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They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it's also costing more money. 

Why it matters: The increased cost of raising a child puts additional pressure on family budgets at a time when housing, child care, health care and other everyday essentials already cost more.

By the numbers: Families in Cleveland saw a 6.7% increase in the cost of raising a child from 2025 to 2026, according to data from financial technology company SmartAsset.

A two-parent household in the Cleveland metro will pay $27,771 per year to raise a single child in 2026, up from $26,027 in 2025 and $24,007 in 2024.

What they did: SmartAsset used data from MIT's Living Wage Calculator to compare costs for a family with two working adults and one child to a childless household with two working adults.

Costs include "basic needs" such as food, housing, transportation, health care and child care.

The big picture: Cleveland ranked 19th out of 48 metros included in the study.

The cost increased year over year in all but two metros: Richmond, Virginia, and the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk area.

San Francisco is the most expensive metro area to raise a child at $43,171, while Memphis is the least expensive at $19,922.

Indianapolis saw the largest spike in child-raising costs with an increase of nearly 21% year-over-year.

💭 Troy's thought bubble: I have three sons and can't wrap my head around how much money it costs to maintain a healthy lifestyle for them.

The study doesn't even consider things like schooling, toys, haircuts, unforeseen health issues and so much more.

The cost of raising a child just jumped again

Families in the Cleveland saw a 6.7% increase in the cost of raising a child from 2025 to 2026.

Illustration of a child guiding a green toy train with dollar sign wheels off the edge of a table

They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it&#x27;s also costing more money. Why it matters: The increased cost of raising a child puts additional pressure on family budgets at a time when housing, child care, health care and other <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="everyday essentials" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/25/trump-gas-prices-gallup" data-vars-content-id="a5751f31-9bcf-4c02-9876-3193d1f46e4a" data-vars-headline="The cost of raising a child just jumped again" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/25/trump-gas-prices-gallup" target="_self">everyday essentials</a> already cost more.

News

Money

We visited the downtown Heinen's last week to pay our respects. 

Why it matters: The announced closure of Cleveland's most beautiful and architecturally significant supermarket has rocked downtown residents and office workers. 

And it underscores the financial challenges of the grocery business in the urban core.

Driving the news: The location lost more than $18 million over its 11-year run inside the former Cleveland Trust rotunda, co-president Jeff Heinen told Signal Cleveland earlier this month.

"That level of losses is not sustainable," Heinen said. 

Between the lines: Public officials spent years trying to keep the store afloat.

The city contributed $250,000 toward a store reconfiguration, while Cuyahoga County and Cleveland Development Advisors each provided $50,000 grants for downsizing and lease extensions.

The county also funded a downtown retail marketing campaign highlighting Heinen's.

Reality check: These subsidies were a drop in the bucket, as it turned out. 

Flashback: Downtown population numbers have long been overblown, but the store nevertheless became a symbol of a residential revival when it opened in 2015.

Remote work and changing shopping habits accelerated Heinen's wildly imbalanced ledger.

💭 Sam's thought bubble: I ventured to Heinen's for an occasional soup or salad when I worked out of Scene's offices on Bolivar.

In my experience, it was always more popular as a lunch and prepared-foods destination than a full grocery store.

Constantino's in the Warehouse District obviously doesn't have the architectural cachet but seems like it might be a decent substitute in a pinch?

💭 Troy's thought bubble: Even as it prepares to close, you can see the potential that the downtown Heinen's location had.

I just hope whatever moves in there is something that can thrive in such a cool building. 

What's next: The location officially closes July 31. 

Downtown Cleveland Inc. says recruiting another grocery operator is a top priority and has partnered with consulting firm StreetSense to study the downtown grocery market.

Bidding Cleveland's most beautiful grocery store adieu

After 11 years and $18 million in losses, the downtown Heinen's era draws to a close.

Interior view of a grand domed ceiling with a circular stained-glass skylight. Black metal radial spokes form a sunburst, surrounded by gold-accented arches, statues, and mural-adorned balconies.

Sipping a beer at the local grocery store, tilting your head back and seeing ... this. Photo: Sam Allard/Axios

We visited the downtown Heinen&#x27;s last week to pay our respects. Why it matters: The announced closure of Cleveland&#x27;s most beautiful and architecturally significant supermarket has rocked downtown residents and office workers. <ul><li>And it underscores the financial challenges of the grocery business in the urban core.</li></ul>

Food and Drink

Latest news on Wall Street, Corporate America and financial regulation.

Business

Cars were lined up all the way down Main Avenue in the Flats West Bank on a recent Saturday evening.

The intrigue: Asked what all the fuss was about, a pair of guys in a Lamborghini responded: "We're going to Shooters, baby!"

State of play: Shooters Cleveland has created a flashy, big-city vibe in the West Bank since reopening under new ownership in March.

The new owners include Machine Gun Kelly and members of his management team, and other local investors.

The revamped venue is fancier than the old Shooters on the Water, with a pricier food menu and amenities that scream VIP.

You can even dock your boat there for a fee that's waived if you spend more than $100 on food and/or drinks.

The big picture: Shooters' vibe of skyline views and late-night dance parties puts it in direct competition with the East Bank's FWD Day + Nightclub, which opened in 2015. 

Some patrons are even calling Shooters the "Ibiza of the Midwest," a nickname previously given to FWD.

What's next: FWD's performers include Danny Avila, Afrojack and 2 Chainz scheduled through Labor Day.

Shooters has stars like Austin Millz and Steve Aoki on tap, and surely a few after-parties associated with MGK Day next month.

