There is actually a lot of housing north of Mayfield in Little Italy.  There are 4 or 5 side streets there that make up most of the neighborhood.  While I agree that the housing there is nothing special I think the main problem is lack of attention from land-lords.  They don't really do much upkeep to their properties because they know they can just rent them out to students anyway.  Many of these homes have not seen updating since the 60's or 70's and look dingy and dirty. 

The neighborhood is how shall I say it, "closed to outsiders."  Not many houses go up for sale publicly and many of the land-lords just rent out their parents' home and only fix things if they break.  Spending money to improve their properties is not one of their top priorities.  I think many students would gladly pay more rent for an updated apartment and maybe the Uptown development will fill this gap.  There have been some nice urban style houses built in the neighborhood in the last few years but until more homeowners move into the neighborhood it will stay the way it is.  LI is successful as is though and maybe a little urban grit isn't the worst that could happen.

There a new place that has opened up in Little Italy:

 

Lanterna Cafe

 

http://www.lalanternagallery.com/Home_Page.html

 

From the website:

 

"The Gallery has been part of Little Italy for the last two years. The dessert café opened for business Thursday, August 12th, 2010."

Looks nice..  Haven't seen it in a while, but did that small market open yet on MH?

^ no it has not.  I keep hearing one to two weeks.

I stopped into the still underconstruction "Murray Hill Market," but I have some good things to report:

 

1)  First of all, the owners are GREAT people and want to help to neighborhood, students, and University Circle...they're theme seems to scream Healthy, Healthy, Healthy and Fresh, Fresh, Fresh.  I spent almost an hour talking to one of the owners, Michelle (the wife) and she is extremely friendly and has a great culinary, italian background.

 

2)  The opening will be the first week of Jan....mostly likely towards the end of the week.  It will be a soft opening.

 

3)  The "Grand Opening" will be right after CWRU, CIA, and CIM returns for classes...so probably about Jan 17 to 24 somewhere. 

 

4)  The hours will be 8am -8 pm Mon - Sat, 9 am-5 pm Sun

 

5)  They will have fresh produce, from Miles Farmers Market and North Union Farmers Markets.  Some other highlights include: a great italian selection (olive oil, sauce, herbs), Ohio City Pasta, Jenni's Ice  Cream, Robinson's Apples, Asian and Indian groceries for the University Circle demographic, "On the Rise" bread from Cleveland Hts, ezekiel bread, paper products, soaps, cleaners, toiletries, etc

 

6) They will serve a simple hot breakfast option (oatmeal with fresh berries, egg sandwich on italian bread, all coffee is french-pressed) and a hot lunch (soup of the day and/or chili ... hot sandwich).  they will also have a "cheese of the week" to sample as you walk in...and probably some other samples.

 

7) My favorite quote from the owner Michelle: "If someone wants to learn how to make my soup, I will teach them right here.  I would rather them buy the ingredients here for $5, learn how to make it, and then have soup for a week.  Let people know I will offer free cooking lessons.  I don't want people buying any of that canned crap.  I have it if it's an emergency, but that's it."  Needless to say, I'm going to be taking advantage of any culinary skills I can pick up from my new neighborhood grocery store.

 

This is about as perfect of an example as you can get with supporting a local, neighborhood "Ma and Pa" style business.  I highly recommend spending your hard-earned money with getting this place up and running smoothly.  Buy local!  :clap:

^Oh and they have a Facebook page too!

 

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=138409979528378

^Oh and they have a Facebook page too!

 

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=138409979528378

 

Here is the correct page

Little Italy Cleveland

for Xmas I'm buying you a class on how to post (facebook) links and pictures (via photobucket)!  he he he he  :P ;) ;D

^Oh and they have a Facebook page too!

 

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=138409979528378

 

Here is the correct page

Little Italy Cleveland

for Xmas I'm buying you a class on how to post (facebook) links and pictures (via photobucket)!  he he he he  :P ;) ;D

 

I'd appreciate any gift lol.  But they do have an actual facebook group "Murray Hill Market."  I don't know why I can never post a fb group link.

^Oh and they have a Facebook page too!

 

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=138409979528378

 

Here is the correct page

Little Italy Cleveland

for Xmas I'm buying you a class on how to post (facebook) links and pictures (via photobucket)!  he he he he  :P ;) ;D

 

I'd appreciate any gift lol.  But they do have an actual facebook group "Murray Hill Market."  I don't know why I can never post a fb group link.

 

Murray Hill Market facebook Group

I live about 500 feet from this place and will be in there multiple times per week.  They will have my business, i have been excited for this place to open for a while.

Wow, this Murray Hill Market sounds too good to be true!  An awesome addition.  Sounds like something Tremont and other grocery-deprived neighborhoods could use too.

Stopped into Murray Hill Market today.  Awesome, awesome, awesome.  They want to cater to regulars.  If there is something particular that you like and will buy on a consistent basis, they will get it.  They also are taking all sorts of suggestions for neat ideas to do within the store and outside.  I will be doing alot of my shopping here.  Bad news is that Jennies ice cream is just as much as it is at whole foods...but i suppose they have to have that price in order to make any money off the sale.

