The Story Behind IKEA Coming to Cleveland: CLE Daily

💨 77°; Breezy

🏥 Care, Upgraded: MetroHealth opened its $224 million Outpatient Health Center in Clark-Fulton this week — an expanded cancer center, the system's first 24/7 drive-through pharmacy (open to the public) and more than 1,000 works of art.

🎹 Today: The Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists wraps with a final masterclass led by Grammy-winning pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet at Kulas Hall. 

💸 Big Bet: Nvidia is reportedly in talks to backstop OpenAI's $500 billion Ohio data center — a guarantee worth up to $250 billion for the planned AI lab.

ICYMI: Donovan Mitchell is showing Cleveland love again — the Cavs star turned the Cleveland Public Library into the backdrop for his new Adidas campaign.

Support our local journalism with a print subscription to Cleveland Magazine.

Trivia Question

Matthew McConaughey came to the Cleveland area to film what Detroit-set movie, based on a true story of the FBI’s youngest informant?

Development: IKEA is finally coming to Cleveland — at Crocker Park.

By Ken Prendergast, NEO Trans

Eight years after walking away from Cleveland when a site fell through, IKEA is back: the Swedish home-furnishings giant will open a store at Crocker Park in Westlake in spring 2027, ending Greater Cleveland's status as the largest U.S. metro without an IKEA. No more two-hour drives to Columbus, Pittsburgh or Detroit.

• The Location: IKEA will take over the vacated 50,000-square-foot Dick's Sporting Goods at 300 Crocker Park Blvd. — expanded to 80,000 square feet — chosen partly for its proximity to Interstate 90. Crews have already started stripping the old storefront.

• A New, Smaller IKEA: This is IKEA's next-generation format — roughly a quarter the size of a traditional 200,000-to-500,000-square-foot store, part of a national push to add 20 compact locations closer to city and suburban centers. It'll be the retailer's third in Ohio, after Cincinnati and Columbus.

• What's Inside: More than 3,250 products and 250 furniture items for immediate takeaway, 5,400-plus available for online order and pickup, an As-Is discount section, planning specialists — and yes, the food court, with meatballs, plant balls, cinnamon buns and more.

• Stark's Coup: Crocker Park owner Stark Enterprises calls IKEA its "number-one choice" to anchor the center. "Bringing IKEA to Crocker Park has been years in the making," said CEO Ezra Stark.

Read the full story.

Talk of the Town

Football's biggest week hits Canton. Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week kicks off July 31, with a grand parade, the Cardinals-Panthers preseason opener Aug. 6 and the Class of 2026 induction Aug. 8.

TransDigm keeps dealmaking. The Cleveland aerospace-parts giant quickly replaced one billion-dollar acquisition with another, snapping up a maker of brazing alloys used across its major markets.

Data centers are now a campaign issue. With Ohio's AI-driven data center boom straining power and water, the governor candidates are staking out positions — Vivek Ramaswamy touting tech that he says uses far less water. 

A watchdog vacancy in Cleveland. The city's police inspector general has resigned, leaving the long-troubled oversight post empty again. 

Library workers could walk. SEIU 1199, which represents Cleveland Public Library staff, has authorized an Aug. 24 strike if it can't reach a new contract, saying the library's wage offer falls short of a living wage.

Things To Do: Iconic bands, art fests and county fairs to enjoy this weekend.

By Jeff Niesel

Dazz Band: 50th Anniversary Celebration at Northfield Park Racino | Music | Aug. 1
The funk band from the '70s brings its 50th anniversary tour to the Northfield Park Racino. The show starts at 8 p.m. 10705 Northfield Road, Northfield, 330-467-4101, northfieldparkracino.com

Evanescence at Blossom Music Center | Music | July 30
While this rock band is best known for its 2003 record Fallen, new singles such as the Garbage-like "Fight Like a Girl" show that it remains relevant. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m. at Blossom. Spiritbox and Nova Twins open, and the group has reportedly partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 from every ticket sold will support organizations providing humanitarian aid and medical relief to people around the world. 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com

Kaleidoscope at the Maltz Museum | Party | July 30
The Maltz Museum hosts this summer party featuring local rockers Apostle Jones and DJ Teddy Eisenberg. Ladybug A/V Club will provide the visuals, and admission to the event includes access to the exhibit Icons in Ink: The Jewish Comics Experience. The event begins at 6 p.m., and tickets cost $20 or $10 for museum members. 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood, 216-593-0575, maltzmuseum.org

Lake County Fair at the Lake County Fairgrounds | Festival | July 28-Aug. 2
Livestock plays a key role at the annual Lake County Fairgrounds, which takes place on the county fairgrounds in Painesville. The 4-H Club’s annual livestock auction is a key attraction, and there will be daily milkings. Of course, there’s lots of other stuff too, including truck pulls, live music and fair food. 1301 Mentor Ave., Painesville, 440-354-3339, lakecountyfair.org

Lakewood Arts Fest | Arts | Aug. 1
More than 170 regional and national artists will be on hand for this annual event that takes place in downtown Lakewood. The juried festival will feature paintings, prints, photography, glass, ceramics and jewelry. Local musical acts Opus 216, Tam Tam Magic Senegalese Drums and Cats on Holiday will perform. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Detroit Avenue between Belle and Elmwood Avenues, Lakewood, lakewoodartsfest.org 

For our full list of things to do visit clevelandmagazine.com/things-to-do.

Give the local style scene some love by voting for your favorite shopping spot in Cleveland Magazine's Best of Cleveland. Fashion boutiques, spas, hair salons, gift shops, markets and more are taking the stage, as the spots that received the most nominations face off in final voting.

But we're all winners for simply living in Cleveland, right? Cast your vote now through Friday. 

Find the ballot, here.

Yesterday's Trivia Answer

This economist, raised in the Cleveland area and a graduate of University School, came up with an eponymous curve that serves as the basis of supply-side economics. Arthur Laffer

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's question

From the Editor

The competition is on: One of my favorite parts of any county fair is looking at the produce that local gardeners exhibit. I'm always jealous of the impressive blue-ribbon tomatoes and peppers that others have managed to grow, compared to our own home garden's output.

But one category I feel ready to compete in is garlic. This year, our harvest was great; we've got plenty of red hardneck bulbs curing in our basement right now.

Unfortunately, I checked earlier this week and realized I had missed the submission window for the Cuyahoga County Fair. (And only by a couple of days!) But as any Clevelander knows: There's always next year. And next year, maybe I'll feel ready to submit some of our tomatoes and peppers, too.

Our present star is here.

— Annie Nickoloff, Senior Editor

Have a story idea? Tell us what we should cover at conversation@clevelandmagazine.com.

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