Super Connections
by Danny Summers
Connections.
It's one of the defining words for The Fall Event 2026 and a perfect reflection of what The Garden Center Group is all about today.
At The Fall Event 2026, Connections will begin with our Keynote presentation featuring Chris Bashinelli...
From that opening session forward, you'll discover opportunities to build new connections around every corner. Whether it's through educational sessions, garden center tours, peer discussions, networking events, or simply hallway conversations. Making meaningful connections is one of the primary objectives of The Fall Event.
As I spent time in Cleveland last year during our hotel site visits, I couldn't help but notice another kind of connection—one that seemed to be everywhere I looked.
We're talking about
SUPER CONNECTIONS!
Yes, Superman.
Or, more specifically, the latest movie that was released last summer. For a number of weeks, Cleveland became Metropolis, and the home of The Daily Planet. And while there is lots of coverage showing how the city was transformed into the home of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, there's actually even deeper Connections! But more on that shortly; first, let's cover last year's details.
Much of the big-city scenes were shot either right outside our hotel (Hotel Cleveland) at Public Square or within a few blocks. The image below shows Cleveland City Hall in the background.
Another familiar landmark is the iconic Terminal Tower (left photo below), completed in 1930. Connected directly to Hotel Cleveland, it houses the city's rail station, shopping arcade, restaurants, and more. During filming, the city illuminated Terminal Tower in Superman's signature blue and red colors—a fitting tribute to the Man of Steel.
The image below right features director James Gunn along with stars David Corenswet (Superman) and Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane).
But the connection between Superman and Cleveland goes much deeper than a movie set.
It actually began here.
In 1932, two CLEVELAND teen-agers began to craft the Superman story. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster became fast friends at Cleveland’s Glenville High School and ended up creating comics together. At the age of 16, both Siegel and Shuster were already accomplished comic artists. But it wasn't until 1938, now in their early 20's, that Jerry and Joe finally got Superman published.
M.C. Gaines, publisher of All American Publications (which would eventually merge with National Comics and then become known as DC Comics), saw potential in the comic strip and decided to purchase it for his new comic book company. Moving from comic strips in newspapers to a comic book was totally new at this time.
The contract Jerry and Joe signed was certainly not super - it was simply marked...
$130 for ‘SUPERMAN’.
Desperate to see their creation published, Siegel and Shuster sold all rights to Detective Comics. While they continued producing Superman stories for years, history would prove their creation to be worth billions.
Today, the modest Cleveland home where Jerry Siegel wrote the original Superman story still stands. A historical marker in front of the house proudly reads:
"This is the house where Superman was born. This was the spot in 1932 that 18-year-old Jerry Siegel invented the Man of Steel."
If you have a little extra time while you're in Cleveland, it's well worth the visit. It is northeast Cleveland... Map Link Here.
And that's only the beginning.
While in Cleveland, if you want to see the major scene locations, here are sites you can actually visit and a guide HERE. You'll also find the new Superman Plaza and a statue honoring Siegel and Shuster only 2 blocks from our hotel. Check it out HERE. Nearby, The Arcade Cleveland appears in one of the movie's final scenes and is an architectural treasure all by itself... only 2 blocks from our hotel.
Apart from The Arcade's Connections with Superman, it has an amazing story of its own. It opened in May of 1890 as the first indoor shopping center in America. It quickly became one of downtown Cleveland’s most popular landmarks and was nicknamed Cleveland’s Crystal Palace. It was the first property in Cleveland to be on the National Register of Historic Places.
Other sites you will spot is Cleveland City Hall and the Cleveland Leader Building. Both were iconic backdrops. The Cleveland Leader was one of the city's earliest newspapers. Very fitting that is would become The Daily Planet!
And there's the Terminal Tower building, overlooking Public Square. Our hotel, Hotel Cleveland is attached on the right side. Here's a description I found on Cleveland Magazine's site of Terminal Tower's opening day...
"On the morning of June 28, 1930, invited guests streamed through Public Square and into the arched doorways of the Terminal Tower.
Yellow tickets hung, fluttering, from their lapels, identifying them as invited guests for the greatest civic event in Cleveland's history: the opening of the new train station — a building so huge and beautiful they almost couldn't believe it was theirs.
Stores flew flags from upstairs windows. The sun shone. The city's mood was dark that summer, sullied by political scandal and the 8-month-old economic depression. Though its industrial might was sapped, though it had just slipped from fifth to sixth among the nation’s largest cities, Cleveland had this: a train terminal bigger than Grand Central Station in New York, capped by a tower 708 feet tall and 52 stories high, the world's tallest building outside New York."
I found a great interview with Superman's director, James Gunn, discussing why Cleveland was the very best location for their filming. Simply click on the image below and watch the interview. Due to restrictions the creator set, you need to go to YouTube and search for the following text:
'Superman' director James Gunn talks with cleveland.com ahead of movie's premiere
If you have not seen the movie and the trailer, you're in luck. Due to restrictions the creator set, you need to go to YouTube and search for the following text:
Superman Official Trailer DC
Today, the train and lite rail station is still very active and much of Terminal Tower is now private residences. The mall, just above the train station, is still open, but like most malls, many shops are not currently filled. There is an active food court as well. Terminal Tower does have an observation deck, located on the 42nd floor. You can buy scheduled tickets ($6.27 each) HERE.
And there's our hotel, Hotel Cleveland. It opened its doors in 1918, long before the Terminal Tower was constructed, and has welcomed presidents, celebrities, dignitaries, and generations of visitors to downtown Cleveland.
Notice it is in the movie poster here... (I marked it for you). It has some wonderful history that I will share next week.
Until then...
Have you registered for The Fall Event 2026 and reserved your room at Hotel Cleveland yet? If not, it's time! You'll find the registration link below.
We can't wait to welcome you to Cleveland...where you'll discover your own SUPER CONNECTIONS!
Have a great week!
Sharing is at the heart of The Group and your ideas are very important. If you have any trouble logging into The Group WebSystem, please let me know. Are you and your staff all subscribed to our eLists such as GroupEs, Retail-Grower, Retail-Landscape, Owners-Only, and a number of others? Need help subscribing? Let me know so I can show you how you can sign up.
Danny Summers
[email protected]
Tel: 678-909-7770
Cell: 678-761-7145
REMEMBER: Your interaction (by phone and email) with Group Service Providers such as Tim Quebedeaux, John Kennedy, Seawright & Associates, and of course Danny Summers are included in your retainer!