Can we get a picture? :)

Bad news is that Jennies ice cream is just as much as it is at whole foods

 

I think it's impressive they can sell it at the same price as a large chain.  Look at it as they are saving you having to drive up to Whole Foods,so you are actually saving money if they sell it at the same price.

 

Thanks for the review.  I need to get in there and check it out.

Yeah the market is great. The owners are really nice and the selection seems like it will be really good for the size of the place.  They also have a deli and tasty prepared foods.  It has some upscale foods and expensive teas, cheeses etc. that most groceries would not have.

I was just in the market with my wife this evening.  We each got a hot sandwich for dinner.  Both were amazing.  She had the Porchetta sub (with Rosemary and other seasonings, pecorino romano cheese, and kale) and I had the roast beef sandwich (with peppers and cheese).  The bread on each sandwich was high quality and the taste of the sandwich as a whole was excellent.  They were pretty meaty, filling, and flavorful.  Well worth $6.99 a piece.

 

The rest of the market was physically a little smaller than I expected, yet the selection was better than I expected.  They don't overstock any given item, so they fit a lot of different items in a smaller space.  They have a nice little section of fruits and vegetables and many of the "convenience staples" (milk, juice, cheese, snacks, etc.).  They also have a surprisingly nice selection of more specialty items such as Ohio City pasta, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, teas, and jellies.  There are small sections of Asian and Mexican goods.  There may have been an Indian goods section as well, but I ran out of time looking around the store when my food was ready.  The deli has a variety of Boar's Head meats and cheeses.  I saw DiStefano's bread (which I've heard good things about, and I can confirm it's excellent bread if that's what my sandwich was made from).  All in all it's a great selection for a small neighborhood grocery.

 

One correction I have to note in Murray Hill's post is that it seems that they are open until 9 pm on weekdays (or at least they were tonight).

 

It's great to have this place in Little Italy!  Here's to hoping they do well.

^ Hey thanks for the in depth review!  Great to hear you enjoyed it.

 

And I welcome that correction very much.  A neighborhood grocery store staying open past 9pm I'll take. This shows they are trying to adjust to the demands of the neighborhood, since when I talked to the owners 3 weeks ago, they had told me 8pm. Great to hear of "expanded hours" so soon. 

Here's a message from the Murray Hill Market via facebook:

 

"Murray Hill Market fans: Today, Thursday, we have Chicken Parmesan (sandwich or plate), Fresh Swordfish (sandwich or on a salad), Cheesy Cream of Cauliflower Soup, Jumbo Shrimp (cooked - on a salad, as a dinner or on a sandwich - or uncooked, to make at home), Prime Rib Sandwich, Porchetta Sandwich, Sugar Snap Pea Salad, and much more (including vegetarian dishes).

 

And the Market is now fully stocked, with fresh produce; deli meats and cheeses; breads, rolls and pastries; dairy items; coffee; imported olive oils and Italian and Asian items; beer, pop, and many other beverages; snacks; and more ... Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Stop in and look around."

Fire in Little Italy right now on E. 120 st.

 

At least one house is completely gone but I can't tell if the fire has spread.

 

I awoke to the sound of fire trucks... They are still battling the blaze as I type this... :(

Looks like no one was seriously hurt:

 

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/fire-spreads-to-3-apartment-buildings-in-Clevelands-little-italy-neighborhood

good to hear nobody was hurt

Wow that is scary.  I lived across the street from those houses last year.  This thread caught my attention on the main page for not the best reason but in more upbeat news a new sign was put up where the proposed Mayfield lofts are supposed to go.  Is this project back on?

Yes.... and hopefully it was limited to LI's woodframe stock

Interesting to see that Little Italy is now

 

60% white

11% black

2% Hispanic

25% Asian

 

Out of the 4 major groups, only the Asian population saw an increase.

^It's hard to know exactly what to make of those numbers because that tract covers some areas that aren't really LI, like some Case dorms/frats south of Cornell and that funny corner of City of Cleveland on the other side of Lakeview Cemetery (where I would guess most of that 11% black share lives).

^You are exactly right.  I can guarantee you that what most people think of as Little Italy is not 11% black.  From apperances, the Asian numbers look right on point.

Didnt even see that corner when I was looking, it sneaks in. What would you guess the black percentage would be for Little Italy then? That little area cant possible hold 11%. Maybe for Little Italy, its more like 7%.

 

Looks like that tract also includes East 115th and the Triangle apartments. And half of Uptown will be included once completed

It would be interesting to see the exact boundaries.

 

I have seen a huge spike in Asian population though...and much of them are Asian families even!  Tony Brush park is the prime example of this...half the kids running around there are Asian. They seem to be living on Random Rd, E. 120th, and Coltman Rd for the most part.

 

No idea about the 11% black...haven't seen many.

My own personal opinion as to LI boundaries:

 

- the cemetery to the northeast

 

- the top of the hill to the southeast (i.e. anything north of Edgehill/Overlook)

 

- the RR tracks to the northwest

 

- and Cedar Glen Pkwy to the southwest.

