PHOTOS: Eighteen images of places around town that are gone but not forgotten

Bob Perkoski Thursday, March 03, 2016
City Grill in Gordon Square in 2005Bob PerkoskiCity Grill in Gordon Square in 2005

Remember the Barbara Anne Bridal Shop on Ontario Street or the City Grill in Gordon Square? Cleveland is changing so rapidly, that storefronts we all passed on our way to work, school and social events are disappearing faster than most of us realize.

Our managing photographer, Bob Perkoski, however, rarely lets a Cleveland icon go unrecorded no matter how humble it may be. And for this week's Fresh Water, he's rounded up 18 images of places around town that are gone but not forgotten. Which of these did you stroll by on your way to the bus stop? Ever eat at Steve's Lunch or Perry's Family Restaurant? Not many among us will remember Gaylord's Discount Department Store, a sign for which is in one of the images below.

No matter how many of these you recognize, you won't find a funky uber-Cleveland photo round-up like this anywhere else.


<span class="content-image-text">Parker's Restaurant & Bistro in Ohio City 2004 - now The Black Pig</span>Parker's Restaurant & Bistro in Ohio City 2004 - now The Black Pig

<span class="content-image-text">Visible Voice Books in Tremont in 2011</span>Visible Voice Books in Tremont in 2011

<span class="content-image-text">The Cleveland Cold Storage Building 2010</span>The Cleveland Cold Storage Building 2010

<span class="content-image-text">Eye Candy Gallery in Tremont 2010</span>Eye Candy Gallery in Tremont 2010
Bob Perkoski
Bob Perkoski

About the Author: Bob Perkoski

Bob is managing photographer with FreshWater as well as a Cleveland freelance photographer. His photographic approach is rooted in the art of storytelling. Whether freezing the energy of an event, encapsulating the magic of a performance, or astutely anticipating the decisive moments, his work displays an innate ability to distill the essence of any scene or subject into a single frame or series of work. In addition, Bob is the official photographer for LAND studio and Holden Forest and Gardens and has worked with various Cleveland organizations. In 2019 he published a book of his photos Rust Belt Burlesque. He's had work published in other books like LGBTQ Cleveland by Ken Schneck, Rust Belt Chic: The Cleveland Anthology, Rust Belt Chic: The Pittsburgh Anthology and Moon Cleveland by Douglas Trattner. Previously he was co-founder/art director for Balanced Living Magazine. You can view his versatile portfolio of work, which includes news coverage, portraiture, architectural and fine art at Perkoski Photography. Originally from Conneaut, Ohio, Perkoski now lives close to the city in Parma. He has been Fresh Water's managing photographer since the publication's September 2010 inception.

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