Cleveland Trust Rotunda: Ghosts, Gorgeousness, and a Whole Lot of History 🍸

Cleveland’s downtown is home to some spectacular buildings, but there’s one that has more history (and ghost stories) than your favorite haunted house. We’re talking about the Cleveland Trust Rotunda, now housing Heinen’s grocery store and The Vault bar, but once home to millions of dollars and, allegedly, a few restless spirits. 👻

Let’s dive into the history of this stunning building—and, of course, the eerie tales that go with it. After all, if it’s cool enough for The Avengers, then it’s cool enough for us. 😉

The Bank Vault...That Might Hold More Than Just Money

Built in 1908, the Cleveland Trust Rotunda is a masterpiece of classical architecture. With its towering columns, intricate marble work, and a breathtaking world-class 61-foot glass dome, the building was designed to impress. It was once home to Cleveland Trust Bank and had the vaults to prove it.

We’re talking top-secret, locked-up wealth—enough to inspire a spooky award-winning novel! And that’s not all…

Rumor has it that the building is haunted. Some say that the spirits of past bank employees and customers still wander the halls—or perhaps they’re stuck, unable to leave after all their transactions and business dealings. After all, many of the valuables are still locked up there, forgotten!

Who knows, maybe it was just a little too much cash that kept them lingering. Either way, one thing’s for sure: if you feel a sudden chill as you walk by the old vaults, it could be more than the AC kicking in...or maybe you’re just in the freezer aisle.🍃🥶

The Rotunda: Where History Meets...Groceries?

This building has had quite a history. Originally The Trust was the headquarters for the Cleveland Trust Bank. Think grand marble columns, a giant glass dome, and 13 murals by Francis Davis Millet, a well-known artist who tragically went down with the Titanic. The murals detail the exploration and settlement of the Great Lakes. They don’t make buildings like this anymore—nowadays, the closest you get is a Starbucks in a glass tower. 🙄😅

But despite its architectural and historic value, The Rotunda faced an uncertain future until Heinen’s unexpectedly stepped in to restore and repurpose the iconic building. By transforming the historic space into a grocery store, Heinen’s not only preserved the rotunda’s grandeur but also gave it new life, ensuring its remarkable architecture continues to be open to the public and admired by visitors today.

And here's the twist: This majestic space that once housed millions in the bank vaults beneath its grand dome now hosts The Vault—a speakeasy-style bar. Imagine sipping a cocktail while sitting in a place that once secured piles of cash. It's the only bar where you can say, “I’ll have a gin and tonic, and make it extra historic.” 🤓🍸

Under the Dome: Where Light Meets History

If you’ve ever walked through the Rotunda, you know the glass dome is the star of the show. And while Clevelanders thought for nearly a century that it was designed by Tiffany, the real designer, Nicola D'Ascenzo, still deserves all the hype. 👏👏

It’s 61 feet across, and its height is a jaw-dropping 85 feet. The light pouring in from the dome creates a magical atmosphere, and if you take a moment, you might feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

And if you’re there after hours... well, maybe that’s when the spirits decide to make their presence known. People say the shadows play tricks on you, and it’s not unusual to hear a creak or a bump in the night. Could be the building settling... or something else entirely. 🙀

A Building With a Past—And a Future Full of Surprises

The Cleveland Trust Rotunda isn’t just a historic gem—it’s a building with layers of history, and perhaps a few restless spirits, lingering in its grand halls. With its soaring glass dome and intricate marble details, the rotunda’s beauty is undeniable, but its future still remains uncertain. Its maintenance is costly, and while demolition is out of the question due to its expense, the building's fate still hangs in the balance. 🤑

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, one thing’s for sure: this jewel of Cleveland is a reminder of the city’s rich past—and its ability to surprise, even when the lights flicker. So next time you're downtown, grab a coffee at Heinen's or a cocktail at The Vault, and take in the rotunda’s stunning architecture—you just might feel the weight of history... and something else following you.

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