AmTrust’s $14M Bet on Downtown, Bailey Zimmerman Headlines Akron Concert, Double D’s Honky Tonk Opens in Willoughby: CLE Daily

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🌊 Fun on the Lake: Here are 55 ways to have fun on the lake this summer.

🎶  Local Song of the Day: Gretchen Pleuss and Adam Reifsnyder’s collaborative EP The Rest Of You

ICYMI: The Kansas City Chiefs tight end and Cleveland native says childhood memories of 1990s baseball and a desire to give back to his hometown drove his investment into the Cleveland Guardians. 

Today's Trivia

Charley Lupica set a world record in 1949 by sitting on what for 117 days, awaiting the Indians’ return to first place

AmTrust is looking into a $14M overhaul of the AECOM building.

Development | By Ken Prendergast, NEOTrans

Even as AmTrust takes steps to divide up its Downtown Cleveland offices into suburban and Downtown locations, the financial services company is about to make a major investment in its new Downtown offices at the AECOM Building.

Spending Big: Ironically, that investment — a $14 million office renovation — is more than three times what AmTrust’s current office tower sold for earlier this month.

• And it’s more than the $11 million Rugby Realty put into updating the entire 1972-built, 21-story AECOM Building after Rugby bought it in 2018

The Shift: According to sources, most of AmTrust workforce from Downtown will relocate to suburban Mayfield Heights. More than 1,000 workers are based in Greater Cleveland, with about 600 working in Downtown.

• But some of AmTrust’s office workers, perhaps one-third, will remain Downtown. 

Terry Coyne, Executive Vice Chairman of Cleveland's office of Real Estate Firm Newmark: “I’m very happy that they have decided to remain partially Downtown and invest in the city’s future. Of course it’s always great when you get private investment into your city. We need more of it.”

• Coyne and his staff oversee leasing at the AECOM Building.

Read more on what this investment means for AmTrust and Downtown Cleveland.

Bailey Zimmerman to headline concert during PGA Tour Champions Week at Firestone Country Club.

Music | By Jaden Stambolia

On July 9, the Kaulig Companies Championship tees off with highly competitive golf, with a major music event the following day. Country star Bailey Zimmerman, known for his hit songs "Fall in Love" and "Rock and a Hard Place," headlines a special concert on July 10 at the Infinity Zone, a custom outdoor concert venue at Firestone Country Club in Akron.

Matt Kaulig, Executive Chairman of Kaulig Companies: “This is about doing something big for Akron. Bailey is an artist we’re really excited about, and this is the kind of show that doesn’t typically happen here without someone stepping in to make it possible. We’re proud to bring that energy to the community and give fans a night they won’t forget.”

Tickets: The concert is a separate event from tournament admission. Register for exclusive pre-sale to secure your ticket before the general public on June 12.

What Else You Need To Know: On July 9,  John Daly will be recognized as the 2026 recipient of the Ambassador of Golf Award presented by Northern Ohio Golf Charities & Foundation.

Get your tickets for the four-day tournament now. 

Talk of the Town

Councilman Kevin Bishop expressed concerns about Mayor Justin Bibb's change to on-street parking in Downtown Cleveland and Ohio City. Bishop proposed amendments to the Cleveland parking code that would lower parking rates to $1-$3 per hour, with rates up to $8.00 per hour in Special Event Zones during special events.

This Sunday is the last Mass for Immaculate Conception Parish in Downtown Cleveland. The parish is being absorbed by the nearby Parish of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. However, the 148-year-old church will continue to be open and offer Latin Mass under the Institute of Christ the King beginning June 7.

Ohio Rep. Tristan Rader of Lakewood introduced House Bill 854 that would make state college and university tuition free for Ohioans. If passed, the bill would tax income over $500,000 at 5.75%  and income over $1 million at 7.5% starting in 2027. It would also add a 1% fee for residential property sold for over $2 million.

Olmsted Falls police responded to shots fired on Wednesday, where they found two people dead in an alleged murder-suicide. It is alleged that Jamie McFarland shot and killed his 69-year-old mother before taking his own life.

Double D’s Honky Tonk and Smokehouse opened in Willoughby earlier this month. 

Food & Drink | By Douglas Trattner 

Hospitality veteran Dustin Dykstra has transformed the former Hola Tacos and Brim Kitchen space into a Western-inspired restaurant and nightlife destination featuring smoked meats, line dancing and live music.

The Work: Dykstra did so by installing acres of reclaimed barnwood, salvaged bourbon-barrel staves, and rust-tinged corrugated steel.

• He filled the gaps with oversize artwork, shabby-chic chandeliers, whiskey barrels and vintage milk cans.

• The window to the previous tenant’s brewhouse has been concealed by a new back bar.

The BBQ: Chef Matt Conti, working with a beefy J&R smoker that can tackle 600 pounds of meat at a go, offers a menu built on barbecue.

• The stars of the show are the beef brisket, pulled pork, chicken and baby back ribs, which are smoked, beer-braised and then grilled to order

• There are craft cocktails, loads of canned and draft beer, NA options, and a half dozen wines by the glass and bottle.

Honky Tonk: Upstairs is home to the honky tonk. No food is served on the second level, just drinks, music and two-stepping.

• There’s a stage for live music on weekends, a dance floor for weekly line dancing lessons, and a full bar serving up festive beverages.

Read more on the new Willoughby restaurant.

Yesterday's Trivia Answer

What author lived in Cleveland and Elyria before breaking through with a novel fictionalizing his Northwest Ohio hometown? Sherwood Anderson (“Winesburg, Ohio”)

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's question.

From the Editor

As a person who has lived and worked Downtown for around eight years, I have always found that Cleveland street parking is terrible. Most of the prime spots seem dedicated to valet, and good luck finding cheap parking in general during an event, even if you are not going to the event. - Jaden Stambolia, Editorial Assistant