Chrostowski said he became even more alarmed when the T-Mobile location on Shaker Square suddenly shut down earlier this month, leaving the square with yet another vacant storefront. Chrostowski said the closing marked the seventh business to leave the square in just the past two years.
Chrostowski said the $6 million loan issued by the City of Cleveland to the Cleveland Neighborhood Progress ownership group to purchase the financially-embattled square should have already produced an action plan that could prevent any more businesses from shutting down. “I go over to Shaker Square every Saturday and Sunday and talk with the merchants as much as I can," Gray said."I am definitely concerned about vacancies. These vacancies will hinder them at this point because that can make other merchants probably say they don’t want to move in because of what is going on over there.”
Cleveland Neighborhood Progress President Tania Menesse told News 5 she understands the frustration being felt by some Shaker Square business owners. Menesse said a detailed plan will be released sometime within the next two weeks, which will include infusing the historic business district with nearly $7.5 million in infrastructure improvements over the next five years.
“We really want to make sure people know that Shaker square is 87% leased," Menesse said. “There are fantastic long-term tenants at Shaker Square, anchors like Dave’s and CVS and Atlas Cinemas. I think whenever you see transition and change, it’s uncomfortable.
We should lockdown harder next time, and scare people to stay in their homes for a couple years. That will show those covid denying anti-vaxxers that we don’t need small businesses in our communities