A Historic Landmark Transformed into a Modern Dispensary
Klutch Cannabis Cleveland Flagship Dispensary
AVID Architects revitalized the legendary Record Rendezvous building into Klutch Cannabis’s new downtown Cleveland dispensary — balancing preservation, functionality, and brand storytelling.
Key Insights
Adaptive reuse of historic structures requires equal parts preservation expertise and design ingenuity.
Securing tax credits was critical to feasibility, demanding careful coordination with preservation agencies.
Operational efficiency in tight footprints benefits from creative systems like dumbwaiters and pneumatic tubes.
Quick Facts
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Size: 16,600 SF (10,000 SF dispensary & offices, 6,600 SF future use)
Completion: July 2025
Services: Architecture, Historic Preservation, Adaptive Reuse
Incentives: State & Federal Historic Tax Credits
The Opportunity
The Record Rendezvous building, once a cornerstone of Cleveland’s rock ’n’ roll heritage, had been vacant for over a decade. Years of water infiltration left the roof, floors, and utilities in disrepair, and circulation was limited to a single stairwell. Klutch Cannabis saw potential to not only establish a downtown dispensary but to honor the site’s cultural legacy. The challenge was clear: revive a crumbling historic structure while meeting niche programmatic, operational, and compliance needs.
The Solution
AVID Architects approached the project with vision and pragmatism. Working hand-in-hand with Klutch, the general contractor, preservation consultants, the interior designer and state and federal agencies, we navigated a complex approval process to secure historic tax credits.
Design highlights included:
Preservation of Signature Features – Custom reproduction of the curved storefront glass, historically accurate windows, and intact retail display rooms.
Improved Access & Systems – A new elevator, fire pump, and rooftop generator integrated without disrupting historic sightlines.
Efficient Retail Flow – Use of a dumbwaiter and pneumatic tubes to move product seamlessly from the basement to the sales floor.
Brand Integration – Collaboration with an interior designer to merge Klutch’s identity with intentional nods to rock ’n’ roll history.
The Results
Completed in July 2025, the project activated a long-vacant block in downtown Cleveland while preserving a building of national cultural significance. The Klutch Cannabis Dispensary now functions as a flagship retail space, blending operational efficiency with immersive storytelling. Beyond revitalizing 10,000 SF for immediate use, the project also unlocks 6,600 SF of office space for the Klutch Cannabis team.
The outcome is more than a dispensary; it’s a living tribute to Cleveland’s musical heritage, offering the community a new destination rooted in history and designed for the future.
Behind the Build
Fun fact: Record Rendezvous founder Leo Mintz is credited with inspiring the term “rock ’n’ roll.” Klutch’s new home pays homage to this legacy, ensuring the spirit of music history resonates in every detail.