![Bedrock's redevelopment plans call for a mix of retail, dining and entertainment options in Tower City. [Bedrock Detroit]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f39b724/2147483647/strip/true/crop/980x551+0+0/resize/840x472!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F7%2F15%2FTower%20City%20Center%20Rendering%20Courtesy%20of%20Bedrock.jpg)
Real estate developer Bedrock Detroit plans to redesign Tower City Center as a marketplace with a mix of retail options, dining and event space.
Tenants are expected to start opening for business in the fall, according to a Thursday press release.
The changes come ahead of events expected to bring tourists and locals back to Downtown Cleveland, Bedrock CEO Kofi Bonner said in a press release, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s induction ceremony and the 2022 NBA All-Star Game.
The marketplace also will have space for seasonal events and pop-ups, according to the release.
“In addition to recruiting nationally recognized tenants, we are excited to be working with all of our local hometown tenants to help reimagine Tower City,” Bonner said.
Bedrock did not name any specific businesses that would be moving into the space and declined Ideastream Public Media’s request for an interview.
The marketplace is the latest plan to revive the ailing three-story shopping center, which began as a central railway station for Cleveland in 1930. The three floors of the station were converted into a shopping mall and food court in 1990.
Dan Gilbert’s Detroit-based real estate company, Bedrock, purchased the shopping center, known as The Avenue Shops at Tower City, in 2016. Gilbert also developed what is now the Jack Cleveland Casino next door.
In 2019, Bedrock and businessman Bernie Moreno announced a plan to turn the Avenue Shops into a hub for blockchain tech businesses. The goal was to create a space for entrepreneurial endeavors in the city.
As part of the redevelopment plans, Bedrock also announced a partnership with Cleveland-based Chain Reaction, a program that aims to provide resources and tools to local entrepreneurs.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on Tower City. Last fall, Cleveland Cinemas announced it would not reopen following the pandemic, which forced it to close its doors. And the Cleveland International Film Festival, previously housed in Tower City, announced in January 2020 it will relocate to Playhouse Square.
