A TOWERING Task will shape this landmark’s next chapter as it plays host to a series of world-class events like the NBA All-Star Game (in 2022) and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction,” Bonner says. Bedrock is doing more than signing tenants for Tower City. The company also is working with Chain Reaction, an economic development project launched four years ago by Greater Cleveland Partnership’s Council of Smaller Enterprises, in partnership with JumpStart, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and Cleveland Development Advisors. Bedrock reimagines downtown’s premier indoor mall. B Y B O B S A N D R I C K Chain Reaction is an annual competition in which aspiring Cleveland entreower City Center, like other Also, Bedrock plans to preneurs pitch small-business indoor malls throughout the recruit local and minoriproposals. The top five procountry, has struggled to keep ty-owned businesses as tenposals are financed with cash tenants and remain financially viable. ants in Tower City. New prizes. Chain Reaction, now COVID-19 didn’t help matters, with stores and/or restaurants in its fourth year, also shows Brooks Brothers and Cleveland Cine- were scheduled to open this budding entrepreneurs how mas both closing their Tower City loca- fall, including three Black, fetheir businesses can benefit tions due to the pandemic. male-owned businesses: Jaxthe community. A real estate developer with a port- on’s Closet, a custom clothier Bedrock will mentor parfolio of more than 100 properties in for young men; Peach Fuzz, a Kofi Bonner ticipants in the Chain ReCleveland and Detroit is undeterred. threading and waxing salon; action program and provide The company has purchased Tower and MiAmour, a seller of contemporary top competition winners free brickCity and is reimagining the property as clothing and footwear for women. and-mortar spaces in Tower City for a more modern retail space. At a September press conference, Kofi 21 months. Bedrock, based in Detroit, says the Bonner, CEO of Bedrock and former “Bedrock’s focus on communinew Tower City will include pop-up chief administrative officer with the ty and economic development is perretail, dining, entertainment and art Cleveland Browns, says he would soon fectly aligned with our mission to help experiences. Pop-up businesses, a rel- announce the signing of 10 more ten- small businesses grow and to bring inatively new trend, open suddenly and ants for Tower City. vestment into the city of Cleveland and operate for just a few days or weeks be“In addition to recruiting nationally its neighborhoods,” says Megan Kim, fore moving on. recognized tenants, we are excited to be COSE executive director In October, Bedrock hosted its first working with all of our local hometown Bedrock, owned by Cleveland Cavaentertainment event at Tower City, a tenants to help reimagine Tower City,” liers owner Dan Gilbert, bought Towmusical competition called Battle of the Bonner says in a press release. er City in 2016. The mall has 366,000 Land, which was capped off by a per“We know that Clevelanders treasure square feet of space and 75 retail units. formance by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. their memories of Tower City, and an “Tower City is not going anywhere,” More live acts are being lined up. infusion of local entrepreneurial spirit Bonner says. “We’re excited to have it.”
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