February 3Feb 3 1 hour ago, Htsguy said: Any idea where they’re moving to? They have great food. Yes love Soho.
February 4Feb 4 Wait so residents denied Chipotle to build in an empty dilapidated building, the last one on that block, just to have them move into an occupied building across the street while that original building still sits empty and SOHO leaves that area. You can't make this up lol.
February 4Feb 4 13 hours ago, MyPhoneDead said: Wait so residents denied Chipotle to build in an empty dilapidated building, the last one on that block, just to have them move into an occupied building across the street while that original building still sits empty and SOHO leaves that area. You can't make this up lol. You are making this up. Some random, uninformed loudmouths that are not directly impacted by the development spouting off about portion sizes at an ill-conceived, OCI-organized "community" meeting does not equate to residents killing a development. The Chipotle did not (and does not, lest the residents "deny" it again?) require any variances or special city approvals. lolz Edited February 4Feb 4 by grayfields
February 4Feb 4 51 minutes ago, grayfields said: You are making this up. Some random, uninformed loudmouths that are not directly impacted by the development spouting off about portion sizes at an ill-conceived, OCI-organized "community" meeting does not equate to residents killing a development. The Chipotle did not (and does not, lest the residents "deny" it again?) require any variances or special city approvals. lolz Going off of what was said on here. Take that up with them not me.
February 4Feb 4 I think we're all glossing over the bigger and more important question: WHERE IS MY BELOVED SOHO GOING???
February 4Feb 4 9 minutes ago, dwolfi01 said: I think we're all glossing over the bigger and more important question: WHERE IS MY BELOVED SOHO GOING??? Come on. Somebody has to have the inside scoop.
February 4Feb 4 Just now, Htsguy said: Come on. Somebody has to have the inside scoop. I'm working on it... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 4Feb 4 15 hours ago, MyPhoneDead said: Wait so residents denied Chipotle to build in an empty dilapidated building, the last one on that block, just to have them move into an occupied building across the street while that original building still sits empty and SOHO leaves that area. You can't make this up lol. Quite right, it should have been a Qdoba.
February 4Feb 4 Didn't Soho have a project on Columbus Road a year or two ago that didn't seem to go anywhere?
February 4Feb 4 4 hours ago, snakebite said: Quite right, it should have been a Qdoba. To be honest Cilantro Taqueria clears both, but that's not the point lol. In all seriousness I wish someone would go into that empty building, the small size of it makes for an interesting unique layout.
February 4Feb 4 Between carriage co and the apartment complex planned behind it, that building shouldnt be vacant for long once they go up. Although you would think with Intro right there it already shouldnt be empty.
February 4Feb 4 I'm going to venture and guess that SOHO is moving to Tremont. Or if that one story building on 28th and Detroit is still empty I can see it moving there.
February 4Feb 4 What's with that "Our Lady of Perpetual Clapboarding" on the corner of W 25th St and Chatham? The top floor appears to be occupied. That would seem to be a desirable spot for development.
February 4Feb 4 1 hour ago, urb-a-saurus said: What's with that "Our Lady of Perpetual Clapboarding" on the corner of W 25th St and Chatham? The top floor appears to be occupied. That would seem to be a desirable spot for development. The top floor is owned Ari Maron and it is his residence; I see the building was just sold in November to a LLC but there are separate parcels with air rights there.
February 5Feb 5 Chipotle expanding to Ohio City By Ken Prendergast / February 5, 2025 When the chains start replacing mom-n-pop businesses in a growing neighborhood, some welcome them as a validation of its success while others reject them as a weakening of a neighborhood’s uniqueness that created that success in the first place. The replacement next year of the popular Soho Chicken + Whiskey with a Chipotle Mexican Grill is the latest example of that shift in Ohio City’s Market District in Cleveland. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2025/02/05/chipotle-expanding-to-ohio-city/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 5Feb 5 Soho has magical vibes in that space. So many awesome memories there. It’s sad chipotle couldn’t get the project across the street done. Heck, if I were them I’d wait on Choolah- that place is always empty. I have loved living in the neighborhood but the food scene needs help. Black Pig, Flying Fig/Pearl St, Alea’s “temporarily” closed, Hansa and Proof seem close. I hope SoHo stays nearby. Aside from Amba new additions have lackluster, and definitely not the kind of places that raise up the food scene.
