Cleveland Invests in Collinwood: Vacant Grocery Store Purchase Marks Redevelopment Effort
Cleveland is taking steps to revitalize a key East Side property by purchasing the long-vacant Dave’s Markets building in the Collinwood neighborhood. The city has finalized an agreement to buy the 4.24-acre property on Lakeshore Boulevard, with plans to demolish the boarded-up structure and seek redevelopment proposals in early 2025.
City officials see this as more than just addressing a blighted site. The property is in a prime location, surrounded by significant public and philanthropic investment. Just a short distance away are the Collinwood Recreation Center and Humphrey Park, while the nearby Euclid Beach Mobile Home Community is being transformed into part of the Euclid Creek Reservation, which will create a large lakefront green space. Additionally, nonprofits are working on housing renovations and revitalizing local storefronts.
Tom McNair, Cleveland’s economic development director, views this purchase as a rare opportunity to strengthen a struggling commercial district located near Lake Erie. The property is large enough to accommodate various redevelopment ideas, and the city hopes to create a vibrant space that could significantly improve the neighborhood.
Dave’s Markets closed its Collinwood location in April 2022 after nearly 40 years, citing declining sales and an uneasy relationship with the landlord. The property was subsequently bought by a company linked to Simon’s Supermarket, but no action has been taken to redevelop the site. Meanwhile, the neighborhood has seen several businesses, including a small Walgreens, shut down, worsening the food insecurity issue.
Kenneth Jones, a nearby resident, expressed frustration with the lack of options for obtaining necessary goods, such as food and medicine. He used to shop at Dave’s but now has to travel farther for his needs. He hopes the city’s efforts will help turn the neighborhood around.
Cleveland has agreed to pay $1.475 million for the property, with funds coming from both the city’s economic development department and federal community development block grants. The city plans to bring a new user to the site, whether it’s a grocery store or a mixed-use development. However, officials are cautious about the feasibility of attracting another full-service grocer due to challenges in the grocery industry.
Councilman Mike Polensek emphasized that the city is open to a variety of development possibilities, from housing to retail, as long as it benefits the community. The acquisition of the site is just the first step in reimagining this important part of Cleveland’s East Side.