The bottom line: Which place is really the "Ibiza of the Midwest" is up for debate. 

What's not? Everyone seems to want to see what the hype is about.

The story behind Cleveland's newest nightlife obsession

Shooters on the Flats East Bank has become this summer's go-to nightlife spot.

A tattooed male performer on stage to the right, wearing a gold chain, raises his arm amid a packed crowd cheering with raised hands and phones, as bright stage lights shine overhead.

DJ Pauly D is among the acts that has helped turn Shooters on the Flats West Bank into the hottest summer spot in Cleveland. Photo: Tom Briglia / WireImage

Cars were lined up all the way down Main Avenue in the Flats West Bank on a recent Saturday evening.The intrigue: Asked what all the fuss was about, a pair of guys in a Lamborghini responded: &quot;We&#x27;re going to Shooters, baby!&quot;

Music

Things to Do

IKEA, the retailer known for its flat-pack, ready-to-assemble furniture (with a side of Swedish meatballs), is finally coming to Northeast Ohio next spring.

Why it matters: IKEA was one of the few prominent retailers missing from the region and brings a powerful retail magnet to the west side.

Driving the news: It will be the latest addition to Crocker Park, Stark Enterprises, owner of the Westlake outdoor shopping center, announced Tuesday.

The news follows IKEA's announcement that it will open smaller-format locations in suburban shopping centers around the country — as opposed to its traditional 300,000-square-foot big-box stores. 

The Crocker store will be 80,000 square feet and occupy the 50,000-square-foot space previously home to Dick's Sporting Goods.

What they're saying: "IKEA isn't simply another retailer — it's a destination that will draw visitors from across the Midwest," Stacie Schmidt, spokesperson for Stark Enterprises, said in a statement.

Flashback: This isn't the first time IKEA has tried to enter Northeast Ohio. Plans for a Brooklyn store fell through in 2016.

Another attempt for a location near Transportation Boulevard in Garfield Heights collapsed in 2018.

Zoom in: IKEA does have a pick-up location, operated by RXO Inc., on Tiedeman Road in Brooklyn.

Zoom out: The closest retail locations to Northeast Ohio were previously in Columbus, Pittsburgh and Detroit. 

After years of waiting, IKEA is coming

IKEA is the latest addition to Crocker Park in Westlake.

Exterior of an IKEA store with large yellow letters on a blue facade, clear blue sky, a parking lot with a black SUV, shoppers near the entrance and sign reading Home furnishings.

IKEA will occupy the space previously home to Dick's Sporting Goods in Crocker Park. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images

IKEA, the retailer known for its flat-pack, ready-to-assemble furniture (with a side of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Swedish meatballs)," data-vars-click-url="https://www.ikea.com/us/en/stores/restaurant/" data-vars-content-id="f13e373d-9436-47dd-b1fa-24a9e502ee68" data-vars-headline="After years of waiting, IKEA is coming" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ikea.com/us/en/stores/restaurant/" target="_blank">Swedish meatballs),</a> is finally coming to Northeast Ohio next spring.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="IKEA" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/01/ikea-new-small-stores-plan-and-order" data-vars-content-id="f13e373d-9436-47dd-b1fa-24a9e502ee68" data-vars-headline="After years of waiting, IKEA is coming" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/01/ikea-new-small-stores-plan-and-order" target="_self">IKEA</a> was one of the few prominent retailers missing from the region and brings a powerful retail magnet to the west side.

Development

Cleveland is a little less fit than it was a year ago.

Driving the news: The American College of Sports Medicine and the Elevance Health Foundation have released their annual "American Fitness Index," tracking how the 100 largest cities support healthy lifestyles.

State of fitness: Cleveland ranks No. 41 on the list, down from No. 36 a year ago.

Yes, but: It's still an improvement from 48th in 2024.

How it works: The index considers various factors, including parks and recreation infrastructure, environmental conditions, residents' health indicators and more.

What they found: There are "two types of cities," the report finds.

"One where healthy choices are built into everyday life, and another where structural barriers continue to limit long-term health."

Data: American College of Sports Medicine; Map: Danielle Alberti/Axios

The big picture: Arlington, Va., Washington, D.C. and Minneapolis are America's fittest cities, while Port St. Lucie, Fla., Memphis and Oklahoma City rank at the bottom.

Zoom in: Cleveland's ranking was held back by its overall personal health rank (No. 66), but rebounded in terms of community and environment rank (No. 21).

Cleveland's fitness ranking slips just a bit

Cleveland ranks No. 41 on the list, down from No. 36 a year ago.

Illustration of a glowing silhouette of a person squatting with a barbell

Cleveland is a little less fit than it was a year ago.Driving the news: The American College of Sports Medicine and the Elevance Health Foundation have released their annual <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;American Fitness Index,&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://acsm.org/american-fitness-index-rankings-2026/" data-vars-content-id="f7b4117a-e5d4-468e-ae3d-4bb431c283e1" data-vars-headline="Cleveland&#x27;s fitness ranking slips just a bit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://acsm.org/american-fitness-index-rankings-2026/" target="_blank">&quot;American Fitness Index,&quot;</a> tracking how the 100 largest cities support healthy lifestyles.

Troy Smith

Featured stories

After years of waiting, IKEA is coming

The story behind Cleveland's newest nightlife obsession

Bidding Cleveland's most beautiful grocery store adieu

Cleveland's fitness ranking slips just a bit

Indy IMAX showing "The Odyssey" as Christopher Nolan intended