^ that's what i was afraid and that is a shame -- i hope they open somewhere else because that hakka indian-chinese blend is really one of my favorite foodie styles (along with south indian).

Word from someone said to be involved is that the center-of-town Gamekeeper's Taverne space in Chagrin Falls - which just closed, after 40 years, this past weekend - is already in line for a makeover into Zack Bruell's next venture. Remodel said to start in two weeks..

 

I guess we'll see if that' true... But this would be a hot, hot spot if so...

Guess there's not an oversaturation of restaurants in Cleveland, as the former Gamekeeper's owner said.

Guess there's not an oversaturation of restaurants in Cleveland, as the former Gamekeeper's owner said.

 

You CAN have an over saturation AND still open a successful restaurant.  Both can be true / happen.

see below

 

Guess there's not an oversaturation of restaurants in Cleveland, as the former Gamekeeper's owner said.

 

You CAN have an over saturation AND still open a successful restaurant.  Both can be true / happen.

 

Hate to pile on, but this is an excuse.  This guy is saying "there are alot of new restaurants and they are better than mine"...Two options here, Fight (go do some R & D, change your menu, evolve, get a new identity), or flight. Close your business.  Its not the "overstauration" as much as it is he didnt have the energy, time or resources or maybe talent to push themselves to exceed the median of that large number of restaurants

Guess there's not an oversaturation of restaurants in Cleveland, as the former Gamekeeper's owner said.

 

You CAN have an over saturation AND still open a successful restaurant.  Both can be true / happen.

 

Hate to pile on, but this is an excuse.  This guy is saying "there are alot of new restaurants and they are better than mine"...Two options here, Fight (go do some R & D, change your menu, evolve, get a new identity), or flight. Close your business.  Its not the "overstauration" as much as it is he didnt have the energy, time or resources or maybe talent to push themselves to exceed the median of that large number of restaurants

 

Yeah this guy was definitely making excuses, and didn't want put any $$$ or effort in to keeping his operation up.  He even blamed the new Chagrin Falls Heinen's. 

Grocers have been moving in on the restaurant market though, some (like Heinen's) more than others.  Buehler's does too but they recently scaled down their menu so maybe that trend is already reversing. 

 

I'll miss Gamekeepers.  My family had new years eve dinner there for years.  The menu was almost the same every time but we liked that.

Yay!

 

Swensons Is Expanding to Cleveland This Year

“Service” isn’t often a concept that comes up when discussing fast food restaurants. In fact, the entire foundation of the category is based on reducing labor costs by eliminating servers. But park your car at any of the Swensons Drive-In locations and you actually will feel appreciated – important even.

 

More info:

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2017/04/06/swensons-is-expanding-to-cleveland-this-year

Taco Bell Cantina opening near Public Square delayed again

http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/04/taco_bell_cantina_opening_near.html

Taco Bell Cantina close to opening in downtown Cleveland

 

http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/06/taco_bell_cantina_close_to_ope.html#incart_river_home

^ I can't believe I am excited for this but I am.  I get a weird craving for Taco Bell sometimes.  It reminds me of late night munchy runs of my youth when I may or may not have been under the influence of a controlled substance.

I walked by this the other day. It doesn't look like they are taking the whole frontage that used to be Cadillac Ranch. 

http://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/shake-shack-is-coming-to-cleveland

 

First Ohio Shake Shack setting up at Pinecrest

HIstoric Sterle's to close, become event center; Goldhorn and Cafe 55 expand hours, menus

http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/06/historic_sterles_restaurant_to.html

aww man one of my very favorite places. so unique! so that is just absolutely terrible news, but not totally unexpected as time has moved on. here is hoping it will do well as an event space.

Breaking Ground

Chef-owned City Diner to offer up fresh homemade classics in Old Brooklyn

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/breaking-ground/CityDiner062117.aspx

Was listening to Johathan Peterlin from 92.3 The Fan yesterday.  Peterlin, who lives downtown, was reporting that he'd heard from inside sources that the new Wahlburgers on Prospect & Ontario wasn't doing well out the gate.  He speculated that it was because it was poorly located away from most downtown foot traffic... It's entrance is directly below everyone's casino skywalk.

Was listening to Johathan Peterlin from 92.3 The Fan yesterday.  Peterlin, who lives downtown, was reporting that he'd heard from inside sources that the new Wahlburgers on Prospect & Ontario wasn't doing well out the gate.  He speculated that it was because it was poorly located away from most downtown foot traffic... It's entrance is directly below everyone's casino skywalk.

