I hope you all are getting out there and enjoying restaurant week. I am trying to go out for lunch every day this week. Monday was Noodlecat (LOTS of food for $15, way more than I could eat and I'm a big eater), yesterday was Greenhouse Tavern (great lunch - finally a small version of the caesar salad they make, and the wings as my entree) and today will be Lola if I can brave the rain. Those of you without small fries and with more money to spend on dinners could be taking advantage of those savings as well. They are also having a drawing you can enter by going to the site and entering the contest after you dine.

 

http://downtowncleveland.com/events/restaurant-week.aspx

 

 

 

 

 

Does anyone know what is going into the little space on Euclid next to Jimmy John's/the closed Sometimes in the Silence theater?

Does anyone know what is going into the little space on Euclid next to Jimmy John's/the closed Sometimes in the Silence theater?

 

Not sure, but with rumors of Chipotle circulating around here recently this would seem like the perfect spot for them.

 

Actually is there even any work going on??  There is no permit posted.  It does seem odd though to put this up if there were nothing happening.  Maybe Ari Maron is just getting better about keeping everyone in the dark.

Yes, I peeked in through the door hole and it's all ripped up inside.

Does anyone know what is going into the little space on Euclid next to Jimmy John's/the closed Sometimes in the Silence theater?

 

Not sure, but with rumors of Chipotle circulating around here recently this would seem like the perfect spot for them.

 

Actually is there even any work going on??  There is no permit posted.  It does seem odd though to put this up if there were nothing happening.  Maybe Ari Maron is just getting better about keeping everyone in the dark.

 

Apparently there is a chipotle coming to uptown development in university circle.  I wonder if this was the one that had been rumored for downtown.

There's definitely enough support for both downtown and uptown

Oh MAN I am going to be bummed if there isn't one opening downtown. I can't believe you guys don't know what is going into that little site next to JJ's, you know everything!

The Chipotle for Uptown has been known for a while....  I'd be surprised if that were still getting rumor chatter, but who knows.

One of the worst secrets going in Euclid is the opening of a Chipotle in Downtown Euclid. I wonder if these are all the franchise.

Does anyone else want to cry when they read this?

 

Mayor Susan Infeld proclaims it McDonald's Day in University Heights during ribbon-cutting ceremony at new restaurant

 

http://www.cleveland.com/university-heights/index.ssf/2012/02/mayor_susan_infeld_proclaims_i.html

 

Does anyone else want to cry when they read this?

 

Mayor Susan Infeld proclaims it McDonald's Day in University Heights during ribbon-cutting ceremony at new restaurant

 

http://www.cleveland.com/university-heights/index.ssf/2012/02/mayor_susan_infeld_proclaims_i.html

 

Really?  China Gate and Corky & Lenny's patrons should be offended!

straphanger, that is just super gaggy.

^By the way, drove by the site for the first time a couple of weeks ago and was shocked (although I don't know why given new University Hts. developments the pass 10 years) by the final product.  Placement on the lot, especially the drive thru and parking could not be worse.  If they were going to stick a McDonalds there, at least the city should have demanded "something" in the way of good urban design in an area that, up to that point, had a majority of the buildings built to the sidewalk.

^I completely agree. I don't want to drag this off topic, but I am completely baffled why inner-ring suburbs, or Cleveland, for that matter, don't demand more from fast food/drug stores on traditional commercial strips.

One of the worst secrets going in Euclid is the opening of a Chipotle in Downtown Euclid. I wonder if these are all the franchise.

Unless something changed in the last year or so Chipotle doesn't franchise any stores (I looked into opening one).  There's only a few that aren't owned by the company and those are the stores that were franchises back when McDonald's owned them.

Does anyone else want to cry when they read this?

 

Mayor Susan Infeld proclaims it McDonald's Day in University Heights during ribbon-cutting ceremony at new restaurant

 

http://www.cleveland.com/university-heights/index.ssf/2012/02/mayor_susan_infeld_proclaims_i.html

 

Really?  China Gate and Corky & Lenny's patrons should be offended!