February 5Feb 5 7 minutes ago, ITakeTheRapid said: Soho has magical vibes in that space. So many awesome memories there. It’s sad chipotle couldn’t get the project across the street done. Heck, if I were them I’d wait on Choolah- that place is always empty. I have loved living in the neighborhood but the food scene needs help. Black Pig, Flying Fig/Pearl St, Alea’s “temporarily” closed, Hansa and Proof seem close. I hope SoHo stays nearby. Aside from Amba new additions have lackluster, and definitely not the kind of places that raise up the food scene. Oh no, Choolaah is usually empty? That place is great! Please everyone go eat there! It’s a locally-based chain and is really top notch; I hope the Ohio City location is able to stay open. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
February 5Feb 5 5 minutes ago, Boomerang_Brian said: Oh no, Choolaah is usually empty? That place is great! Please everyone go eat there! It’s a locally-based chain and is really top notch; I hope the Ohio City location is able to stay open. It's on my list to try next. Crazy to hear the Ohio City location is empty... the Choolah counter at CWRU has like 25+ people in line at any given time, it has to be one of the most popular spots on campus.
February 5Feb 5 7 minutes ago, Boomerang_Brian said: Oh no, Choolaah is usually empty? That place is great! Please everyone go eat there! It’s a locally-based chain and is really top notch; I hope the Ohio City location is able to stay open. I walk by Choolah multiple times a week and it’s rare to see more than one table occupied. I’m sure they’re doing some takeout (I usually do) but it’s dead compared to the others I’ve been to. And in the days when Karen Small’s rent across the street was going up to 11k I don’t know how they make that location work. But it seems the fast casual chains (or wannabe chains) are happy to go all in. Build the Pho, Greens Salad, now Chipotle…
February 5Feb 5 23 minutes ago, ITakeTheRapid said: Soho has magical vibes in that space. So many awesome memories there. It’s sad chipotle couldn’t get the project across the street done. Heck, if I were them I’d wait on Choolah- that place is always empty. I have loved living in the neighborhood but the food scene needs help. Black Pig, Flying Fig/Pearl St, Alea’s “temporarily” closed, Hansa and Proof seem close. I hope SoHo stays nearby. Aside from Amba new additions have lackluster, and definitely not the kind of places that raise up the food scene. Neither Hansa nor Proof are closed, and while I've only been to Choolah twice, both visits had a decent number of patrons.
February 5Feb 5 Just now, BoomerangCleRes said: Maybe SOHO to banters now old spot the timing could line up In Banter’s closing announcement they said their friends are creating an “amazing and unique concept”. So I think it’s something new. I wonder about the Tremont Taphouse space though.
February 5Feb 5 17 minutes ago, Boomerang_Brian said: Oh no, Choolaah is usually empty? That place is great! Please everyone go eat there! It’s a locally-based chain and is really top notch; I hope the Ohio City location is able to stay open. When I worked on West 25th my coworker and I would always stop by there, it is absolutely amazing. With it being in a walkable dense area though I would imagine they benefit from a lot of takeout and door dash.