I can assure you, they get traffic (and a lot of casino traffic as Jack has a voucher program with their comps). It may not be doing as well as other Wahlburgers in cities that lack quality dining options and the kitchen has taken some time to get it together, but they are doing alright so far. Of course, it is most popular when there are games/events. I've heard from multiple people they are waiting until the kitchen has it together to check it out.

I know some folks who went there....the service took two hours. It was miserable for them. They will need to get it together.

Sneak peek: Inside Jeremy Umansky's forthcoming delicatessen, Larder (photos)

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio - When chef Jeremy Umansky announced he would be opening his own place nearly a year and a half ago, the project quickly became one of the most anticipated in the city. After making a name for himself through both his work at Trentina and on his own, he began hosting pop-ups to tease what would one day become a delicatessen, Larder.

 

Food and adventure have always gone hand-in-hand for Umansky. His work at Trentina put him on the map for his innovative work in foraging and fermentation.

 

He'll bring the same techniques to Larder at its new home, the 1854-built Ohio City Firehouse at 1455 West 29th St. Plans call for an October opening. He'll launch the business with his wife and pastry chef, Allie La Valle-Umansky, and Kenny Scott, formerly sous chef at Trentina.

 

 

http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/07/jeremy_umansky_larder.html

I became a big fan of Jeremy's while he was working at Jonathan Sawyer's Trentina. I think Larder will become a destination dining experience. Something that will make Chicago and Manhattan envious. These guys are doing revolutionary things with food. 

To pile on the Wahlburgers bandwagon, I went there a few Sundays ago when I got out of work early. I was one of three people at the bar, and saw the bartender twice in 40 minutes. She literally spent the entire time flirting with guys buying her shots. However, the burger and beer selection was pretty good.

 

And that's partly why businesses from out of town have such a hard time when they first open... they rely on job fairs and online applications (which are analyzed by algorithms looking for buzzwords). If you brought me an application from any bartender in town and gave me a few phone calls, I could find out of that person was even worth considering. Donnie Wahlberg doesn't have that advantage.

 

I call it "New Restaurant Syndrome".  Any new restaurant overstaffs, and so they get desperate for employees and so attract a disproportionate share of sleazy, narcissistic, or incompetent servers and bartenders who want that quick opening day buck before they get fired or move on to the next new place.

FWIW, the only Wahlburgers I ever visited was in an airport and was painfully slow (unforgivable in an airport) with pretty lousy food. With all the choices out there today, if you're going to be a "better burger" place, you need to deliver the goods or you're worthless.

Wahlburgers tonight, pre-Billy Joel, was full with a wait list. Grabbed an open bar seat and had not only a delicious (like REALLY good) unique, open faced, fried onion straw topped sloppy joe(!) - but very attentive and pleasant service from a team of 3 behind the bar. Whatever its opening week stumbles, it was running well and was surprisingly good. Will go back. (With that said only went there because everything in 4th St was 1+ hour wait/no bar seats.)

Wahlburgers tonight, pre-Billy Joel, was full with a wait list. Grabbed an open bar seat and had not only a delicious (like REALLY good) unique, open faced, fried onion straw topped sloppy joe(!) - but very attentive and pleasant service from a team of 3 behind the bar. Whatever its opening week stumbles, it was running well and was surprisingly good. Will go back. (With that said only went there because everything in 4th St was 1+ hour wait/no bar seats.)

You were inside I'm guessing :D The kitchen has gotten much, much better. Tomorrow will be a true test.

another stellar taqueria in the City of Pain  :whip:

 

Some of this Country’s Best Tacos (No, Really) Are Served at a Seasonal Eatery in Painesville

by Douglas Trattner  July 17, 2017 at 2:38 PM

 

https://m.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2017/07/17/some-of-this-countrys-best-tacos-no-really-are-served-at-a-seasonal-eatery-in-painesville

 

Was listening to Johathan Peterlin from 92.3 The Fan yesterday.  Peterlin, who lives downtown, was reporting that he'd heard from inside sources that the new Wahlburgers on Prospect & Ontario wasn't doing well out the gate.  He speculated that it was because it was poorly located away from most downtown foot traffic... It's entrance is directly below everyone's casino skywalk.

