Going out to buy groceries is perhaps the most mundane activity in the world. Very little about performing chores is exciting, but one Cleveland-based company has forever redesigned the concept of grocery shopping. This one supermarket is elegant, chic, and historic, and within just a single trip you'll become a loyal customer.
Heinen's Fine Foods has a long history of providing fresh foods to the Cleveland area.
In 1929, Joe Heinen opened his first store on Kinsman Road. The store, a butcher shop, was successful enough that he was able to open up a supermarket right across the street in 1933. Today, Joe's twin grandsons, Jeff and Tom, oversee the family business.
For an even longer amount of time, though, the Cleveland Trust Company Building has enjoyed a life as a Cleveland icon.
Located at the corner of East 9th Street and Euclid Avenue is a 1908 edifice designed by architectural daredevil George Browne Post. Post is credited with designing the first 10-story building and the first ever office building with elevators. The Cleveland Trust Company Building remained in active use until 1996, when Society Corporation (now known as Key Bank) purchased when the company that formerly occupied the space outgrew the building
For nearly two decades, the public rarely enjoyed glimpses into the architectural gem...
Despite the building lying vacant in the center of a bustling city, the rotunda remained largely intact. Its spectacular marble interior and 85-foot-high stained glass dome still gleam with pristine beauty.
...That is, until 2015, when Heinen's Fine Foods breathed new life into it.
27,000 square feet provide ample space for a remarkable supermarket. Not only does it provide variety, but each journey into Heinen's Downtown Cleveland location offers a trip back in time to one of Cleveland's most prosperous eras.
The base floor houses the prepared food departments.
There is a bakery, deli, and meat and seafood departments, where employees serve up smiles. Shopping truly is something to smile about in this elegant market.
The wine and beer departments are located on the second floor, offering patrons fine views of the interior architecture, as well as delicious samples.
The historic building features an impressive blend of architectural styles, including Renaissance Revival and Beaux-Arts. The Cleveland Trust Company Building was once the largest bank in the United States, a history that is evident in the remarkable marble details of the edifice.
The interior has been carefully renovated, preserving the structure in stunning detail.
Up close, the intricate dome features a repeating yellow and green floral pattern. Though time has doubtlessly stripped away certain features, those that remain are spectacular.
No matter where the eye lands, it meets something lovely.
Francis David Millet's murals, which have been admired through the ages by President Taft and other federal government officials, remain visible thanks to a simple, bright color scheme. Modern marvels also delight the eye, like the main floor service counters which are made of Caesarstone, stainless steel, and walnut trim.
Heinen's Fine Foods in Downtown Cleveland is unlike any other grocery store out there, and you simply must visit it to understand its majesty.
Heinen's, a long-time Cleveland company, demonstrates that local history is worth celebrating and preserving. The Cleveland Trust Company Building is a wonderful home for this neat supermarket, and the store breathed new life into a monumental Cleveland icon.
Cleveland is a city full of history, and it is well worth celebrating. Heinen's makes an amazing addition to the Downtown scene, and its use of a formerly vacant building reminds us that our own story is worth preserving. Have you ever visited the Heinen's Downtown? Tell us about your experience in the comments, and if you took pictures, we'd love to see those too!
For more on amazing local architecture, check out these Cleveland landmarks.
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