On our first visit here, we were absolutely BLOWN away! Not what we expected AT ALL. The "Arcade" mall area is inside the middle of the building that houses the Hyatt Regency Hotel; which is our Cleveland hotel of choice (see other review). So, when we were told that we could have room facing the atrium that overlooked "The Arcade" my husband and I both unwittingly thought "old school video games." In our defense he's a computer geek and I'm an academic egghead. :)
The shops in the mall are small and unique. Don't expect to find a Sunglass Hut here. There are various boutiques, a spa, gift shops and eateries. But it's not really about the shopping at all. It's about the beautiful, grandiose architecture and history.
It was built as the first large-scale indoor mall in American for just under a MILLION dollars! It's Romanesque style is both breathtaking and an astonishment. They have kept it very well maintained over the years. Even if your not staying in the hotel, The Arcade is centrally located in downtown Cleveland so be sure to stop by and just gaze at the staircase and amazing galleries. Definitely worth a walk through - literally. You can enter on one side and exit the other. :)