I can assure you, they get traffic (and a lot of casino traffic as Jack has a voucher program with their comps). It may not be doing as well as other Wahlburgers in cities that lack quality dining options and the kitchen has taken some time to get it together, but they are doing alright so far. Of course, it is most popular when there are games/events. I've heard from multiple people they are waiting until the kitchen has it together to check it out.

 

I sure want you to be right... We need Wahlburgers to be successful in order to infuse some life into an otherwise dead corner of downtown.  While Tilted Kilt is packing 'em in on the northeast corner of Prospect & Ontario, the southeast corner sees mainly casino goers hustling to/from their cars in the parking lot -- and even less of these since the skywalk (a.k.a. the human gerbil tube) sucks a lot of these folks off the street.  Hopefully Wahlburgers can develop a non-Cavs/Indians night clientele.

 

... as for the place?  I've been to the one in Philly.  It's a lively, simple, straight ahead burger joint.  It's likable. 

Any Margaritaville reports?

Yes I've been there three times and love it the food has been very good and they give you very generous portions

Raising Cane's looking into Strongsville for First Northeast Ohio site closest one is in Columbus

Any Margaritaville reports?

 

And I have been to the restaurant twice, once before grand opening, once after. Both times a 3-4 hour wait - as they still clearly  are only choosing to fill a portion of the tables, leaving many open and empty, to seemingly ease into the biz despite the crowd. We did not wait either time - and area restaurants, including the great Collision Bend, where we went both times, were visibly  full of no-wait Margaritaville groups/families also (overheard comments to that effect). Spinoff business will be had by the neighboring places for some time, for sure. Packed in FEB last Sunday and Monday before July 4th Tuesday.

Raising Cane's looking into Strongsville for First Northeast Ohio site closest one is in Columbus

 

There's already been one announced for North Canton near Beldon Village Mall.

Any Margaritaville reports?

 

And I have been to the restaurant twice, once before grand opening, once after. Both times a 3-4 hour wait - as they still clearly  are only choosing to fill a portion of the tables, leaving many open and empty, to seemingly ease into the biz despite the crowd. We did not wait either time - and area restaurants, including the great Collision Bend, where we went both times, were visibly  full of no-wait Margaritaville groups/families also (overheard comments to that effect). Spinoff business will be had by the neighboring places for some time, for sure. Packed in FEB last Sunday and Monday before July 4th Tuesday.

 

You had the same experience we did during the same weekend (July 4).  We said, later for that crazy wait.  Went upstairs on the outdoor elevated deck (the Land Shark bar); which also was jam packed; no seats.  Had a few brewskis before heading over to Beer Head for some delicious pulled pork sandwiches.  Margaritaville, though, seems like a fun place and is huge.  So glad it's being used so well after the Toby Keith's debacle.  That little gift shop they have is about the only true retail in FEB outside of Samsel's hardware store.  Everybody was having fun.

Any Margaritaville reports?

 

And I have been to the restaurant twice, once before grand opening, once after. Both times a 3-4 hour wait - as they still clearly  are only choosing to fill a portion of the tables, leaving many open and empty, to seemingly ease into the biz despite the crowd. We did not wait either time - and area restaurants, including the great Collision Bend, where we went both times, were visibly  full of no-wait Margaritaville groups/families also (overheard comments to that effect). Spinoff business will be had by the neighboring places for some time, for sure. Packed in FEB last Sunday and Monday before July 4th Tuesday.

 

this absolutely shocks me.  People are flocking to this place? All the great food in our city and this pulls people out of the woodwork?

This is a bad thing? Seems like people just want to have fun and be near others who want the same. Being outside by the river and Flats nostalgia probably help quite a bit.

I went to one of the soft opening/ dry run nights as one of my friends lives at FEB and got an invite. They plied us with various drinks and a load of food from across the menu - there were four of us and IIRC they bought us four appetizers and six mains to try. I had low expectations, but was pleasantly surprised that everything was great. I'm sure it all being free had something to do with it as well :laugh:

I've walked past it a couple of times since and its been busy. I think upthread someone speculated that it would bring a new and different type of suburb-dweller to the Flats and that seems to be the case...

Xinji Noodle Bar opens in Ohio City (photos)

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio - An unconventional route led Shuxin Liu to open Xinji Noodle Bar, which debuts today in Ohio City at 4211 Lorain Ave. Ramen, steamed buns, Korean-style fried chicken and rice dishes will all be served up - but that wasn't always Liu's path. The name "Xinji" itself - Liu's middle name passed down through his family - means "new opportunity."

