Mystery tenant coming to Rockport
By Ben Saylor
Rocky River
Published May 28, 2008

A “significant anchor” tenant has signed a letter of intent to set up shop at the Rockport Shopping Center, Economic and Community Development Director Kory Koran reported at City Council’s May 19 meeting.

While Koran said he could not name the tenant, he said it is a “high quality tenant” that “everyone will be very excited about.” The tenant would take up 35,000 sq. ft. of the former Target space. Koran also reported that Wald-Fisher, which owns Rockport, is in negotiations with Target, which still has a long-term lease on their former location. He said that Dennis Fisher of Wald-Fisher is looking for long-term control over the Target site.

“They anticipate coming before the Planning Commission with a phased redevelopment plan after negotiations with Target are finalized, which they hope are fairly soon,” Koran said.

Rockport is currently being marketed by Goodman Real Estate. He added that Rockport was being marketed at a large retail industry show in Las Vegas last week.

In other development news, Koran reported that a new book retailer, Giant Book Sale, will be moving into the space formerly occupied by Liberty Books and News at Beachcliff Market Square. Liberty closed at the end of last December along with Chico’s and White House/Black Market locations at the shopping center.

In addition, Beachcliff developer Madison Marquette is building out the shopping center’s vacant storefronts and have also submitted plans for improving the facades of the buildings. The company is also having new signage for the center re-designed by City Architecture and is looking into light poles, banners and way-finding signs, Koran said. In addition, one more tenant, Massage Envy, is to move into the old shopping center sometime soon.

Koran also reported that Madison Marquette has reached a parking agreement with Rocky River United Methodist Church, wherein Beachcliff shoppers will be able to park at the church during the week, and churchgoers will be able to use Beachcliff’s parking lot and garage on Sundays.

National City Bank will also be moving out of Beachcliff shortly, to a new location down the road in what was previously part of Hollywood Video. National City’s current space is a 3,000 sq. ft. property. Koran said that there is potential for the Pub to expand into that space, but he wasn’t certain as to whether the bar-restaurant could afford to make such a move. He also noted that location’s drive-through may be retained if the space were taken up by something like a coffeehouse or other business.

In other bank-related news, Koran reported that First Merit is doing preliminary planning toward opening a second location in the city, to be situated on the corner of Center Ridge Road and Plymouth Avenue.

Across from Beachcliff, Koran mentioned the recent opening of Sweet Melissa’s, in the space formerly occupied by Max’s Deli. The owner, Matthew Ulum and his wife Melissa, used to work for Max’s.

On Hilliard Boulevard, Koran reported that Joe and Janette Kanaan, who own Joe’s Deli, have sold the building they own that is located east of the deli. The building is being completely renovated and will be the site of a dialysis clinic.

On the residential development end, Koran reported progress on construction of Grandview on River Oaks is going well. Siding, roofing and doors and windows on the building are done. Construction has moved on to interior finishing, Koran said.

Koran also reported that the city’s development code update process is going well, and that consultant D.B. Hartt will be holding a meeting June 3 in City Council chambers to go over the findings of 30 interviews D.B. Hartt conducted with city officials and various board and committee members.