Midtown Cleveland

In 2007, the Center was contacted by MidTown Cleveland, a community development organization dedicated to revitalizing Cleveland’s Midtown Corridor. Together, the Center and MidTown Cleveland worked to locate business owners, developers, activists, clergy, and residents with ties to the area. Center staff then conducted a number of oral history interviews, each of which tells a story about the area’s rich history and prospects for the future.

Browse 15 items in
Midtown Cleveland

Dan Sussen discusses his father's business in the auto parts industry and his role in the creation of Midtown Cleveland Incorporated. He discusses the company surviving the Great Depression, its growth and expansion, and his role as the company's salesmen. Mr. Sussen then focuses on Midtown Cleveland Incorporated. Mr. Sussen describes the reasons behind creating Midtown Cleveland Incorporated, its early years, and the growth of Midtown since the organization's founding. He also touches on the…

Rose Strauss, owner and operator of ten buildings in Cleveland's Midtown Corridor, discusses her professional life in the area. Ms. Strauss, former president of Leader Electric, decided to go into the real estate business in the early 1980s. She discusses why she decided to get involved in urban real estate, security issues, marketing issues, and her attraction to Downtown real estate. Other topics include her personal and family history, perceptions of Cleveland neighborhoods, and the changing…

Laura Hindulak, director of marketing for Pierre's Ice Cream in Cleveland's Midtown Corridor, discusses the history of the company in Cleveland. She discusses the company's creation, its multiple locations within the city, its owners, name changes, and marketing strategies. Other topics include the interior of the factory, the production process, and the flavor creation process.

George Dixon III, owner and operator of the Lancer Steakhouse, discusses the history of the restaurant and its importance to the African American community of Cleveland. The interview focuses on the history of the restaurant both prior to his ownership and thereafter. Originally called the Hickory Smokehouse, the Lancer Steakhouse was established by Fleet Slaughter, becoming the first restaurant in Cleveland owned and operated by an African American. Mr. Dixon discusses the other African…

Tom Morgan, President of the Harrington Electric Co., discusses the history and role of the company in Cleveland's Midtown Corridor. Founded in 1907, Harrington Electric Co. has been in Midtown for over one hundred years (as of interview date). The company has primarily performed electrical contracting for buildings in and around the city of Cleveland. Harrington Electric Co. has been involved in the restoration of the Allen Theatre, the Cleveland Museum of Art, Severance Hall, Myers University,…
Browse 15 interviews in collection