Opened in 1890 For $875,000, The Arcade Cleveland Was The First Indoor Shopping Center In The U.S.
By Sarah McCosham|Published January 05, 2023
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
For most of us, the mall was a big part of our childhood and teenage years; today, online shopping and boutique marketplaces have replaced the “classic” mall experience. But there is a shopping center in Cleveland, Ohio, that hasn’t simply stood the test of time, but emerged as a favorite destination and state icon along the way. Opened in 1890, The Arcade Cleveland has proudly stood its ground for over 120 years, earning Ohio national acclaim and a record-setting title.
Cleveland, Ohio, is home to some marvelous pieces of architecture that are truly extraordinary. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and Public Square are just some of the many sites that form the Cleveland cityscape.
The Arcade, however, is perhaps the most marvelous of them all. The Arcade is a Victorian-era structure of two nine-story buildings, joined by a five-story arcade with a glass skylight spanning over 300 feet along its four balconies.
The Arcade opened in May of 1890 as the first indoor shopping center in America, quickly becoming one of downtown Cleveland’s most popular destinations.
Nicknamed "Cleveland’s Crystal Palace," The Arcade was designed by John M. Eisenmann and George H. Smith as an urban mercantile center modeled after the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, Italy.
The project was financed by Cleveland’s most esteemed businessmen of the late 19th century, including John D. Rockefeller, Steven V. Harkness, Louis Severance, Charles Brush, and Marcus Hanna, and it stood as a shining example of the glitz and glamour of its era.
Eventually, though, as strip malls and online retailers made their way into America's mall culture, The Arcade began to deteriorate. But that wasn't the end of the story; in 2001, a $60-million renovation was completed that restored The Arcade back to its former glory. Today, the 25,000-square-foot shopping center is home to numerous retailers, restaurants, and services and is a favorite destination in the Buckeye State.
As the city’s first building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Arcade plays a vital part in the architectural history of Cleveland, and is a beautiful and beloved attraction in Ohio.
Did you know that the first indoor shopping center in the U.S. was in Ohio? The Arcade Cleveland is a charming piece of history that’s truly stood the test of time!
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