CLE Myths: Arcade Cleveland

The Arcade Cleveland is a stunning, historic indoor shopping center and can claim a couple firsts. Built in 1890, the five-story iron-and-glass-enclosed structure between Euclid and Superior avenues was the first of four arcades in Cleveland, followed by the Colonial, Euclid and Taylor arcades.

It was also the first building in Cleveland to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. And on the Arcade’s website, its current management boasts that the edifice is the “first indoor shopping center in America.” Only, that’s not exactly true.

“The oldest is in Providence, Rhode Island,” says Tom Yablonsky, executive director of the Historic Gateway District Corp., referring to the Arcade Providence, an indoor shopping center built in 1828 and still open today with retail, dining and residential micro-lofts.

In his book Cleveland Architecture, 1876-1976, Cleveland historian Eric Johannesen described the Arcade as being “without peer,” but did not note that the building was the first, a detail that likely would have made its way into his detailed description.

Still, the lack of corroboration on that claim does not diminish the overall effect of the building. “I know it’s not the oldest arcade, but it is most certainly the grandest,” says Yablonsky.


Status: Busted

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