Cleveland is a beautiful city, but what is truly mind-blowing to consider is how the city's residents of yore must have felt the first time they came face-to-face with some of its most spectacular features. Imagine, for example, being a Cleveland native during the construction of The Old Arcade, also known as Cleveland's Crystal Palace. Imagine how it must have felt to walk into one of the most gorgeous buildings in this part of the country... truth be told, you probably don't have to imagine. If you are like many Clevelanders, you may not realize that the city actually is home to more than one arcade. Get ready to experience incredible beauty, because these shopping centers are truly gems.
While many know of and have visited Cleveland's Old Arcade, the other two arcades are hidden in the city's landscape.
The 5th Street Arcades, located at 530 Euclid Ave., are the little sisters to a Cleveland icon.
What we know today as the 5th Street Arcades were once independent shopping centers known as the Colonial Arcade and the Euclid Arcade.
The Euclid Arcade, though much smaller than the iconic Old Arcade, is truly something to behold.
Constructed in 1911, this gorgeous shopping center runs from Euclid to Prospect. Complete with white marble floors and exquisite white terracotta walls, this pretty palace is something out of a utopian novel.
And the Colonial Arcade, just a few paces east of the Euclid Arcade, is equally as impressive.
This gorgeous structure was constructed in 1898, just eight years after the older and larger arcade was constructed in Downtown Cleveland.
Since 2000, these gorgeous shopping centers have been conjoined by a food court.
Over the years, very little has changed in these beautiful buildings. Their original architecture has been restored and maintained, meaning that modern shoppers will be able to appreciate their vastly different flavors while they shop.
These gorgeous arcades hearken back to a day when people went Downtown to shop, and the splendor of those days is preserved in the buildings' finest features.
Each arcade had room for roughly 40 shops, but these indoor streetscapes remained clean and vibrant despite all that traffic.
As with much of Cleveland's history, the arcades hit a rough patch. However, recent years have been truly explosive!
After the era of Downtown shopping trips passed, these arcades fell into a bit of disrepair and struggled to maintain occupants. However, 2012 brought in a new era of management and revival, and the buildings have been restored to their former glory and are now filled with awesome little shops.
While Cleveland has grown and changed over the years, some of our most beautiful structures stand eternally.
Cleveland's history is fascinating, and locals have done an incredible job of preserving and celebrating it. Have you ever visited these beautiful arcades? Which store is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
Love this glimpse back in time? You'll adore these awesome images from Cleveland's early days.
Do you want to know where to find Cleveland's greatest tourist attractions and secret gems? Your bucket list should undoubtedly include the attractions on the list we've put together.
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