Vintage Cleveland (Photos): Places No Longer Around

These are a collection of photos from our Cleveland past. Many of these places are gone, but many are not forgotten by the people who lived, worked, and spent their lives at these locations and on these streets.

1. Cleveland’s Central Market

Cleveland’s Central Market, established in 1856 near Ontario Street and Carnegie Avenue, was a bustling hub serving the city’s diverse immigrant population with over 200 vendor stalls offering meats, produce, and dairy at reasonable prices. Despite its popularity, the market faced significant challenges, including poor lighting, grimy walls, and limited parking. Competition from the privately owned Sheriff Street Market and the more modern West Side Market further strained Central Market’s prominence. After a devastating fire in 1949, a new six-story facility opened in 1950 near East 4th Street, but maintenance issues persisted, and the market struggled to remain viable amidst suburban migration, inflation, and inadequate city support.

By the 1980s, high costs made it difficult for vendors to stay profitable, and the market was overshadowed by the thriving West Side Market, which benefited from better infrastructure and parking. In the 1990s, Cleveland officials closed the New Central Market to make way for a sports complex that now hosts two major league teams.

2. McCrory Store on Euclid

This 1938 photo captures the atmosphere of a McCrory’s five-and-dime store, a fixture in many American cities and towns during the early 20th century. Known for their affordable variety of goods, McCrory stores offered everything from shoes, clothing, and housewares to penny candy, toys, and cosmetics. Many locations also featured lunch counters, where customers could grab a quick bite during their shopping trips. By this time, McCrory’s had grown into a major retail chain with hundreds of stores across the country, catering to working-class families seeking both convenience and value. Despite its success, McCrory’s, like other five-and-dime stores, would face mounting challenges in the decades ahead due to economic changes and the rise of suburban shopping centers.

3. Clark’s Colonial Restaurant

Clark’s Colonial Restaurant, located at 1007 Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio, was a notable dining establishment during the 1950s. Part of a chain that included 14 restaurants across Cleveland and Akron, it was renowned for its charming dooryard gardens and the elegant Garden Room cocktail lounge.

The restaurant’s ambiance was enhanced by its colonial-themed decor, which extended to its tableware. Notably, Clark’s Paul Revere House, another establishment in the chain situated at Euclid Avenue and Sixth Street, was a faithful reproduction of Paul Revere’s historic Boston home, built around 1650. This thematic consistency was evident in the custom-designed china used in the restaurants, featuring scenes from Paul Revere’s midnight ride, adding to the distinctive dining experience.

Clark’s Colonial Restaurant was a popular destination for both locals and visitors, offering a blend of quality cuisine and a unique atmosphere that reflected the colonial American spirit. Its presence contributed to Cleveland’s vibrant mid-20th-century dining scene, which saw significant growth during the 1930s and 1940s, spurred by the city’s status as a leading convention center.

4. Kon-Tiki

The Sheraton-Cleveland’s Kon-Tiki restaurant opened in January 1961, drawing over 2,000 visitors eager for an exotic Polynesian escape amid the city’s cold winter. Located on Superior Avenue near Public Square, the 230-seat restaurant was designed by former actor Stephen Crane, known for his Hollywood Tiki restaurant “The Luau.” The Kon-Tiki’s elaborate design featured rock-lined walls, waterfalls, and themed dining rooms, creating a sense of mystery and adventure. Guests crossed a bridge over ponds to enter spaces adorned with Polynesian décor, including Tiki idols, thatched roofs, and exotic plants. The menu, prepared by a chef from Hong Kong, offered creatively named dishes and drinks like the Zombie and Luau Grog, served in unique mugs and even flaming pineapples.

The restaurant’s concept drew from the mid-century Tiki craze, fueled by post-World War II nostalgia for the South Pacific and the popularization of Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon-Tiki expedition. However, by the late 1960s, Tiki culture began to decline as jet travel made real tropical destinations more accessible, and public awareness of cultural appropriation grew. Kon-Tiki closed in 1976, marking the end of Cleveland’s Tiki heyday. Modern Tiki bars like Porco Lounge, which incorporates salvaged décor from the Kon-Tiki, have revived the spirit of tropical cocktails while shifting away from exploitative elements of the original trend.

5. Lobster House

Captain Frank’s Lobster House, located on the East 9th Street Pier in Cleveland, was a beloved yet polarizing dining spot that operated from 1954 to 1989. Founded by Sicilian immigrant Frank Visconti, who began his career selling fish from a horse-drawn buggy, the restaurant became a local institution known for its waterfront views, hearty seafood offerings, and eclectic atmosphere. Diners could watch planes at Burke Lakefront Airport, listen to the sounds of a Cleveland Indians game, or enjoy a sunset over Lake Erie. The decor featured fishing nets, an indoor waterfall, and lobster tanks that added to the ambiance, though some patrons found the restaurant dimly lit and unkempt. Celebrities such as Judy Garland, Flip Wilson, and even the Shah of Iran dined there, contributing to its fame.

Despite its success in the 1960s and 1970s, Captain Frank’s faced challenges in its later years. A devastating fire in 1958 was a setback, but Visconti rebuilt quickly. However, after his death in 1984, the restaurant struggled to maintain its appeal amid growing competition, declining food quality, and the waning allure of downtown Cleveland. New ownership failed to revive its fortunes, and the restaurant closed in 1989 before being demolished in 1994. Today, the revitalized East 9th Street Pier offers a new array of restaurants, activities, and scenic views, but memories of Captain Frank’s remain a vivid part of Cleveland’s culinary history.

6. The Roxy

The Roxy Theater, Cleveland’s most famous burlesque house, opened in 1907 as the Family Theater and later became the Roxy in 1931. It gained national recognition for its burlesque acts, hosting stars like Abbott & Costello and Blaze Starr. After renovations in 1956, the theater alternated between live shows and X-rated films in its later years. In 1971, it was sold to Kope Realty, and despite a 1972 bombing and legal troubles, it continued operating until its closure on November 6, 1977. The building was demolished to make way for the National City Center (now PNC Bank).