 

If that area is more than 1% black, I would be shocked.

It looks like the census tract includes Abington Arms.  That might account a good portion of the black population.  The Triangle was well-populated with Asian/Indian grad students when I was at Case.

My own personal opinion as to LI boundaries:

 

- the cemetery to the northeast

 

- the top of the hill to the southeast (i.e. anything north of Edgehill/Overlook)

 

- the RR tracks to the northwest

 

- and Cedar Glen Pkwy to the southwest.

 

If that area is more than 1% black, I would be shocked.

 

I agree.  What we consider to be Little Italy no doubt has very little black population.  I have known several black Case students to avoid the businesses in LI all together.

And that was always the smart thing to do.  But I believe LI has reached a bit of a turning point.... an evolutiton, if you will.  That said, I would carefully check my food if I was a black patron.... and I definitely would not recommend living there to any of my black friends.... at least not yet.

^Boy that is an incredible slap in the face to many fine professionally run restaurants in Little Italy who have enough problems in this economy without having to deal with a stereotype they have nothing to do with.

C'mon Hts121, that's totally uncalled for

It is what it is.  Perhaps some outreach would be helpful.  Right or wrong, a lot of blacks do feel that way.

So should whites then feel nervous eating in Hough or Glenville? C'mon...

So should whites then feel nervous eating in Hough or Glenville? C'mon...

 

Most of them would feel nervous even driving in those neighborhoods

So should whites then feel nervous eating in Hough or Glenville? C'mon...

Likely but for different reasons.

When is the last time you went out for a meal in Glenville?

 

As far as general racism in LI, I can only speak from personal experience when a few. Friends of mine from high school were jumped by their own LI neighbors because they had a party and brought the 'wrong kind' into the neighborhood.  Ironically, these same neighbors did not have the 'calzones' to say anything the next day when we set up lawn chairs on the front lawn to see if they were interested in a fair fight.  This was in the mid-late 90's and I had a quasi ban on LI until just this past summer when I took notice that things seemed to have changed for the better.

 

That doesn't mean that I would recommend to any of my black friends a nice day out in LI... anymore than I would recommend a nice afternoon stroll down Eddy or Kinsman to any of my white friends.

^Who would recommend a nice afternoon stroll down Eddy or Kinsman to any of their friends, black or white?

Feel free to point out a better comparable.... but judging from the foot traffic in those neighborhoods, it seems that some...... oooops, I mean "they"...... don't mind.

I know a few black students that live in Little Italy and seem to get along fine.  I don't think the old-timers in LI really care much about the race of people in the neighborhood especially if they are students or employees in University Circle.  I think a lot of the animosity back in the day probably came from the fear that Little Italy would be the next East Cleveland or Hough.  The neighborhood has become a very stable college student neighborhood and I don't think anybody thinks Little Italy is in danger of becoming East Cleveland any more.  It may not be the most welcoming neighborhood in the world but I think the sentiment by some black folks that they will not even drive through LI is just as misguided as a white person not driving through East Cleveland.

I'm not talking about the high crime of those areas, but rather the assumption that Little Italy chefs will mess with the food because of the customers' race,  which is just preposterous. Just like if I went to Chicago Deli in Hough, I really doubt someone is going to spit in my food.

And I think that sentiment is rapidly disappearing.  But I wouldn't recommend driving through EC, regardless of race.  Two camera tickets in just the past two months for me :(

It also has is roots from the Race Riot days of the late 1960's and the later fear that Mayfield Rd would be the next East Cleveland.  The feeling returned after the Italian area of Collinwood was "lost."

 

In 1966, a Black man was actually shot on the end of Coltman Rd and Euclid during one of the days of the Hough Riots for getting too close to the neighborhood.

You know the nabe better than anyone MH.  What's your take on current perception vs reality?

Little Italy nowadays is mostly college kids and young professionals.  And a majority of the Italian restuarant owners live outside of the neighborhood.

 

The old-timers who remain are still somewhat racist...but even they have seemed to have mellowed out.  My short answer is:  the perception is still there , but the racism is not.  But of course, there are always still those bad apples.

 

One exception: festivals seem to bring out that "most mentalilty."  The most examples of racism I see during the year is during the Feast, where grandkids, friends, family of the neighborhood come down  (from Mayfield Hts, etc) and have an excuse to act tough.

 

 

How many Italians still live in the neighborhood?

How many Italians still live in the neighborhood?

 

Just as a total guess I would say maybe around 20-25%.  I would have to say that it is definitely less than half but there are still a visible number of old timers that live in the neighborhood.  A lot of the single family homes still have Italians living in them but almost all of the multi-family buildings are students.  I kind of wonder how long the neighborhood can go on being a true Little Italy because in 20 years if anybody living there has Italian Heritage it will be a few generations removed.  I feel like events like the feast have lost a lot of Italian cultural aspects and are becoming parties with Italian food.  As long as the restaurants are there it will be Little Italy but that might not last forever. 

Is Little Italy the safest neighborhood in Cleveland? I can't think of any recent reports of violent, even non-violent, crimes, and I'm certainly at ease when walking there at night.