CLEVELAND — Next month marks the end of an era, as Heinen's grocery store said it will close its Downtown Cleveland location on July 31.
Heinen's has occupied the historic Cleveland Trust Company rotunda at East 9th Street and Euclid Avenue since 2015. The building is known for its beautiful domed ceiling.
“This was a difficult decision, and we appreciate the efforts of our associates and the support of our customers to make this store successful. We wish it would have been a more favorable outcome. Despite ongoing adjustments, the store did not reach the level of long-term sustainability needed to continue operating,” Jeff Heinen, co-president of the Warrensville Heights-based grocer, said in a written statement.
Mayor Justin Bibb released the following statement in response to the news:
"I am deeply disappointed by the closure of Heinen's downtown location. For years, this store has been an important resource for downtown employees, residents, and visitors alike, and its presence has been a key part of the neighborhood's continued growth and vitality. Since taking office, our administration has worked closely with Heinen's ownership and provided more than $250,000 of incentives to support its operations. Our commitment to a vibrant downtown remains unwavering. We will continue working alongside our downtown stakeholders to expand access to high-quality food options and strengthen the services and amenities that residents, workers, and visitors deserve."
Around 70 full-time and part-time employees work at the Downtown location. Heinen's says those employees will be offered jobs at the company's other stores.
“As a Cleveland-based, family-owned company, our roots here run deep. While this chapter is coming to a close, our commitment to Cleveland and to serving customers across Northeast Ohio remains strong,” Heinen said.
The rotunda is part of a larger property owned by the Geis Cos., which transformed a cluster of high-profile, vacant buildings into apartments, a hotel, offices and retail space a little over a decade ago.
News 5's Michelle Jarboe spoke with Conrad Geis, who leads the company's development division. In a text message, he described Heinen's as a "great partner," adding that the store played an important role in serving Downtown businesses, residents and visitors.
He said Geis Cos. understands the grocer's reasons for leaving — and the developer is working to fill the space with a similar use.
"The Geis Companies and Geis family are dedicated to Cleveland and its overall success" Geis wrote. "(Ninth) and Euclid, the gateway to the city, being one of those cornerstones. We will not only continue, but further our overall efforts with the city of Cleveland in ensuring this happens."
Heinen's hasn't closed a store here since 1986, when the grocer closed a Taylor Road location that dated to the 1950s. The company said that store was relatively small, with structural issues from a past fire that prevented an expansion.
A spokeswoman for Heinen's said the company has until the end of the year to fully vacate the Downtown space.
Downtown residents upset
On Sunday, News 5 reporter Maya Lockett spoke to residents downtown who expressed how losing the staple felt.
Matt McGinnis lives downtown and said he visits Hinens at least four times a week. He's one of many upset over the loss of the grocery store.
"I could just walk down the street and grab something,” said McGinnis. "I have a neighbor who lives a few floors above me, and he's 81 (or) 82. He walks down here with a walker to go and do a little walk, get some groceries, and come back up to grill on the rooftop. And, like, I don't know what he's gonna do," McGinnis said.
Another resident, Moe Frank, said the pickings are slim in the area.
"There's not a lot of options around here," Frank said.
Resident Dale Davis said he wants to show appreciation to the employees working full time at the soon-to-be-closed location.
"I'm putting together an event on social media to invite everybody from the downtown area that appreciates the store on July 31 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the last day to stop by and show their appreciation, thanks to the employees that made this incredible endeavor for 11 years," Davis said.
