Grand Pacific Junction Is The Most Charming Village Of Shops Hiding Near Cleveland
By Nikki Rhoades|Published December 16, 2019
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Welcome to Olmsted Falls, a petite southwestern suburb of Cleveland. With under 10,000 residents across its landscape, this town is the kind of place where everybody seems to know everybody else. It is crisscrossed by railroad tracks and its historic homes and streets make for fun sightseeing excursions. Unlike other historic towns, Olmsted Falls has its own fully restored Victorian economic district that’s straight out of a silent film. This shopping district near Cleveland is a great day trip any time of year… there’s just so much to discover!
All aboard! We're embarking on an excursion to the Grand Pacific Junction Historic Shopping District.
This shopping district is one of the many gems that makes Olmsted Falls feel so incredibly cozy. As you walk down the street, you'll feel like you are in a pre-turn of the 20th century town.
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This enchanting landscape is a fully restored Victorian shopping district with more than 30 points of interest.
The buildings of Grand Pacific Junction were largely restored more than a century after their construction. The Grand Pacific Hotel was the first to undergo restoration - work began around 1989. The final pieces of this puzzle were completed around 1993, and small details like brick walkways helped to bring this economic district to life.
Shopping, special services, and dining are hidden within old school buildings straight out of an old movie.
Within just two years of this district's restoration, merchants and visitors were already flocking in. The developer of the village established the Olmsted Heritage Days in 1992, further cementing this historic district's place in local culture.
The Grand Pacific Hotel was built in 1840, making it the oldest of the buildings. It served as a hotel for five decades or so and then spent the next bulk of its timeline as a hardware store. Also of interest is the area's old fire station, which now operates as a restaurant.
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It is incredible to see old buildings, such as the circa-1860 jail house, still in use.
Some features, like the shopping district's historic train, were brought in to add a bit of charm to the neighborhood. The train is originally from Indiana, but it fits right in to the local atmosphere.
There's so much to discover in Grand Pacific Junction.