 

After trading in his pursuit of a graphic design degree, Liu learned the ropes of making sushi at an area high-end grocer. It wasn't long before he found his way to Solon's Akira Sushi and Hibachi and later to Dante and the restaurant's sister sushi restaurant, Ginko. He traveled around the country, including Houston, Atlanta, Seattle and New York, where he staged at the renowned Momofuku.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/07/xinji_noodle_bar_opens_in_ohio.html#incart_river_home

Maggiano's Little Italy to close Beachwood Place location September 27 when their lease runs out,  that will leave both front restaurants sitting empty as I have heard nothing about what is going or if anything is going into the old Pub space.

The initial signs of trouble for Beachwood Mall

By all accounts, Maggiano's wasn't a ghost town or anything - it appeared to have a good following and was often among the top booked local reservations on OpenTable - so the biggest culprits are likely the sheer and costly size of the space. ... 18K+ square feet on two levels - which is about 50% larger than, say, the Cincinnati Maggiano's, challenges in the post recession banquet/catering world that necessitates that space being filled to pay for it, plus the overall lack/underperformance of the mall as any sort of dining destination, unlike many major malls in NEO and elsewhere. Maybe it is that the front of the mall is hidden from those in Cedar, etc.. And lack of visibility hurts.. But this WILL setback the mall and efforts to lure new restaurants (after Pub and McCormick/ Scmicks failures...).

 

I don't suppose they will pop up in a smaller space in another CLE location - though their 2 month wind down and lack of "underperforming" type comments, which they have used when stores in places like MSP and Sacramento closed on the past, I guess makes it seem like there is always a chance this is just,, say, a negotiating ploy, etc.

 

Note: this outlet was the chain's store of the year just 2-3 years ago, and can't imagine that goes to an under performing store, so who knows.

 

The initial signs of trouble for Beachwood Mall

 

yes, not a good sign for the mall or CLE -

when just one of the 50 or so restaurants in a chain closes at your mall/in your town -  whether due to soft business or high location costs.

 

I do know of a very successful chain restaurant in a nearby development that is a top performer in that chain that is already questioning whether it will renew its lease in its current location.... Changing demographics...

The trends suggest more and more people like the local cleveland talent and options. Even chains performing well may recognize that and pull out early before they fall victims

The initial signs of trouble for Beachwood Mall

 

yes, not a good sign for the mall or CLE -

when just one of the 50 or so restaurants in a chain closes at your mall/in your town -  whether due to soft business or high location costs.

 

I do know of a very successful chain restaurant in a nearby development that is a top performer in that chain that is already questioning whether it will renew its lease in its current location.... Changing demographics...

 

I am taking a wild stab that you are talking Cheescake Factory

None of this sounds like terrible news to me. Maybe they are now looking closer to the core to open a location? Nucleus, Weston, lakefront, etc. I'll take them there any day.

Maggiano's Little Italy to close Beachwood Place location September 27 when their lease runs out,  that will leave both front restaurants sitting empty as I have heard nothing about what is going or if anything is going into the old Pub space.

 

Very disconcerting.  I'm wondering if that flash mob thing that happened a year ago (which happened at malls across the country) had a negative impact.  On top of that, Legacy Village down the block seems growing in popularity the new(ish) Hyatt Place and (I thought I heard) the adding of apts there...

This is a bad thing? Seems like people just want to have fun and be near others who want the same. Being outside by the river and Flats nostalgia probably help quite a bit.

 

I agree.  I drove past Margaritaville last week and the place was full of folks having a good time.  Kudos to the designers because, like Coastal Taco down the boardwalk, Margaritaville's design if very inviting and fun... Nothing wrong with that.

Re the restaurants in Beachwood, maybe people--at least those who don't live--and vote--in Beachwood--refuse to support a city and its bussineses whose mayor takes home two public paychecks. That's pretty shameful that the mayor does it and that the residents knowingly allow this by re-electing him. As a result, I certainly don't and won't support any business in Beachwood until this guy is gone. For those unfamiliar, the mayor of Beachwood, Merle Gorden, says he deserves two paychecks (totalling $240k), and Beachwood residents apparently agree.  A related story:

 

https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2015/03/25/beachwood-mayor-merle-gorden-got-audited-then-beachwood-kicked-the-beehive

^ I can't speak for everyone, but I personally don't know of anyone that would make a choice of which restaurant to eat at based on what the mayor of that particular city has done.