October 14, 2005

High Tide, Rock Bottom closes after 32 years

by Dana Aritonovich

Cleveland Heights--High Tide, Rock Bottom closed its doors for the final time on October 2.

Owner Marcia Polevoi, a long-time supporter of Cleveland�s gay community, retired after 32 years in business.

Throughout those years, Polevoi employed countless gay men and lesbians at her Coventry Road store. For a time there were so many working for her that the rumor was that you had to be gay to work at High Tide.

�It never mattered who they were, as long as they were a good person,� she believes.

Polevoi�s first exposure to an openly-gay person was in the late 1970s. A female friend she had known for several years came out to her, and was unsure how she would react. Polevoi was surprised, but it didn�t affect their friendship.

�She�s still who she is, and who I care about,� Polevoi says.�

They have remained friends, and Polevoi has continued her support for the community. High Tide Rock Bottom has long been the place for area residents to buy rainbow key chains, stickers, gay and lesbian greeting cards, and other merchandise. They were also a vendor at early Pride festivals.

The store carried the lavender eQuality wristbands marketed by the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center, and sold tickets to North Coast Men�s Choir concerts. Polevoi also donated items to be used in game shows hosted by Big Daddy at the Grid and Twist.

The Gay People�s Chronicle has also been carried along with Scene and Free Times, and other local publications.

�Whatever I could do, I did,� Polevoi added.

Soon a new store will appear in the space. Steve Presser, who owns Big Fun across the street, is expanding to both locations for the holidays. Next year he will transform the new space into �Bigger Funner� and close his old location.

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