February 5Feb 5 2 hours ago, ITakeTheRapid said: Soho has magical vibes in that space. So many awesome memories there. It’s sad chipotle couldn’t get the project across the street done. Heck, if I were them I’d wait on Choolah- that place is always empty. I have loved living in the neighborhood but the food scene needs help. Black Pig, Flying Fig/Pearl St, Alea’s “temporarily” closed, Hansa and Proof seem close. I hope SoHo stays nearby. Aside from Amba new additions have lackluster, and definitely not the kind of places that raise up the food scene. I still consider OHC probably the best food scene anywhere near Cleveland. I'm typically disappointed when traveling due to how good it is around here. Proof is packed anytime I have been by there and Alea announced they will be back soon just on a much needed vacation. Black Pig and Flying fig were big losses but the additions of Juneberry, Pioneer and Jaja have been pretty great too. Getting a national chain as well as keeping Soho near by to Ohio City seems like a win win to me for the neighborhood Edited February 6Feb 6 by TDi
February 5Feb 5 27 minutes ago, Boomerang_Brian said: Oh no, Choolaah is usually empty? That place is great! Please everyone go eat there! It’s a locally-based chain and is really top notch; I hope the Ohio City location is able to stay open. I didn't even know it was there. Will have to stop in i usually hit the one by CWRU when I'm in that area around lunch.
February 5Feb 5 46 minutes ago, ITakeTheRapid said: Soho has magical vibes in that space. So many awesome memories there. It’s sad chipotle couldn’t get the project across the street done. Heck, if I were them I’d wait on Choolah- that place is always empty. I have loved living in the neighborhood but the food scene needs help. Black Pig, Flying Fig/Pearl St, Alea’s “temporarily” closed, Hansa and Proof seem close. I hope SoHo stays nearby. Aside from Amba new additions have lackluster, and definitely not the kind of places that raise up the food scene. Choolah is not struggling in that location. Their primary business is take out/delivery but in the summer months it livens up.
February 5Feb 5 49 minutes ago, Clefan98 said: Neither Hansa nor Proof are closed, and while I've only been to Choolah twice, both visits had a decent number of patrons. At the risk of coming off as a nut job I just walked by all 3. Hansa had 6 people at the bar with the rest of the restaurant dark. The front area of Proof had 2 at the bar and one 4 top. Choolah had 5 people talking at a single table all with sealed to go bags. I hope Boris at Hansa owns the building. The other 2 spots just had big buildouts- and in my personal experience this costs hundreds of thousands of dollars that they are paying for one way or another. There are plenty of places packed around town right now (Townhall sure was). At a minimum, a place like Choolah totally overestimated their store size. and back to SoHo- I didn’t stop in there tonight but they’re usually packed for Chicken Pickin Wednesday. They do a good business. I have experience doing a private event with them and their buyout price is impressive but fair. Chipotle, obviously, is willing to pay more for that space but the jobs they provide and what they bring to the neighborhood will be very different. Edited February 5Feb 5 by ITakeTheRapid
February 6Feb 6 from the Reddit thread on Chipotle, from someone who knows the PM at SoHo Quote So I just got off the phone with the PM and we talked for a while and what he stated was originally it was going to go into the Goetz building across the street (Chipolte) and Nolan the owner of SoHo wanted a better and bigger location with more parking and a better outdoor space for customers (Customers would get too hot from the decorative awning and the palet like board walls wouldnt offer much protection from windy days, there also is limited parking and seating for guests). The location was then offered to Chipolte, which liked the location better and was cheaper to renovate as Goetz was a full tear out renovation down to the studs. Goetz is 3 stories and has an extensive basement and elevator shaft, which would require renovating since it held a brass cage elevator before with a pulley system dating from the 20s. Adding in a stairwell would take a massive amount of space, too, as the ceiling on the first floor up to the second is about the height of 20 feet, maybe 25 feet. As for rental costs, the owner has a standard lease with SoHo, and it isn't a problem he's been around for years and years, and they've built a great relationship together. The owners lease states a 25 dollar a year increase for residential and 50 for commercial units, which is more than fair for inflation. I have worked alongside the owner, and he is one of my longtime mentors in the field. Sounds like a mutual decision to let the lease run out in 2026, giving SoHo time to find a new, larger space, along with Chipotle getting a cheaper build out. Also, regarding Banter, sounds like MAYBE it will be the location of the new W sports bar. One of their recent instagram pics was taken outside Banter's side wall. Edited February 6Feb 6 by daybreaker
