Can a Fashion Week Help to Motivate a Revival in Downtown Retail? Arcade to Arcade; Retail Returns
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Friday, May 10, 2013
Cleveland, Ohio. “Arcade to Arcade” is this year’s message at Fashion Week Cleveland and indeed Euclid Avenue is filled with retail, if only for a week. Events unfolded in the 5th Street Arcades and The Arcade, both jutting out from Euclid Avenue, just East of Public Square (5th Street Arcades; Euclid to Prospect Avenue and The Arcade; Euclid to Superior Avenue).
Arcade to Arcade! Retail returns to downtown Cleveland
In the absence of downtown retail and in a city without a garment district, Fashion Week Cleveland is a bit of an enigma. It grows and grows and continues to garner national accolades. According to Cleveland news leader CoolCleveland, “In its nine years, Dr. Donald Shingler’s Fashion Week Cleveland has seen a lot of changes. Many of the benefits he’s been predicting have started to come true. And national voices like CNN & Women’s Wear Daily have started to take note, proclaiming Cleveland’s Fashion Week as the third largest after NYC & LA”. “Regional fashion weeks (like Cleveland's) are aspirational. I find something very refreshing and honest about them. If the sidebar is that restaurants and hotels get a lot of business, even better”, states Fern Mallis, Founder of New York Fashion Week and former Head of Fashion at IMG. But the question remains… can a fashion week help to motivate a revival in downtown retail? You bet it can, say event organizers and industry leaders throughout the United States. As Fashion Week Cleveland enters its 10th year, three civic-leaders are betting that it can. They are downtown retail developer Dick Pace of Cumberland Development and the 5th Street Arcades, downtown residency developer Doug Price of K&D Group, and Donald Shingler, founder of Fashion Week Cleveland. It may have been inevitable that these three men would come together, after all, they are entrepreneurs interested in the wellbeing of Cleveland.
Downtown Retail
The 5th Street Arcades are part of what makes Cleveland unique. No other American city possesses such a collection of unique arcades, positioned so centrally amidst the buzz of a downtown’s revival. The 5th Street Arcades were created a century ago as an elegant solution to shopping in the northern climate; they are indoor shopping streets. “We are extending the nationally recognized success of East 4th Street and its dining scene around the corner of the 5th Street Arcades and their steadily growing market for fashion and retail”, says Dick Pace. Mr. Pace furthers, “We are delighted that Fashion Week Cleveland has chosen the 5th Street Arcades to host Retail’s Night Out! and GlamJam. These events will put a spotlight on fashion designers and retailers, bringing downtown back as the unique place to shop.”
Downtown Living
Downtown Cleveland is coming alive and tourism in our city is on the rise. The occupancy rate in downtown housing is at 95%. Doug Price and his K&D Group are the leaders in downtown residency development. K&D projects in downtown Cleveland include; Six Six Eight, The Residences at Hanna, Reserve Square Apartments, and the Nine-Twelve District. "Being a Cleveland developer, K&D is proud to be a part of Fashion Week Cleveland". Doug Price, owner/partner K&D Apartment Community Owners & Managers. Major infrastructure projects such as the Medical Mart Convention Center and the East Bank of the Flats are infusing hundreds of millions of dollars of investment. We do not, however, have a downtown shopping district. TripAdvisor.com put it well, “unfortunately unlike restaurants, dining and entertainment, retail has not rebounded in downtown Cleveland”. Fashion Week Cleveland envisions vibrant downtown shopping experiences for residents and tourists alike. “What we do is put a spotlight on downtown retail development, promoting retail and fashion design, the key is education, putting design and retail in the forefront and connecting interested parties”, says Donald Shingler. The mission is a worthy one, to be sure. When visitors, business people and tourists, come to our city, they ask residents, or the hotel concierge; “Where is your shopping district?, sadly the answer is that Cleveland does not have one. And this is unfortunate as the U.S. retail apparel industry employs 4.4 million people and boasts annual sales in excess of 180 billion dollars a year. “Downtown Cleveland needs a part of this market, Clevelanders and tourists demand it”, says Donald Shingler. “It has been a slow process, but this year city leaders, downtown developers, civic groups, and the national media understand the power of our fashion week, everyone gets it now”, says Donald Shingler.
Design, Education, Retail
In addition to traditional runway shows, Fashion Week Cleveland incorporates exhibits, films, industry tours, seminars and workshops at cultural institutions, universities, and museums. Central to fashion week in Cleveland, these educational programs present informative and insightful perspectives on the topics of fashion design, merchandising, manufacture, education, consumerism, and retail growth. This deepening of the strategic vision of Fashion Week Cleveland makes Fashion Week Cleveland absolutely unique and truly innovative and we believe those who sponsor and partner with FWC will share our success. “Donald Shingler made no mistake on the lake when he founded Cleveland Fashion Week... In step with the trends of this "new American city," Cleveland Fashion Week reflects all the essence of Cleveland's transformation, having gained the reputation as "the educational fashion week”, states International Designer Representative Francesco DiMaio. “Unlike other runway extravaganzas, Cleveland Fashion Week isn't just about haute couture sashaying down the catwalk. Attendees get a behind-the-scenes look at the industry, thanks to an emphasis on education and culture”, reports Holly Crawford of Cleveland Magazine. Fashion Week Cleveland is known as the "educational fashion week”. "At the end of the day, it’s is about design. It’s about education. It’s about retail business in the American garment industry", says founder Donald Shingler.
About 5th Street Arcades The 5th Street Arcades is a downtown retail project, headed by Cleveland developer Dick Pace in a pair of historic arcades in downtown Cleveland. They are connected buildings that include the 175-room Residence Inn hotel. Mr. Pace has moved his Cumberland Development office into the building and is filling up the spaces with new retailers.
About The Arcade
One of Cleveland’s best-known landmarks, The Arcade has an international reputation as one of the finest buildings of its type and was the first large-scale indoor shopping mall in the United States. The Arcade has something for everyone with unique gift shops, services, clothing boutiques, a food court and fine dining. The Hyatt Regency is located in this historic structure; The Arcade.
About K&D
One of northeast Ohio’s largest privately-owned real estate development firms, The K&D Group owns and manages over 13,000 residential units and employs over 400 people throughout northern Ohio. Founded 24 years ago by Karen Harrison and Doug Price, The K&D Group developed the Stonebridge residential complex on the west bank of the Flats in downtown Cleveland. Their other holdings include Six Six Eight, The Residences at Hanna, Reserve Square Apartments, and Nine-Tewelve District.
About FWC
Fashion Week Cleveland (FWC) exists to inform consumers and industry leaders about the cultural importance and economic importance of fashion design, manufacturing, marketing, and merchandising. in addition to classic and creative runway events, FWC incorporates exhibits, films, industry tours, seminars, and workshops in partnership with a diverse group of cultural and educational institutions.
CoolCleveland Interview :: Arcade to Arcade
VIDEO; Fashion Design and Retail Development in Downtown Cleveland
CONTACT:
Donald C. Shingler / (216) 338-6700