Posted June 26, 201113 yr This thread is just for fun: I have always been a long time advocate for local and/or independent small family owned business establishments as a component of creating a more self-sustaining and diverse economy that can breed stability. Not only directly in Cleveland proper, but for our surrounding communities and buffer zones in the greater Cleveland area. One of my favorite continuous corridors featuring such, is Mayfield Rd. on the East side. Like its counterpart Lorain Avenue on the west side, Mayfield Rd. from Little Italy to I-271 features just about every kind of local business you can think of needing/wanting. Many unique businesses from clothing to food, ethnic bakeries and food stores....to furniture and appliances, and repair.....to gifts, to music...to... you name it.... The stretch is on a main transport line, still maintains what can be walkable if taken advantage of, due to the fact many sidewalks follow the road...as well as neighborhoods right behind the main thoroughfare. Most of the setbacks are not huge. There is even a bit of a hint of the retro feel of the 70's Cleveland area plazas (although indeed, not my favorite from an urban preservationist's point of view) along this stretch for those of you who may be in your early 40's and beyond, who remember the larger but locals like Uncle Bill's, Silverman's, Fisher Foods, Value City, etc--long before the newer mega big box invasion circa early 90's. These places, in themselves, may touch a bit of sentimental fun for some. Wow, if only sprawl could have stopped at that point and not stretched to distances as far as Medina! The idea that this corridor has maintained so much of its local/independent appeal, makes it really special amidst the highly franchised clone zone retail/business market these days. Hopefully that can continue with support and promotion. How about sharing your favorite current and/or past business experience along this road. Is there any unique place worth supporting to date? Best kept secrets? This is a tribute to one of the Cleveland area's longest commercial corridors and part of a US Highway running nearly 500 miles connecting Cleveland, Ohio with Atlantic City, New Jersey, since 1926. Share your memories or present experiences, etc. about Mayfield Rd. businesses. What are some great finds?
June 27, 201113 yr Warehouse Beverage! I love that place! The only problem is I can walk in there, walk out 45 minutes later with a big box full of different beers, and be much, much poorer. It's probably how MTS feels walking out of a Kohl's. ;)
June 27, 201113 yr WOW!!!! You really brought bac k the memory machine! My dad used to manage the Uncle Bills in Forest City Plaza...think that was the name. haven't been there in 30+ years. As kids, Amy Joy donuts and Tasty Pizza, both at/near Richmond, were iconic in my mind.
June 27, 201113 yr WOW!!!! You really brought bac k the memory machine! My dad used to manage the Uncle Bills in Forest City Plaza...think that was the name. haven't been there in 30+ years. As kids, Amy Joy donuts and Tasty Pizza, both at/near Richmond, were iconic in my mind. Uncle Bill's was in Golden Gate Plaza. My favorite place there was the huge slide where you would slide down with the burlap sack under you and around your feet. I lived in Highland Heights in the 1970s and often rode my bike over to Mayfield. I used to buy baseball cards, bubble gum and Wacky Packs at the Revco at Mayfield and Richmond (SE corner). In later years, in 1976, my older brother bought me my first Playboy at that same Revco! There was also an ice cream shop on the north side of Mayfield several blocks east of Richmond, but I can't remember the name. My other older brother got married at St. Clare's a little farther east on Mayfield. I saw many movies at Mayland Theater (Shaggy DA, Herbie the Love Bug, Midway, Silver Streak, Rollercoaster, etc which was often preceded by contests and other non-movie activities during matinees), and bowled with mobsters at Mayland Lanes. The old mob guys used to see if I could reach my skinny arms inside the vending machines to steal candy bars for them -- yes, I could. Not a shining point in my life.... OK, I know you wanted to know about current businesses, and the only business I've visited on Mayfield since I moved out of the neighborhood to Geauga County in 1978 was the Road House restaurant. That was on Sept. 10, 2001 -- the last day of the best summer of my life. The next day began some of the most difficult years of my life, although most of the difficulties had little to do with the terrorist attacks. But it all seemed to turn after that day. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 27, 201113 yr 1 word acronym...UDF at Mayfield & Belvoir oh, and Otani. Clevleand's original Japanese restaurant
June 27, 201113 yr Grum's is technically on Coventry, but close enough to Mayfield to be included. Now that's what I call a sub! Mario's (near Mayfield-Noble) is a nice little neighborhood bar.... so is the Purple Shamrock (closer to Belvoir). China Lui - if you ever want a mound of mouth watering take-out chinese food for 5 bucks and don't mind feeling like you are carrying a tire iron in your stomach for 3 days, this is your spot. Theresa's Flowers - been buying my christmas trees from there since I was a kid Dairy King - great little summertime walk-up ice cream shop Warehouse Beverage, as mentioned above. Alesci's - an italian grocer. We like to buy spreads from there when we have parties too big to cook for. East Coast Custard - world famous (among custard lovers, that is! Scalper's (near Brainard) - another decent hole in the wall neighborhood bar DiCillo's Tavern (near Lander) is one of my favorite quick, grab a bite to eat spots. EDIT: How could I forget Amy Joy Donuts... And then there are some that I truly miss: Gerome's Restaurant (Mayfield-Green) Heights Pet World (right at the CH-SE border) Center-Mayfield movie theatre (Mayfield-Noble) Plenty more that I can't think of off the top of my head
June 27, 201113 yr Tasty Pizza (second best pizza around Cleveland behind Valentino's IMO), Grande's, Alesci's, Phoenix Coffee, the sporting goods place that used to be where Krush is now, Casa Dolce, the hardware store that used to be on the NE corner of Mayfield and Richmond, Mayfield Collision Center (hey, they did a great job on my car when it was a little banged up and it's nice they moved into an old house), Brush High School, the SE library, and probably at least a few more I'm forgetting right now.