February 6Feb 6 2 hours ago, KJP said: Chipotle expanding to Ohio City By Ken Prendergast / February 5, 2025 When the chains start replacing mom-n-pop businesses in a growing neighborhood, some welcome them as a validation of its success while others reject them as a weakening of a neighborhood’s uniqueness that created that success in the first place. The replacement next year of the popular Soho Chicken + Whiskey with a Chipotle Mexican Grill is the latest example of that shift in Ohio City’s Market District in Cleveland. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2025/02/05/chipotle-expanding-to-ohio-city/ I didn’t watch the review, was pick up/take concerns mentioned at all? Downtown certainly is victim to a line of empty cars with hazards on since there’s not enough street space for to go orders but at least downtown has the befit of the bus lane. however w25th doesn’t have that same luxury having a pick up lane like town hall would be nice or designated pick up spots w24th could be solutions…. Chipotle is almost too dependent on to go orders for it not to have designated to go spots + a way higher volume of customers than anything else on the street Edited February 6Feb 6 by BoomerangCleRes
February 6Feb 6 36 minutes ago, BoomerangCleRes said: I didn’t watch the review, was pick up/take concerns mentioned at all? Downtown certainly is victim to a line of empty cars with hazards on since there’s not enough street space for to go orders but at least downtown has the befit of the bus lane. however w25th doesn’t have that same luxury having a pick up lane like town hall would be nice or designated pick up spots w24th could be solutions…. Chipotle is almost too dependent on to go orders for it not to have designated to go spots + a way higher volume of customers than anything else on the street Agreed. It’s a nightmare for anyone on 25th with all the queuing of cars. They should have to put the pickup in the rear alley.
February 6Feb 6 1 hour ago, ITakeTheRapid said: At the risk of coming off as a nut job I just walked by all 3. Hansa had 6 people at the bar with the rest of the restaurant dark. The front area of Proof had 2 at the bar and one 4 top. Choolah had 5 people talking at a single table all with sealed to go bags. Oh, well glad to hear that Proof and Hansa are still open for business since you originally stated they were closed. Yes, the Hansa restaurant portion is closed on Wednesday’s, but will be open tomorrow. The last time I tried to get in Proof we couldn’t get a reservation, they were completely booked. It’s clear we shouldn’t judge restaurants based off of one cold Wednesday in February. Edited February 6Feb 6 by Clefan98
February 6Feb 6 7 minutes ago, Clefan98 said: Oh, well glad to hear that Proof and Hansa are still open for business since you originally stated they were closed. Yes, the Hansa restaurant portion is closed on Wednesday’s, but will be open tomorrow. The last time I tried to get in Proof, we couldn’t get a reservation, they were completely booked. It’s clear we shouldn’t judge restaurants based off of one cold Wednesday in February. Really not trying to be a jerk here and I’ve lived in the neighborhood for almost a decade. I’m one of its biggest fans. I said/meant “close”. As is in close to closing. I honestly go to these places pretty regularly and walk by even more. But I also travel a lot. And hot spots always have demand. Of course some cities are a lot easier. But if you’re lived here for any amount of time and you think Hansa is doing well (even compared to like a few years ago) I don’t even know where to start.
February 6Feb 6 2 hours ago, downtownjoe said: Choolah is not struggling in that location. Their primary business is take out/delivery but in the summer months it livens up. I just had Choolah delivered for the first time after seeing all these posts... it was absolutely delicious. I recommend it to anyone who hasn't tried it already, let's keep them in business lol.
February 6Feb 6 11 minutes ago, BoomerangCleRes said: Did the old fahrenheit space ever get filled? Yeah, it got chopped up. Boutique clothing store, and Cilantro.
February 6Feb 6 1 hour ago, marty15 said: Soho taking the old Touch space would be awesome. Would love to see someone there, but it’s a pretty awkward layout, doesn’t add much space if any, and loses a patio as well as access to WSM parking
February 6Feb 6 6 minutes ago, Henke said: Would love to see someone there, but it’s a pretty awkward layout, doesn’t add much space if any, and loses a patio as well as access to WSM parking It’d be a hot spot area once Dan Whelan’d new hotel opens. And there’s a massive Iggy parking lot catty corner. Don’t know if OCI could arrange a shared parking situation.