 

China Gate's dead, as are, presumably, most of it's patrons, based on the average age of the diners I saw the last time I ate there.

 

Corky's is in Woodmere. Maybe Jack's fans would be more outraged.

turn that frown upside down i heard she's cutting the ribbon at a new hooters next week!

An update on Tomo from Joe Cimperman.  He says their liquor license is good to go.  He's not sure what the hold up is at this point.

I am surprised no one has posted this yet. I literally just googled "Potbellys in Cleveland" and came up with it!

 

I lived in Chicago for some years and I can tell you this place is a mecca for customers with sandwiches/shakes/and an old school look to it (sometimes they even have musicians play!)  With Subway/JJ's dominating the market, is it only a matter of time before we get one downtown??

 

Mayfield Heights to Have First Potbelly's in Cleveland Area

 

SOM Center store due to open in summer.

 

The first Cleveland-area Potbelly Sandwich Shop will open this summer at SOM Center Plaza in Mayfield Heights.

 

Stark Enterprises operates the plaza, which is across SOM Center Road from Eastgate shopping center and also contains a Menchie's frozen yogurt store, among other tenants.

 

"Established in 1977, Potbelly has grown from a single shop on Lincoln's Avenue to serve more than 75 neighborhoods throughout Chicagoland and more than 200 neighborhoods nationwide," Lisa Schwan of Stark Enterprises stated in a press release.

 

According to Schwan, Potbelly is known for its warm sandwiches and hand-dipped shakes. Each store is filled with antiques, vintage signs, old photographs, music memorabilia and a potbelly stove.

 

Potbelly's menu includes turkey, meatball, roast beef, grilled chicken, vegetarian and pizza sandwiches, as well as salads, soups and sides.

I am surprised no one has posted this yet. I literally just googled "Potbellys in Cleveland" and came up with it!

 

Well, because it is a national chain that is locating in an uninspiring suburban location. Maybe you could check out www.suburbanohio.com and see what the word is on the cul-de-sac about this development. 

Yeah, Potbellys came to the University of Dayton while I was a student and it was totally underwhelming.  I was never a big fan, but it was a cool little eatery and they did have local bands every now and then.  Other than that... not impressed.

Potbelly operated a single, independent Chicago outlet for 20 years before it became an evil (gasp) suburban chain - so I'd hardly lump this pretty tasty place into the evil chain world, Seems like the original owner's American dream to me...  For my money, I'm thrilled they're coming - as I've enjoyed them for many years pretty much everywhere but in CLE - including being a frequent stopover at Midway airport. Good sandwich, very fair price... and 5 minutes from my office at this new location.  However, I do agree that this particular Stark strip center, just freshened, is a pretty lame location - not the spot I'd figure...  Across the street there is a Subway, at the strip center next door there is a Jimmy John's and just south of that they are building a DiBella's...  - so it's sort of sandwich central, I guess - but many other locations woudl be much more high profile than this.  I'd assume we'll see more at Stark properties, south, east and west...

I read a recent article that Piada - the Chipotle-like (but) Italian concept from one of the Bravo founders (with CLE ties) - with a half dozen or so Columbus stores - has been looking for locations in CLE.  Anybody been there and/or heard any development talk regarding possible locations?

Piada please stay the hell away.  Columbus is saturated with these goofy places.  The food isnt great and we have enough good italian here.  It has Columbus written all over it.  Its lame.  It can stay there.

Great (barf).  People in DC seem to think this is what a sandwich is all about and I always laugh being from Cleveland and proud at the same time that North East Ohio hasn't had to be subjected to this mediocre chain.   

  Potbellys hits the spot like nothing else (in a Chipotle kind of way),  and that place is going to make crazy money. Just because it ain't Lolas or is located in one of them evil suburbs doesnt detract its popularity and drawing power. $4 for a delicious heated sub and a variety of delicious shakes, plus the interiors are always cool with wooden tables, tattered copies of books, sometimes a fireplace = a win for MH

 

If

I've never been to either of these places, and I may never go once they're here, but I'm happy any time we're presented with more options. 

