Cleveland Heights is a historic "streetcar suburb" renowned for its distinct, walkable neighborhood business districts rather than sprawling corporate parks.
* **Cedar Fairmount**: Often considered the "gateway" to the Heights from University Circle, featuring professional offices, boutiques, and dining. * **Coventry Village**: Historically the bohemian heart of the region, featuring independent bookstores, vintage shops, and eclectic local retailers. * **Cedar Lee**: An arts and entertainment-focused district packed with local businesses, a historic movie theater, and specialized storefronts. * **Severance Town Center**: Historically notable as Ohio's first enclosed shopping mall (opened in 1963), the area today serves as a mixed-use retail and medical corridor.
The city's economy is largely driven by small business owners, retail, dining, and local services, with major regional employment clustered in neighboring Cleveland.