February 6Feb 6 12 hours ago, ITakeTheRapid said: Really not trying to be a jerk here and I’ve lived in the neighborhood for almost a decade. I’m one of its biggest fans. I said/meant “close”. As is in close to closing. I honestly go to these places pretty regularly and walk by even more. Three out of the four spots you mentioned as “close to closed” are actually doing really well so not sure why you’re still going on and on about this. Take the L and move on. Virtually everyone on this forum either lives nearby (I’ve been here since 2006) or visits this neighborhood enough to know your personal observations should be taken with a large grain of salt. Edited February 6Feb 6 by Clefan98
February 6Feb 6 14 hours ago, ITakeTheRapid said: I hope Boris at Hansa owns the building. The other 2 spots just had big buildouts- and in my personal experience this costs hundreds of thousands of dollars that they are paying for one way or another. I believe Boris owns the building, and a few of the houses behind it.
February 6Feb 6 1 hour ago, Clefan98 said: Three out of the four spots you mentioned as “close to closed” are actually doing really well so not sure why you’re still going on and on about this. Take the L and move on. He doesn't take the L. His name is "ITakeTheRapid". Thank you. I'll be here all week. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 6Feb 6 9 hours ago, WindyBuckeye said: I can’t speak to Hansa but alea and proof are thriving Anecdotally, my wife and I have went to Alea 4x in the last 5-6 months, and each time we had to go somewhere else first because there was no room
February 6Feb 6 I recently spoke with someone knowledgeable about OCI and neighborhood development... They raised a point I hadn't considered... A significant minority of neighborhood funding re: security and minor infrastructure come from grants from federally-funded organizations. I.e. the cameras OCI uses in collaboration with CPD to support neighborhood safety were from grants, several smaller projects were from grants with federal sourcing, as are some of the baseline OCI functions (neighborhood crews, etc.) Does anyone have any color on if this is a legit concern or an overreaction to the Pres. Musk's antics?
February 6Feb 6 13 hours ago, daybreaker said: from the Reddit thread on Chipotle, from someone who knows the PM at SoHo Sounds like a mutual decision to let the lease run out in 2026, giving SoHo time to find a new, larger space, along with Chipotle getting a cheaper build out. Also, regarding Banter, sounds like MAYBE it will be the location of the new W sports bar. One of their recent instagram pics was taken outside Banter's side wall. Under a reply to that is a response from, based on the user name, the head bartender at SoHo who said.... "Hi! I work at soho. Nolan has said none of this. We are NEVER moving to the burbs." This was in response to a comment making fun of the "better parking" line when they have a massive parking lot right behind them. They have such a great staff who I see around Ohio City and Cleveland a lot. They are close with a lot of other businesses in the area. The owners and a few other employees came from working at Momocho together. Nolan and Kevin have hosted trivia at Happy Dog many times. They won't go far. If I had to place a bet, they move to Hingetown or one of the larger vacant storefronts like the old Spice spot on Detroit between W54 and W59. They've been too successful for the size of their space for years now.
February 6Feb 6 9 hours ago, marty15 said: Yeah, it got chopped up. Boutique clothing store, and Cilantro. Cilantro? Where was the old fahrenheit space?
February 6Feb 6 Alea is super unique and always has been full when I have been there but I did hear from someone in the neighborhood, albeit just a rumor, that they may close. I hope that is not true!
February 6Feb 6 2 hours ago, KJP said: He doesn't take the L. His name is "ITakeTheRapid". Thank you. I'll be here all week.
February 6Feb 6 3 hours ago, KJP said: He doesn't take the L. His name is "ITakeTheRapid". Thank you. I'll be here all week. Tip your waitress. Try the veal.
February 7Feb 7 The corner of W 29th and Clinton is sure a-changin'! 😉👍 Edited February 7Feb 7 by Paul in Cleveland
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