The Observation Deck

Aldi's market will be building a store on the site once occupied by DeLorean.

Laser wash may be moving next door.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car may occupy the empty building on the corner of Franklin and 117th.

All three moves seem to make a great deal of economic sense. If a city does nothing to attract and encourage development it will fall behind. If it gets out to far in front of the market the city ends up with projects that can't stand on their own merit.

Is this what you would have chosen for this area if you were Lakewood's economic dictator?

At least Aldi's charges a $.25 deposit on the carts so that people don't steal them for use as strollers.

That Aldi's will fit right in with the nearby Family Dollar, KFC, Burger King, etc. What would you have recommended instead, as chief central planner (sounds like USSR) for Lakewood? Would you build a Brooks Brothers at the former DeLoreon dealership? Maybe a Brooks Brothers would get lots of customers from the mens sleeping rooms on Madison? Why not put in a Saks Fifth Avenue while you're at it? I'm sure they could sell lots of $800 bath robes.

I believe the new stores/businesses coming to Lakewood are a reflection of the neighborhoods. Lakewood is very heterogeneous, economically. Not everyone in Lakewood makes $100,000+ a year. Actually, I would pick an Aldi's over the Madison Bi-Rite any day, if I had to decide between the two. I bet Aldi's would have 50% or more of their light sockets filled with bulbs.

Now before you think I am defending Aldi's, I had a bad experience on my last visit to the one on W25th a couple years ago. The assistant manager wouldn't sell me a bag (claimed they were out) and initially wouldn't give me a receipt, either. I got a receipt after telling him "I am not on crack like some of your other customers."

Doug

I would imagine that there will be a number of businesses filling in the gaps in that part of Lakewood. Good to hear it.

In that same area------- 117 and Detroit---

In the last 30 years it has gone from a movie theater (Granada) to a Shell gas station to the current fast food franchise.
The market is moving faster than government can plan for it.
At the moment, I am thankful that those areas are marketable and that some one is willing to risk capital to make a profit.
That is a VERY good sign. It's absence is not.
Stan Austin

I hope this is true, Aldi would be a great fit.

I know the Hertz office is moving down the street onto W117 on the lakewood side. Not sure if this signals something new to replace the old "Duchan" food mart building.

Doug--

May I suggest the Rocky River Aldi location? Crack-free, as is the location on Brookpark road, and the many stores I have seen in Chicago.

Mike-

I think it's Enterprise that wants to move from Hopkins & Detroit to 117th.

oops! my bad...I get those confused sometimes.

I remember in Germany, when the first computers came out and were being sold at Aldi's... there were huge lines waiting to buy them for 100 bucks, and people wanted one so bad that 3 people actually got shot over them.


I love Aldi's. It will make a great fit. And also, it gives the City of Lakewood at least 100 new jobs I'm sure!

I can only hope this is true. I am a regular shopper at the Aldi's in Rocky River, I would love to bring that money back into Lakewood.

Although I'm not in any way an Aldi's fan, I would imagine that's better than nothing.