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Preservation Merit Award to House of Blues, MRN Limited Partnership, Cooper Carry,
Inc., Benjamin D. Rickey & Co., City Architecture, and DAS Construction Company
for the rehabilitation and adaptive use of the former Woolworth store at Fourth and Euclid
in downtown Cleveland as the House of Blues.
House of Blues is a home for live music and southern-inspired cuisine in an environment celebrating
the African American cultural contributions of blues music and folk art. The House of Blues in
downtown Cleveland is a careful blend of ideas and styles that creates a unique place revealing a
story of Cleveland’s past. Built in 1950 during the heyday of shopping on Euclid Avenue, the former
Woolworth store was chosen for its location and for the opportunity to bring life back into the
area. The project team included MRN Limited and the House of Blues in a joint venture; Cooper
Carry, Inc., as lead architect; Benjamin D. Rickey & Co. as historic preservation specialists;
DAS Construction Company as general contractor; and City Architecture as associate architects.
Together they worked to preserve many existing elements of the space. To preserve the architectural
tradition of Euclid Avenue and a piece of Cleveland history, as well, the mid-century modern style
façade was restored. Inside, vintage terrazzo flooring was preserved throughout the main level.
The team added two floors on top of the building, set back from the street and faced with a rooftop
terrace to maintain the original height. A skylight that had been where the floors were added was
re-formatted as a ceiling-mounted light fixture. The City of Cleveland stepped in to clean up the
streets and sidewalks in the surrounding area, and Cooper Carry designed lighting for Fourth
Street, facing the entrance.
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for a list of past Ohio Historic Preservation Office Award recipients.
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