|
ShakerSquare.net is an independent
website for Shaker Square.
It is
not affiliated or supported by the
owners of the Square or any organization. I've maintained
it since 2004, pro-bono, no ads,
no sponsors.
In the beginning
In December 2003, Key Bank,
which had loaned $12.7million to finance the Square's 1999-2000 purchase and
renovation, took it back from the new owners who
could not meet their obligations.
I lived near the Square and was amazed to find that it had no web presence.
Having built several websites and, as a former small
business owner, wanting to help the businesses on the
Square, I decided to create a website for Shaker Square,
pro-bono.
It believed would be a short-term project, for in a few months the Square's new owner
or its Merchants Association would take my site over
or create their own website. I registered shakersquare.net and got to work.
That was February 17, 2004, more
than 20 years ago!
The early
years
With the help of wine merchant Gene
Veronesi and the cooperation of the business owners, in less than a month this site
had a page for each store and
restaurant, plus pages on how to get here and where to park.
Nearly three years passed before the new owners, the Coral Company,
published their
website for the Square. By then we had community and
history pages: more than 100 pages. More than 10,000
visitors a month came to this site. Other
websites linked to it. It ranked #1 on a Shaker
Square search, and still does.
Click to try it.
The middle years
The Coral Company's
website listed the businesses
on the Square, and the website of those places showed menus,
hours and more. We reduced and then removed our business
pages. Our community and history pages
grew.
Later years
With the Coral Company and SHAD.org promoting
events, this site
now focused on history, community
links, and support of community
initiatives.
2021-22 Putting the Square in
strong hands
Before the pandemic The Coral Company, owner of Shaker Square, borrowed more than $10 million (not long-term financing, a loan due
in two years), and says it cannot repay the loan. With a foreclosure auction looming,
in November 2021 bill 2021-1038 is introduced in
Cleveland City Council. It will prevent foreclosure and
put Shaker Square in the hands of
two experienced non-profits. In April 2022 our ward 4 Council representative gave her
support to the bill, which was then approved by
Council and signed by the mayor.
Current status
This Shaker Square website now reports news of the
re-envisioning and renewing of Shaker Square.
See you on the Square.
Arnie Berger
January 11, 2023 |