  Potbellys hits the spot like nothing else (in a Chipotle kind of way),  and that place is going to make crazy money. Just because it ain't Lolas or is located in one of them evil suburbs doesnt detract its popularity and drawing power. $4 for a delicious heated sub and a variety of delicious shakes, plus the interiors are always cool with wooden tables, tattered copies of books, sometimes a fireplace = a win for MH

 

It could very well be a win for MH.  They are cheaper than many good sandwich places (mainly because they dont use much meat), and I do often go there in DC for that reason, but mostly because there are not alot of other options (and certainly not good local). 

 

TB, Im not sure why you would mention Lola.  Im pretty sure Cleveland has great sandwich places, whether its Slymons or any Italian or jewish deli.  Good thing the difference in quality is obvious. 

"plus the interiors are always cool with wooden tables, tattered copies of books, sometimes a fireplace" and therefore you could be anywhere USA. 

 

 

 

 

 

Why's everyone making such a big deal about a little sandwich opening up? #weird

I've been writing to Potbelly off and on for years asking them to open a Cleveland location. Though I don't ever go to Mayfield Hts, my husband works there and this will be a nice additional lunch option for him.

 

I'd like to know where all the good sub shops are downtown that are locally owned? Outside of Dave's, where I can't eat as the bread is hard and it makes my mouth sore for 24 hours after I eat there, I don't know of any.

Once they are in an area they typically open many.  I didnt realize there were not many sandwich options downtonw, so likely would make a killing down there. 

What happened to that presto's place, I went there once and it actually reminded me of Potbelly, exept they were more unique with their sandwiches. 

^^

Presto at Euclid and 4th?  Pretty sure it's still there.

I've been to Presto 3 times. I really am underwhelmed by their food. Each time I eat there I end up throwing out half my sandwich.

This sandwich discussion just reminds me how great it will be to have that new Cleveland Pickle place being built out near KJP's office in the City Club Bldg.  Or how great it would be to see a downtown branch of Tremont's La Bodega (http://www.labodega-tremont.com/sandwiches.html).  Sandwiches have come a long way since turkey and swiss or Italian subs, and these chains aren't usually real centers of innovation.

 

In my few Potbelly experiences (in DC), I've also found them to me annoyingly slow.  If I were to get excited by a new chain sandwich place downtown, it would be a Pret a Manger, which is at least super fast, and offers decently healthy, reasonably-sized options (meaning not disgustingly huge).

Oh I would LOVE to have La Bodega downtown. I love them!

I think the local vs. chain argument is that, somehow, the chain is bad because it's indifferent, corporate, impersonal, etc... and the local places is better simply because it's local...  I would have welcomed some chain consistency at the locally-owned restaurant where I just dropped $80 on dinner tonight.  Food was fairly nothing less than tasty - but the whole experience was just a half beat off - from the layout, to the decor,  to the view out the window, to the pace of the food hitting the table, to the wrong food arriving at our table (close, no cigar), to no bread being brought to our table (but to all others) to the server showing up at our table to take our drink order as we were literally still halfway into our seats, to the manager going into a dark office and turning on the bright lights (just to our left) 4-5 times during dinner, etc.... Nothing terribly wrong - but so many little things not quite right.  This was my 2nd visit and the first was exactly the same. there is good quirky and bad quirky - and this was simply bad quirky. Local does not = good.

we just got a potbellys in ny around union sq. my spouse works around there and is liking it for lunch. so far she has brought me home roast beast n turkey sandwiches. they are pretty small, but do taste good. i can get more than twice as big at any deli or in the grocery store deli for the same $.

Piada please stay the hell away.  Columbus is saturated with these goofy places.  The food isnt great and we have enough good italian here.  It has Columbus written all over it.  Its lame.  It can stay there.

