An ERJ190's landing gear failed to retract after takeoff. The crew completed the QRH procedures and returned to land at the departure airport.

Narrative

On takeoff selected the landing gear to the up position. Around 1500 feet climbing received EICAS message Landing Gear Disagree. Cleaned up the flaps on schedule kept speed at VFS and advised Departure of our possible return to the field. I ran the QRH and the First Officer kept flying. I cycled the landing gear per the QRH and got the same EICAS indication. We accessed that the gear never retracted when selecting the lever to the up position. There were no changes in the flight characteristics that we could tell. I advised ATC; Dispatch; Operations; Flight Attendants and the passengers of the situation and that we were returning to land. Landing gear was down and locked with no abnormal EICAS indications. Landed normally and returned to the gate. Maintenance cancelled the flight and passengers were put on the next flight. It seemed that the signal to raise the gear did not work. The gear handle is in disagreement with the position of the gear and the EICAS message Landing Gear Disagree annunciates. I am not a mechanic; so this is just my take on the event.