Great article, KJP, but Zone is really stretching things here:

 

"I believe that, upon completion, Gordon Square will be synonymous with other destinations like Soho, Dupont Circle and Greenwich Village. Ten years down the road it will have that kind of recognition."

 

Why? It never hurts to aim high. :)

No, but there is a difference between aiming high and just talking big.  Three theaters, some nice shops, and a few hundred new units does not Greenwich Village make.  That's not to disparage DS, just to point out that he is overstating his case.

No, but there is a difference between aiming high and just talking big.  Three theaters, some nice shops, and a few hundred new units does not Greenwich Village make.  That's not to disparage DS, just to point out that he is overstating his case.

 

And how does this hurt anyone or anything?

Great article, KJP, but Zone is really stretching things here:

 

"I believe that, upon completion, Gordon Square will be synonymous with other destinations like Soho, Dupont Circle and Greenwich Village. Ten years down the road it will have that kind of recognition."

 

I'd say the reference was on point!  Look at the demographics of those areas and look at the deomgraphics of Detroit-Shoreway.  

 

• all are arts hot spots
  
• all have a good mix of new housing and traditional housing
  
• all have a high percentage of GLBT residents and business
  
• all have a good mix of young first home owners & renters and long time progressive residents
  
• all are "destination" neighborhoods
  
• all have good transportaion options
  
• all have a good mix of restaurants
  

 

No, but there is a difference between aiming high and just talking big.  Three theaters, some nice shops, and a few hundred new units does not Greenwich Village make.  That's not to disparage DS, just to point out that he is overstating his case.

 

And how does this hurt anyone or anything?

 

Might that not leave someone feeling misled or disappointed if it doesn't live up to expectations?  Doesn't that diminish the real genuinely good qualities that the neighborhood does possess to have to bolster it with exaggeration?

 

I see what you're saying, MyTwoSense, but don't you think scale matters when one makes a statement like that?

I can see your point, X - sure, the things that are happening in Detroit-Shoreway are wonderful (and I'm happy to see them do well)- but to suggest that in ten years it'll be comparable to areas in larger cities, with larger tourism numbers, that have taken decades to build their respective"cache"? That's stretching it. It doesn't necessarily hurt anyone to overstate your case or have a little boosterism, but why not just say "this is an amazing neighborhood in and of itself." rather than "this area is just as good as ______!". It's the same feeling I get when people say that Lola/Flying Fig/etc. is "like a great NYC restaurant" - as if being a fantastic place that happens to be in Cleveland just isn't enough.

Good point.

 

That is one thing that I definitely felt about Zone's statement. It's one thing to compare an area to another. But to strive to MAKE it comparable to another, already established neighborhood in another city .. I hate that. It's like Cleveland is too insecure to take pride in its own neighborhoods to make a name for themselves. Greenwich Village and Soho and DuPont Circle didn't become famous neighborhoods because they strove to be like other neighborhoods in other cities, necessarily. They just knew what they wanted to be and went for it, I think.

MayDay and jpop(tart), I understand your points and that is why is specifically used the word "reference" instead of "compare"  :wink:.

 

I don't want them to "compare" I want D-S to be it's own stand alone neighborhood and destination.  Yet having spent significant time in all three mentioned areas, there are striking similarities.

I agree. Cleveland really needs to start figuring out what it wants to be on its own. What can it bring to the national marketplace? What is its own voice?

 

I think it's so important for the city to find this as a whole, not just this neighborhood. I don't think it's had that for a long time.

More great press for the neighborhood! 

 

I have to admit, though, that I'm a little disappointed in some of the progress.  My understanding was that both the streetscape and Capitol Theater projects were to begin in 2007.  I guess I can wait until May, but damnit I want to walk to the movies already!

I debated whether or not to put all of Zone's quotes in, or just some of them. In the end, I figured they were interesting enough and certainly capable of generating discussion!

 

Does anyone remember Dupont Circle in the mid-1980s (or even earlier)? I do. It was an "edgy" neighborhood, and that's being kind. I was advised not to go there -- which means I had to go see why! I did so late one night in March 1985, as I and several friends went looking for the punk bar Commander Salamander. It was an eye-opener for an 18-year-old!

 

More great press for the neighborhood! 

 

I have to admit, though, that I'm a little disappointed in some of the progress.  My understanding was that both the streetscape and Capitol Theater projects were to begin in 2007.  I guess I can wait until May, but damnit I want to walk to the movies already!

