Downtown Cleveland’s retail activity depends heavily on customers who live elsewhere. A 2023 Streetsense study found that visitors accounted for as much as 70% of downtown retail demand, compared with 13% from employees and 3% from downtown households, according to cleveland.com. Downtown Cleveland’s 2025 report gives a separate measure: 70% of retail spending came from outside Cuyahoga County. It also reported 22 storefront openings, a net gain of 12 businesses and average occupancy of 82% in monitored corridors, according to Downtown Cleveland. The two 70% figures measure different things.
A November event in a mostly vacant mall
The Cleveland Market, founded by Kaitie Nickel and Stephanie Hamme, is scheduled to operate in the Galleria at 1301 E. Ninth St. on Nov. 20-22 and Nov. 27-29. Cleveland Scene reported that roughly 100 vendors are expected to sell items including ceramics, jewelry and home goods, along with hot chocolate. The outlet also reported that the market will use vacant first-floor storefronts and that the former Winking Lizard space is planned as a Christmas-themed bar. Fridays are ticketed preview nights, according to Cleveland Scene.
Cleveland Scene reported that the Galleria event is the founders’ first market there and that they have organized seasonal markets around the city for two years. The outlet also reported plans for holiday decorations and appearances by Santa, the Grinch, Cindy Lou Who and Buddy the Elf. These event plans and operational details are based on Cleveland Scene’s reporting.
The building’s status and the tower project
The Galleria opened in 1987 and has three remaining tenants: a bookstore, a Hungarian museum and a YMCA branch, according to Cleveland Scene. The outlet reported that the mall’s mid-1990s stores included Victoria’s Secret, Eddie Bauer, Williams-Sonoma and Express. Those historical details and the current tenant count are also drawn from Scene’s account.
The Kassouf family bought the Galleria in 2018 and also owns the adjoining Erieview Tower, according to cleveland.com. The outlet reported that the tower redevelopment has $218 million in financing, does not include the Galleria, and is expected to be completed in late 2027 or early 2028. The project is planned to include Ohio’s first W Hotel.
A Cuyahoga County financial document described possible future uses for the Galleria, including dining, a food hall, indoor recreation and entertainment, and renovated event space, cleveland.com reported. Those are proposals, not confirmed projects. Cleveland Scene reported that the mall owners had not announced fixed plans for the building.
