Shaker Square is part of the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood and is known for being the go-to area near Cleveland for both commercial businesses and residential areas. What started as a hole-in-the-wall community has flourished into a one-of-a-kind space.
It’s home to a historic American Colonial-Georgian shopping mall and the perfect combination of urban and suburban vibes–making it a great place to live.
There’s a combination of working professionals, families, and retirees in Shaker Square, so regardless of your stage of life, you can find a home in this beautiful Cleveland neighborhood.
Where is Shaker Square?
Shaker Square is 5.8 miles away from the heart of Cleveland (15 minutes with no traffic) and accessible by car, bike, and public transportation. It’s close to Shaker Heights, Mt. Pleasant, East Cleveland, Garfield Heights, and Maple Heights. The zip code in Shaker Square is 44120, and the area code is (216). This trendy Cleveland neighborhood is best known for its variety of shopping stores, diversity, architecture, restaurants, and good quality of life.
If you’re looking to take public transportation around town, whether to work, pick up groceries, or hit the town with your friends, you have plenty of ways to get around town. The most common form of public transportation in Shaker Square is the Shaker Rapid Transit (Blue and Green Lines).
Depending on the route, the bus can come anywhere from every 7 minutes to every 25 minutes. If you plan on taking public transportation, make sure to schedule additional travel time just in case there’s a backup–so you still arrive to work on time.
Shaker Square, Cleveland Map
Shaker Square History & Overview
While there might not be a lot of information available regarding the history of Shaker Square, Cleveland, there is a little.
For example, did you know that part of Shaker Square used to be known as Cleveland’s Little Hungary? Back in the 1920s, Hungarian immigrants lived on Buckeye Road and gave it that nickname. The Van Swearingen brothers started to develop the neighborhood and built apartment buildings, along with rapid transit tracks, so that residents could quickly get to different parts of the city. To this day, Shaker Square is home to the earliest planned shopping center/area.
The demographics for Shaker Square aren’t available, but here is the information based on the Buckeye-Shaker area, which Shaker Square is a part of as a whole.
Demographics of Shaker Square
- 14.7% White, 3.9% Asian, 78.% African American, 2.4% Biracial, 1% Other
- Median Household Income: $27,529
- Educational Attainment: % of residents have graduated high school, and % have gotten their Bachelor’s degree
- Median Age: 39 years old
- Population: 10,927
- Population Density: 9,431 per square mile
What’s it Like Living in Shaker Square?
Shaker Square (a.k.a. known for being one of the most unique and different places in Cleveland) is a very walkable neighborhood. The Buckeye-Shaker area is even known for having 3rd highest walkable score in Cleveland! The amount of amenities in the Shaker Square area gets an A+. There are plenty of coffee shops, grocery stores, parks, hospitals (if needed), and storefronts. Shaker Square has an urban feel, and it’s dog-friendly, pedestrian friendly, and family-friendly.
And this neighborhood is actually home to the Cleveland Garlic Festival–a special tradition in the community that residents look forward to every year. You can enjoy a kid’s play area (obstacle course, tractors, etc.), delicious food, live music, and entertainment.
With the median age being 39 years old, the majority of people living in the neighborhood of Shaker Square are families and working professionals–it’s also a common place for retirees.
While directly in the neighborhood of Shaker Square, it doesn’t have too many bars, but if you travel a short distance to the heart of Cleveland, there are plenty of bars to hit up–perfect for nightlife(currently 219 bars, 13 breweries, and 57 clubs and counting).
Things to Do in Shaker Square – Best Restaurants, Attractions & Shopping
Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly activity, places to explore by yourself, restaurants to try, or storefronts to check out, there are plenty of fun things to do in Shaker Square, Cleveland. Here are a few popular options:
Batuqui Brazilian Restaurant
The Batuqui is bringing Brazil to Cleveland. With their authentic dishes, flavors, and beverages, you can get the taste and experience of Brazil without leaving your backyard. As an award-winning restaurant, you’ll always receive the best service possible!
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SASA
When you dine at SASA, you can enjoy hand-crafted cocktails, craft beers on tap, and delicious food. A few examples of their specialty sushi rolls include: SASA Fire Roll, Tofu Edamame Falafel Roll, Lobster Roll, Sake Salmon Roll, and the East-West Roll.
Felice Urban Cafe
For the past 14+ years, Felice has been on a mission to create unique and authentic food that stands out in this ever-changing community. They serve everything from cheese & charcuterie to a vegan burger, rigatoni pasta with braised lamb, and Wells’ buttermilk chicken sandwich. While these are just a few examples, there are so many more dishes to choose from, drinks, and even desserts!
