Project Case Study

Downtown Cincinnati Retailing Master Plan

Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati was losing retail in its downtown core and the drain continued with the closing of several department stores. Proposed retailer recruitment for a development site was stalled and political issues as well as a lack of confidence in downtown retailing kept progress from being made.

Marketing Developments, Inc. undertook a strategic planning process that resulted in specific recommendations regarding the creation of districts, or zones within the downtown that would effectively consolidate different functions in a synergistic manner that would contribute to the resurgence of retail and entertainment activities in downtown Cincinnati.

Marketing Developments, Inc. conducted primary research, focus group interviews, interviews with key stakeholders in the downtown and used its extensive internal resources for the analysis of and recommendations about the future of downtown. The analysis also included operational and funding recommendations.

Many parts of the Plan have been put in place. A new Lazarus Department Store (as well as Tiffany’s, a new Brooks Brother's store and Palomino’s Bistro) have been opened on the former development site that for many years was a parking lot. New restaurants and entertainment venues have also opened as well as additional new, market rate housing options (with waiting lists) in the downtown.

Adaptive reuse of former buildings is underway and more upmarket merchants are looking at downtown Cincinnati. A new organization, Downtown Cincinnati, Incorporated, has been formed and is the marketing and management arm for downtown.

A Special Service District has been established to fund needed marketing, management and physical elements of the downtown plan. Recruitment of new and additional retailers is underway and the retail and entertainment elements in downtown Cincinnati have not been better for several decades.