June 27, 201113 yr That is the SE-L library and is one of the most architecturally intriguing in the cuyahoga county system. Dunn Hardware has moved to Wilson Mills, just east of Richmond. Cleveland Sporting Goods was the name of the place where Krush is now. I used to get my pee-wee football stuff from there when my neighborhood was DOMINATING the Northeast league :)
June 28, 201113 yr Joking aside, as I read these lists, there really is a lot of good stuff on Mayfield Road.
June 28, 201113 yr These are all some great posts! Mayfield Pets was a favorite, and since my Father was a dealer in small appliances, sewing units and higher end home cleaning systems, I remember the several small independent vacuum stores owned by those whom he had business acquaintances. (Interesting to note: Royal Vacuums, when they were made of all shiny metal, later "Dirt Devil" used to be made in greater Cleveland at nearby Alpha Park, before going to China) I also remember as younger kid, going into the large lighting store, or others along the road..One called "Cleveland Lighting?" with my parents. The light displays were magical. I cannot name them off the top of the head, but does anyone know what some of the original line-up of stores was in the large plaza near I-271? How many times I have been there but cannot recall the exact original line-up of anchors. And of the many fine local watering holes along this road... "Spodo's" or some name like that was frequented by myself and some friends in the early 90's.
June 28, 201113 yr Pacific East (on the corner of Mayfield and Covenrty), Alesci's, Warehouse Beverage (great micro brews and brewing supplys)
June 28, 201113 yr Arabiatta's in Mayfield Hts and Dino's Place and Appetite near Tasty Pizza If only Biagio's in Eastlake would move to Mayfield Rd., I'd be all set. Amy Joy is good, but it's no Biagio's.
June 28, 201113 yr The classic car dealership between noble and warrensville ctr Upholstery Talk - that old russian dude has some talent Puff N Stuff I wish Manhattan Bagels (or something like that) was still around
June 28, 201113 yr cleveland heights speed trap YELESEYEVSKY DELI (haven't been inside (if there's baltika i will), just commenting on the world-class signage)
June 28, 201113 yr I think you mean Broadway Bagels. They had a location at Mayfield & Richmond. Later, a location at BWood Place popped up but that may be gone too? IMO, they were the best.
June 28, 201113 yr Yeleseyevsky is cool. My girlfriend is half-Russian so we stop in from time to time. Russian imports and prepared foods. And I believe that they have a decent Baltika selection. The only Skyline chili that I know of in Cleveland is in the same shopping plaza as Sam Ash so as a native Cincinnatian I have felt obligated to stop in a few times. There is also an indian grocery store that I forget the name of that has the cheapest spices around and is good for trying out some new foods. The owner loves to give cooking tips. He told us to call the store while we were cooking if we needed any help haha.
June 28, 201113 yr I gotta vote for Alesci's too. I worked for several years at Case and our dept chair would throw a huge Xmas party each year for everyone in the department - staff, professors, students, etc. and their families. It was potluck and held in the event space at the office and me and another girl were responsible for going around and picking up the food that the chair was contributing. Our annual trips to the party store on Taylor and to Alesci's to pick up mounds of food trays were really fun, and I always enjoyed the food from there.
June 28, 201113 yr Haha, I forgot about Q-Zar. Also, there is another Skyline Chili on Ridge Rd. right off of I-480. I used to love Mr. Hero and Rally's (both in SE) back in the day (what was I thinking?), but obviously those are not local establishments. I get my running shoes at Second Sole. Now that I think about it, there's a lot of places I go to right around Mayfield/Richmond (Second Sole, Amy Joy, Dino's Place, Appetite, Tasty Pizza).
June 28, 201113 yr I used to love Rally's too. Big Buford, anyone? Now, I get a 'bathroom urge' just driving by the place.
June 28, 201113 yr I'm going to throw my hat in for East Coast Custard. Especially on thursday, when it's mint chocolate chip yogurt day! Also, La Dolce Vita is a fantastic place to pick up prepared Italian foods and baked goods. Its run by the people that used to run Tuscany over in the pre-expanded Eton Collection, which was one of my favorite places to eat. Cannoli are fantastic, in both the general sense, and in the specific way that this place makes them.
June 29, 201113 yr Half Price Books at Golden Gate in Mayfield Heights Warehouse Beverage at Neville and Mayfield in South Euclid The South Euclid library, a former mansion converted Lakeview Cemetery Utrecht at Mayfield and Coventry A few of those big brick apartment buildings set atop a small incline on Mayfield, just east of Coventry - amazing stuff. The Rockefeller Building with Starbucks on the ground level, Rockefeller's upstairs Park Synagogue - more amazing architecture Phoenix Coffee on Mayfield at Green Amar's Lebanese Food on Mayfield at Green
October 13, 201410 yr I was born in 1960 and I lived for the first 13 1/2 years of my life in Mayfield Heights. The Mayland Shopping Center, which is across the street from the street I once lived on. The library had a branch in the back, and I was angry when they moved to Wilson Mills Rd. in 1971. There was a Kenny Kings KFC, and the Mayland Theater. The strip on Mayfield between Belrose and Mayfield Ridge had Masiello's Restaurant and a Chinese restaurant. There was an ice cream place at Mayfield and Ranchland. Further East on Mayfield Road were a pet store that sold mostly fish, Harry's Cafe and a carry out that was next to it, the Topps dept. store, and the giant slide. Near them was Master Pizza -- they had good pizza -- and I really liked the Golden Gate Shopping Center. :-D
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