Academy Tavern
As the oldest continuing bar and restaurant, Academy Tavern has provided the best food since 1939. They offer some timeless favorites and have continued to add additional items to the menu over the years. Whether you’re looking for a delicious burger, wings, salad, or a kid’s meal, Academy Tavern has everything you need.
Zanzibar Soul Fusion
As a full-service restaurant in Shaker Square, Zanzibar focuses on serving the best southern cuisine. They have everything from candied yam, peach cobbler, sweet potato pie, smothered ribeye, BBQ beef shank, walleye cakes, soulful pasta, macaroni & cheese, soul rolls (famous), collard greens, and 50+ martini & specialty drinks.
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Heinen’s Grocery Store
What started as a butcher shop in 1929 transformed into a supermarket (the first one in Cleveland) in 1933 when its owner, Joe Heinen, decided that he had a new passion. Since then, the grocery store has continued to be a family-owned and operated business. They have everything from easy meals, overnight seafood (fresh), friendly options for all types of dietary needs, in-store butchers, and even wellness guidance.
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Nature Center At Shaker Lakes
The Nature Center is a free and family-friendly activity and is open to the public. They have everything from hiking trails to native habitats and plenty of volunteer opportunities.
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Cleveland Skating Club
Swimming lessons, youth athlete training, youth hockey, and skating lessons are just a few family and kid-friendly activities at the Cleveland Skating Club!
Places To Visit In Shaker Square
- Batuqui Brazilian Restaurant, 12706 Larchmere Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44120 (216) 801-0227
- SASA, 13120 Shaker Square, Cleveland, OH 44120 (216) 767-1111
- Felice Urban Cafe, 12502 Larchmere Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44120 (216) 791-0918
- Academy Tavern, 12800 Larchmere Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44120 (216) 229-1171
- Zanzibar Soul Fusion, 13225 Shaker Square #2314, Cleveland, OH 44120 (216) 752-1035
- Heinen’s Grocery Store, 16611 Chagrin Blvd, Shaker Heights, OH 44120 (216) 921-6638
- Nature Center At Shakers Lakes, 2600 S Park Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44120 (216) 321-5935
- Cleveland Skating Club, 2500 Kemper Rd, Cleveland, OH 44120 (216) 791-2800
Schools in Shaker Square
Shaker Square is part of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. If you’re hoping to send your kids to a college prep school, there’s a great option in Cleveland, OH: Northeast Ohio College Preparatory School.
If you’re planning on sending your kids to public school, don’t worry because there are plenty of great options. Some of the choices you have for attending include: Almira PreK-8th Academy, Clark PreK-8th, and Max S Hayes High School.
If you’re interested in attending college, a few of the colleges near Cleveland include: Oberlin College (#4 Best Private College in Ohio), Cleveland State University, Baldwin Wallace College, and Kent State University.
Now, if you’re not ready to attend a 4-year, don’t worry because Cuyahoga Community College Western Campus (in Cleveland) is a perfect local community college to attend.
Students and others will enjoy the free public Cleveland library.
Is Shaker Square Safe?
The total crime rate in Shaker Square is 5,281 per 100k people, which is 125% higher than the national average. While this number is high, that doesn’t mean the entire area has a lot of crime. There are plenty of areas in Shaker Square that are safe, family-friendly, and a great place to settle down. Plus, it’s lower than the total crime rate in Cleveland by 19.1%. When you break down the total crime rate in Shaker Square, 3,753 of the crimes are property crimes, while 1,527 are violent crimes.
Shaker Square, Cleveland Real Estate
The median sale price for a home in Shaker Square is $81,000. When it comes to the price per square foot, the average in Shaker Square is $44. If you’re interested in purchasing a piece of property, there are plenty of beautiful homes available in Shaker Square. Here’s a breakdown of the median sale prices based on the type of real estate available:
- Single-family: $91,000
- Condo: $235,000
- Townhouse: $130,000
If you’re trying to find the most affordable option when it comes to purchasing a piece of property, then that would be a single-family home.
Most homes in Cleveland have a Gothic or an Italianate architecture style, but there are also historical buildings. Check out these beautiful homes that are currently available.
Don’t worry if you’re not ready to purchase a home, condo, or townhouse because there are plenty of apartments in the Buckeye-Shaker area. The average rent in Shaker Square is $1,706, which is comparable to the national average for rent ($1,465), but that can change depending on the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, amenities, and location.
Are you thinking about living in the beautiful Shaker Square neighborhood? Summit Moving is the best relocation company in Cleveland and is here to help make your transition seamless! With our professional, hardworking and trustworthy crew members, we will help to make this move as stress-free as possible–all at an affordable price. Call us at (216) 641-6677 for a free estimate!
