Corner Alley adds to Uptown’s appeal

Those stressed by this month’s final papers and exams have a new option to assuage anxiety: crash some pins. Starting Wednesday, an upscale bowling experience is available in Uptown—specifically at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and Mayfield Road. With 17 lanes, event space, two bars and a restaurant, The Corner Alley offers ample options for entertainment. The 22,838-square-foot, two-story bowling alley—a sister location to its East Fourth Street predecessor—holds its grand opening Dec. 3 from 5 to 9 p.m.

“We’re looking forward to bringing the same fun and excitement from the downtown location to the Uptown neighborhood on the East Side,” said Michael Graham, general manager of the Uptown location. The Corner Alley is the latest addition to the retail and residential development that first opened in the spring of 2012. “The Corner Alley is intended to be a long-sought community gathering place and destination,” said Joseph Del Re, chief operating officer of MRN Ltd., the real estate development, construction and management company behind areas such as Uptown and East Fourth Street. “It complements the other locations at Uptown in that it brings lively, exciting entertainment and dining to an area already rich with cultural destinations and experiences.” This fall, Uptown added four new restaurants: Potbelly’s, an outpost of the chain sub shop; Ninja City, an Asian street food concept from alumnus Bac Nguyen; Crop Kitchen, an offshoot of the popular Ohio City restaurant Crop; and Happy Dog, an East Side version of the Gordon Square Arts District create-your-own hot-dog shop. Earlier this year, Mediterranean pita shop Wrapz opened in Uptown Alley, while liquid-nitrogen-yogurt shop Piccadilly Artisan Creamery and French bakery/wine bar Coquette Patisserie moved in across from the Cleveland Institute of Art. These new venues added to the dining options already available: ABC the Tavern, Chipotle, Jimmy John’s, Mitchell’s Ice Cream and Panera Bread. In addition, the Asian-fusion restaurant Inchin’s Bamboo Garden Express and the Indian fast-casual Chapati Grill are expected to open in the second quarter of 2015. “We are very excited about the continued growth of Uptown,” said Case Western Reserve Director of Real Estate Kevin Slesh. “The variety of dining, shopping and entertainment give our students faculty and staff a wonderful array of options—and also draw visitors from beyond our neighborhood. It is a win-win for Cleveland.” A First Merit Bank branch opened this week, adding to the list of amenities in the Uptown development, such as Constantino’s Market, the Barnes and Noble University Bookstore, Verizon Wireless, Anne van H. Boutique, UPS and Cleveland Yoga (which recently started offering half-price classes to CWRU students). There still are two retail spaces left to lease, and MRN hopes to make “some exciting announcements about new tenants soon,” Del Re noted. For more information on Uptown, visit uptowncleveland.com. To learn more about The Corner Alley’s free grand opening celebration, view the Facebook event.