Today we look at the final and the oldest of the three Arcades in downtown Cleveland, The Arcade. It was built in 1890 and designed by George Smith along with John Eisenmann. It is five stories and runs from Superior St. to Euclid Ave. It was modeled after a similar structure in Milan, Italy. It is one of the first indoor shopping centers in the country. It has a 300 foot long atrium and a 100 foot high ceiling comprised of 1,800 panes of glass. It is truly one of Cleveland’s greatest treasures! It the first building in Cleveland to be added to the National Register of Historic Places, in 1975.
Today the Arcade houses the Hyatt hotel on the top three floors and a mixture of offices, retail and restaurants on the bottom two floors. One of my favorite stores is Daydreams & Tea – Through the Looking Glass. Back in 1890 this space was occupied by Thomas Edison’s phonograph store. Today they sell unique gifts from around the world, perfect for weddings or baby gifts.
This wonderful building is one of our stops on our Downtown Highlights and Cleveland From the Inside walking tours. It is a must see in Cleveland. See our schedule and book your tour at www.toursofcleveland.com. Tours are offered year round! Each December check out our Downtown Highlights Christmas Edition and see the Arcade at its Christmas best!
