The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Retail, eatery space floated
Project would occupy former bank site near Great Lakes Mall
A retail redevelopment project proposed on a high-profile Mentor corner will be before the city Planning Commission this week.
The commission on Jan. 21 will consider a conditional-use permit and preliminary site plan for a 7,200-square-foot multitenant retail building with restaurant patio at 7720 Mentor Ave. and Plaza Boulevard.
The site is currently occupied by a vacant Huntington Bank branch. Thomas English Real Estate and Mentor BNK Investors LLC seek to demolish the structure for the project.
The new building would include the Sleep Number mattress store in the largest tenant space, and the applicant anticipates quick-serve, casual restaurants in the center space and western end, where the outdoor dining area is proposed, according to the administration’s report to the commission.
Each tenant will employ about five people for 15 total, Thomas English said in a letter to the city.
“The project will provide major upgrades in terms of architectural style, functionality and business activity to a very prominent intersection in the city of Mentor,” he said.
The building was constructed in 1977 for Chase Bank. In 1989, Huntington Bank took over the space.
“The investment, redevelopment and reimaging of the former Huntington Bank branch
for Chase Bank. In 1989, Huntington Bank took over the space.
“The investment, redevelopment and reimaging of the former Huntington Bank branch building is yet another example of the continued appeal of the Great Lakes Mall business district to national retail and restaurant tenants, despite economic headwinds,” Mentor Economic Development Director Kevin Malecek said.
The city administration’s recommended conditions of approval include adding protective bollards around the patio area and varying the building roofline height to further enhance the street appeal of the building.