together to support this community is what we’re working to do,” Mensesse told Channel 19.

In the midst of restoring buildings, grounds and streets around historic Shaker Square, the nonprofit ownership on Saturday (Aug. 19) will celebrate the one-year anniversary of acquiring the landmark commercial and transportation hub.

Running from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., this year’s third and final monthly installment of “Summer on the Square” features an “Art, Community and Anniversary” theme, along with a young foodie attraction that is certain to be a big draw as well.

Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and Burten, Bell, Carr Development Inc., the owners of Shaker Square, have consolidated property management and leasing services with FASS Real Estate Services (FASS). Effective August 4, 2023, this move will ensure that Shaker Square tenants, store patrons, and visitors continue to benefit from quality services and activities.

This marks a smooth transition of property management service from CRESCO Real Estate to FASS, a boutique real estate brokerage firm specializing in property management, real estate sales and leasing, real estate consulting, and commercial real estate and development. FASS’ corporate offices are located at 3705 Lee Rd, Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120.

FASS has provided leasing services for the Square since August 2022. FASS is a minority certified and led firm. The team is led by Akil Hameed, Broker/Owner of FASS Real Estate Services. The FASS team is committed to working with each of Shaker Square’s tenants to make this historic destination the place to be in Cleveland.

Over a year-long partnership with CRESCO leading up to this transition, critical work around the Square got underway regarding maintenance, repair, and addressing safety requests from tenants and customers. During this time, a capital needs assessment was completed that outlines the Square’s infrastructure priorities, including roofing, carpentry, windows, landscaping, HVAC, electrical, and other needs. With this capital needs assessment in hand, CNP, BBC, and FASS are moving forward with a strategic plan for investing in and improving Shaker Square for tenants, customers, and residents.

Summer on the Square

Thank you to our neighbors and friends for making the July “Summer on the Square” event a success! The Square became a mini-adventure park complete with mini golf, a surf simulator, magic tricks, crafts, music – and it even transformed into a bubble wonderland thanks to everyone joining in the fun! View more photos on the Shaker Square Facebook page.

We look forward to continuing the summer fun at the next Summer on the Square event on Saturday, August 19. We will see you then!

Revitalizing the Square

Capital improvements are underway at Shaker Square.

The lighting upgrades to the parking lots are complete, and we are working with the contractor and neighbors to optimize brightness.
Work currently happening includes:

• Storefront carpentry and masonry repairs,
• Roof replacements,
• Parking lot resurfacing, and
• Exterior painting.

The next two work items to bid are new HVAC units and storefront awnings.

Support the Square

Join Cleveland Neighborhood Progress (CNP) and Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc. (BBC) for a reception supporting the future of Shaker Square. The event will support a community visioning process that will provide a blueprint for the next owner of the Square, signage, ongoing programming, placemaking (playscape, murals, holiday lighting) and landscaping.

The gathering will be an opportunity to get a comprehensive update, not just on the Square but about the work that CNP and BBC are doing to strengthen the surrounding neighborhoods.

Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Program begins at 6:30 p.m.

Edwins Too
13220 Shaker Square
Cleveland, Ohio 44120

Sponsorship & Tickets
The Square Level – $10,000
The Quadrant Level – $5,000
The Canopy Level – $2,500
The Storefront Level – $1,000
Individual ticket – $250

RSVP
Contact Karen Connavino at (216) 534-3343 or karen@balodisgroup.com

Contribute Online

Featured Tenant: SASA

When SASA opened its doors at Shaker Square nearly 16 years ago, it became Cleveland’s first Japanese Izakaya restaurant.

“Lots of chefs can cook, but not all of them are a part of the community,” owner Scott Kim said of his bistro’s deep ties to not only his customers but also to many families in the surrounding community.

Read more about SASA on the Shaker Square social media channels.

Community Engagement: Planning for the Future

Earlier this summer, Burten, Bell, Carr Development Inc. (BBC) and Cleveland Neighborhood Progress released a Request for Proposal (RFP), seeking urban design and retail professionals to work collaboratively with the community on visioning a future for Shaker Square.

This process is intended to build upon past planning efforts and engage community in propelling the historic Shaker Square shopping center into an even more vibrant future. In addition, the purpose of the visioning process is to position the Square for a new owner. It will provide a prospective buyer a blueprint for what the community would like to see at the Square and what is financially feasible from a merchandising and programming standpoint.

The Advisory Committee, made up of residents, business owners, and other stakeholders, will begin interviewing groups that have submitting proposals this fall. As fundraising efforts continue, some funds will be utilized to ensure that the chosen consulting group can begin the formal visioning process within the next six months.

As the visioning process progresses, there will be opportunities for community participation. Keep up to date by following Shaker Square and BBC on social media.

Shaker Square Social Media

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter

BBC Social Media

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter

Events

Since its opening in 1929, Shaker Square has been a place to meet and share experiences, together. There is always something happening in the Square inviting you to gather, engage, and enjoy the spirit of community!
Visit the Shaker Square website to see all upcoming events.

Shaker Square Market
August 19, 8 am – noon
Shaker Square Market will be on East and West Bound Shaker Blvd. You will find farms and food producers with fresh produce, meats, dairy, baked goods, and more every Saturday.

Summer on the Square
August 19, 9 am – 2 pm
Join the community in historic Shaker Square’s public space for a free, family-friendly event!

Submit an Event for the Calendar