 

I disagree.  I'm native Clevelander down in Columbus and Piada's are appearing everywhere here because people like them.  Very similar to a Chipotle and still fairly unique (not over saturated like, say, a Chipotle).  I'd still rather have a restaurant like this instead of vacant storefronts on highly visited areas, like Euclid and Prospect.

^Chipotle is so unique...because you can jam what you want on a burrito...sadly its better than most mexican places you see.  I just did not like piada.  Thought it was a bad concept and italian shouldnt be anything like this.  Being Italian and having Italian grandparents, they would tell you italian food should never be eaten like this.  Just my opinion, im sure people would eat it here...but its more fast food and promotes convenience when people should be spending time preparing or going out to ensure good ingredients are being consumed.

Piada please stay the hell away.  Columbus is saturated with these goofy places.  The food isnt great and we have enough good italian here.  It has Columbus written all over it.  Its lame.  It can stay there.

 

I disagree.  I'm native Clevelander down in Columbus and Piada's are appearing everywhere here because people like them.  Very similar to a Chipotle and still fairly unique (not over saturated like, say, a Chipotle).  I'd still rather have a restaurant like this instead of vacant storefronts on highly visited areas, like Euclid and Prospect.

 

I Agree with Believeland. This place is lame.  It's perfect for Columbus and those living there. 

they dont take very good care of the food at chipotle and sometimes it makes me sick even though i still eat there on occasion. the food sits out in the open and is barely warm - no doubt so you can look at it to choose, but that is a little skeezy. i prefer qdoba. they keep the hot stuff covered.

Folks. the comments slamming Columbus and residents thereof aren't appropriate. Knock it off.

This sandwich discussion just reminds me how great it will be to have that new Cleveland Pickle place being built out near KJP's office in the City Club Bldg.  Or how great it would be to see a downtown branch of Tremont's La Bodega (http://www.labodega-tremont.com/sandwiches.html).  Sandwiches have come a long way since turkey and swiss or Italian subs, and these chains aren't usually real centers of innovation.

 

In my few Potbelly experiences (in DC), I've also found them to me annoyingly slow.  If I were to get excited by a new chain sandwich place downtown, it would be a Pret a Manger, which is at least super fast, and offers decently healthy, reasonably-sized options (meaning not disgustingly huge).

 

You don't like Potbelly's b/c it's slow but you do like La Bodega? hmmm....ok

 

I think the bigger picture with a chain being downtown is that they do attract people, no matter how much we dislike the fact. Get more people shopping downtown and then there is more chance local people are going to be able to get funding to open their own places. I think a Potbelly's and a Chipotle or Piada would bring more people to Euclid than the current Jimmy John's and Zoup do.

El Guero in the WHD opens on Thursday.  It looks like a carbon copy of Chipotle, but I'm still pumped we have quick burritos in the WHD!  Looks like they did a nice job with the space too (former Phoenix Coffee).

 

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/ElGueroMexicanGrill

^Wow that place looks awesome! Chipotle who?

i saw batali on symons show today and he was a bit subdued...no wonder sheesh!:

 

http://m.nypost.com/f/mobile/news/local/manhattan/mario_batali_parnters_forced_tip_tSYqdLyXtZGFTQLFCD9v1I

 

actually news of the bastianich/batali empire cheating the employees has been going on for a long time sounds like they deserved to lose. unfortunately the lawyers will probably get most of the settlement $

 

^Same thing happened when I worked for Jean Georges in NY from 2001-2004.  He ended up having to fork (no pun intended) over millions too.

^ oh yeah i remember. i hope u got some of that!!

 

 

Haha, thanks!  I got a little bit, so it was worth it in the end.

El Guero in the WHD opens on Thursday.  It looks like a carbon copy of Chipotle, but I'm still pumped we have quick burritos in the WHD!  Looks like they did a nice job with the space too (former Phoenix Coffee).

 

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/ElGueroMexicanGrill

And they are open until 10!!!  I tried going to Ohio City Burrito last night and they were closed at 8, so I had to go to Chipotle at Steelyard along with around 80 other people (I counted bc they're slow there).