Heinen's Closing Its Downtown Cleveland Store. Veteran Memorial Bridge Opens: CLE Daily

☀️ 86°; Sunny

🍔 Burger Week: $10 burgers continue this week at select Cleveland spots.  

🏢 In History: Terminal Tower opened on June 28, 1930, and has been the most memorable marker of the Cleveland skyline since.

⚾️ Not Great But Not Bad: The Guardians are in a decent spot, just a little after the midpoint of the season. DMan offers his thoughts on where things stand with the Guards.

ICYMI: Ferrara’s Imported Foods is closing after 67 years in Mayfield Heights. Third-generation owner John Ferrara says the timing was right.

Today's Trivia

Gangster Danny Greene’s rise to power started with him being elected president of the Cleveland chapter of what union?

Heinen's Grocery Store is closing its Downtown Cleveland location on July 31.

Business | By Dillon Stewart and Ken Prendergast

Heinen's Grocery Store announced Friday that it would close its Downtown Cleveland location on July 31. The store, located in the historic Trust Building on Euclid Avenue and East Ninth Street, opened in 2015. 

More Than a Grocery Store: The historic bank building, which was built in 1907, became a tourist attraction thanks to its epic rotunda ceiling and mix of neoclassical and Renaissance revival decor. It was featured in The Avengers movie. Designed by George B. Post and with murals by Francis David Millet, it was considered an architectural marvel when it opened.

• Since Heinen's opening 11 years ago, Downtown’s population has risen to more than 21,000 residents, and there has been $5 billion in investments toward bettering the Downtown area. 

Michael Deemer, President and CEO, Downtown Cleveland, Inc.: “When Heinen’s opened in Downtown Cleveland 10 years ago, it was seen as a bet on the neighborhood’s growth trajectory. And it was a good one." 

• In Heinen's news release and social media posts on Friday, the company said there would be no layoffs, with associates being offered roles at some of its 18 other locations. It also said no other stores would be impacted. 

Jeff Heinen, Co-President of Heinen’s: “Despite ongoing adjustments, the store did not reach the level of long-term sustainability needed to continue operating. As a Cleveland-based, family-owned company, our roots here run deep. While this chapter is coming to a close, our commitment to Cleveland and to serving customers across Northeast Ohio remains strong.”

Justin Bibb, Cleveland's mayor: “I am deeply disappointed by the closure of Heinen’s downtown location. For years, this store has been an important resource for downtown employees, residents, and visitors alike, and its presence has been a key part of the neighborhood’s continued growth and vitality.”

Read more on Heinen's closing its Downtown location.

The streetcar level of the Veterans Memorial Bridge opened up this weekend.

History | By Lydia Koszegi

On Saturday, the Veterans Memorial Bridge's lower level opened up for visitors to roam the city's former street car level and see the bridge’s original features, while also listening to live music.

If you missed it, it's not your only chance to experience the space this summer.

• Take a Hike: Beyond the Saturday tours, Take-a-Hike walking tours also offer guided tours through the streetcar level every Friday through September.

• Future Park: County officials have worked to transform the level into a public "Low Line" park in future years.

Annie Pease, Cuyahoga County's senior advisor on transportation: “We have the latest in conceptual plans. ... We’re excited to share renderings and an update on that project.”

• Quick History: The Veterans Memorial Bridge was originally the Detroit Superior Bridge, opened in 1917, with the streetcar level opening in 1918. In 1954 the street car service ended operations with the level being sealed in 1955. Traffic on the upper level continued, however, and in 1976 the bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1989, the bridge was renamed the Veterans Memorial Bridge.

Read more about the bridge.

Talk of the Town

A massive explosion in Twinsburg last week destroyed three homes and damaged dozens of others. No one was severely injured or killed. The blast, fueled by natural gas, was near Hiram Lane in The Woodlands subdivision.

Our first heat wave of the summer is expected to hit this week. The humidity started returning yesterday. Look for temperatures in the mid 90s tomorrow and Wednesday, with low-90s on Thursday and Friday.

Bonnie Teeuwen, Cleveland’s chief operating officer, is retiring from City Hall this week. She was one of Mayor Justin Bibb’s first top-level hires and oversees roughly 3,000 workers.

Fairview Park’s Gemini Recreation Center Natatorium is reopened after 18 years of mechanical and structural problems, including a five-year closure. It cost $14.1 million for renovations.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced the results of the 2026 sandhill crane count last week. The bird, still a threatened species with only a few hundred individuals in the state, returned to Ohio in 1987. Their numbers have been slowly growing ever since.

Things To Do This Week

Cleveland Guardians Back at Home (June 29-July 3): The Guards are back at Progressive Field all week! They are taking on two separate series—the Texas Rangers and the strong AL Central competition, the Chicago White Sox. With various promotional nights, including Bark in the Park on Monday and Free Shirt Friday, the ballpark is the place to be this week. Time varies by day, $20-$180, 2401 Ontario St., Cleveland, mlb.com

Coventry Movies in the Park (July 2): Bring a blanket and some snacks over to Coventry PEACE Campus for a screening of the 1993 Jurassic Park. Enjoy the classic film under the night sky this beautiful summer evening, presented by Coventry Village and Heights Libraries. Movie begins at dusk, free, 2843 Washington Blvd., Cleveland Heights, facebook.com

America at 250 with the Cleveland Orchestra (July 3): Join the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra for a patriotic performance ahead of your Fourth of July celebrations. Performing pieces like Copland’s moving Lincoln Portrait and Gershwin’s An American in Paris, this night will serve as an ode to the music of American influence. Weather permitting, the night will end with a beautiful fireworks display as a tribute to America’s 250th birthday. 8 p.m., $24-$94, 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, clevelandorchestra.com

An Evening Celebrating Larry Doby (July 3): Ahead of Larry Doby Day on July 5 (the day he made his Major League debut with the Cleveland Indians), engage in conversation with a variety of special guests at the Cleveland Public Library Hough Campus. Guests include Jerry Izenberg, Mary Manning and the curators of the Baseball Heritage Museum. There are also some scheduled appearances by current Cleveland Guardians! The evening will honor the legacy and life of Larry Doby, the first black baseball player to debut in the American League. 4 p.m., limited seats available, free to register, 6530 Lexington Ave., Cleveland, cpl.libcal.com Guardians took a series from the Seattle Mariners at the start of the season. The Mariners will undoubtedly hope to do the same when they come to Progressive Field to play the Guardians in a three-game series. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. 2401 Ontario St., Cleveland, 216-420-4487, mlb.com/guardians

Friday's Trivia Answer 

What Today Show weatherman and Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade host got his start with NBC at WKYC in Cleveland? Al Roker

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's question

From the Editor

Heinen's is closing Downtown. That was a shock to the system on Friday morning. Grocery stores are really a key to any area being able to grow and to remain vibrant. So it will be vital for those in charge to figure out a way to attract another grocer to Downtown proper in Cleveland.

This is an issue in a lot of cities the size of Cleveland. (Pardon the grocery pun.) Is it the chicken or the egg here? Do you have a good-sized population, and then add the grocery store, or do you need the grocery store first?

Heinen's is a big part of our Northeast Ohio community, and I am sure this wasn't an easy decision. Now is the time for someone else to stand up to fill this void.

— Ron Ledgard, Managing Editor

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