 

Thanks Map Boy. There was hope that the screetscape project could be started last fall before the snow flew. But it made sense to wait until after winter, even the funding was in place well before fall.

 

As for the Capitol Theater, the funding wasn't in place until late fall, if I recall correctly. The hope was to get the roof repairs made ASAP, but apparently they thought the roof could make it through one more winter so they could get the full bid packages out for everything. Perhaps someone can clarify this.

Does anyone remember Dupont Circle in the mid-1980s (or even earlier)? I do. It was an "edgy" neighborhood, and that's being kind. I was advised not to go there -- which means I had to go see why!

 

That was right around the time the gay were moving into and fixing up the area. 

 

IIRC, you couldn't go north of Florida or east of 18 street, maybe 17 street.

 

But all of DC was a mess back then.

I heard from a little birdy that Marlan Kaplans new restaurant should be opening in the "Bank Building" (on detroit next to the new shops) within a month or so.  I had no idea that this was actually progressing but apparently they've been working on it since they passed the liquor license issue.

We've been hanging around the same bird coop.

I believe they wanted to open by the end of the year or earlier in 2008, but the holiday permitting process slowed them up.  Great news!

I had the pleasure of attending a public meeting last night (Feb 6) at DSCDO regarding a proposal to transform the Convenient on the NE corner of W. 61 & Detroit Ave. into an upscale wine, beer, deli, & state liquor store.  The operator owns three other stores in the burbs and has an outside investor who is willing to buy the property and transform it with a several hundred thousand dollar investment into both  the interior and exterior of the property.  The parking lot up front will stay, though will likely be fenced and landscaped with a proper entrance for pedestrians.  Interestingly, but perhaps not surprisingly, the availability of the parking lot was one of the amenities that sold the operator on the property.

 

 

All right, it's my official opinion that Sketchup sucks, so I went primitive and used Photoshop. Anyhoo, I needed to do something after working on a reader service card to get my eyes to uncross. Here's a start of what I'd do with the intersection of Lake and Detroit - don't laugh too hard:

 

 

Nice touch,  leaning towers in the Westside Little Italy!!!  :wink2:

But then people might have to get out of the car to get their Burger King!  :-D

^^Don't you have an apartment building to rehab? ;-)

 

As you can see, the BK has been ix-nayed!  :whip:

yeah, don't remind me!!!!

I had the pleasure of attending a public meeting last night (Feb 6) at DSCDO regarding a proposal to transform the Convenient on the NE corner of W. 61 & Detroit Ave. into an upscale wine, beer, deli, & state liquor store.  The operator owns three other stores in the burbs and has an outside investor who is willing to buy the property and transform it with a several hundred thousand dollar investment into both  the interior and exterior of the property.  The parking lot up front will stay, though will likely be fenced and landscaped with a proper entrance for pedestrians.  Interestingly, but perhaps not surprisingly, the availability of the parking lot was one of the amenities that sold the operator on the property.

 

 

 

Yeah, good thing they'll keep that surface lot in front, parking seems to be at a premium in the surrounding area...  I hate cars so much.

Wow, MayDay... you are far more ambitious than I am!  I spent about 15 minutes last weekend trying to put something together and gave up.  I'll get back to it sometime.

 

Guv, this new upscale shop... how was it received?  I'm sure you remember the proposal to do something similar with the old Middle Eastern Imports shop on W. 25th that was eventually canned because of the shady owner/developer.  I know there's a history of ill will towards booze on Detroit, since they "dried" it up in the 80s, but I think if this is done right, it can be a huge improvement upon what's there now.  That, in my opinion, is one of the most intimidating parts of Detroit to walk at night, even though it's just a little gap in the fabric!

 

Any talk of them having a sit-down establishment to go with the carry-out?

nice. mayday for may or!

nice. mayday for may or!

 

I can see it now.  A Ginormous, world class "BHIC OF CLEVELAND" statement above Cleveland city hall!

 

 

Guv, this new upscale shop... how was it received? 

 

Any talk of them having a sit-down establishment to go with the carry-out?

 

There were a good 20-25 people at a meeting that lasted about 90 minutes.  Lots of good questions and lots of people intending to visit Mr. Malik's other shops in the suburbs (brecksville & north randall).  That being said, the overall reception was very favorable and if all goes as planned I would expect this place to open by early summer.

 

As for the layout, it will be similar to his other shops, which generally consist of large wine and craft beer selections.  A smallish state liquor store behind the counter.  Apparently the State determines which 'quality' of liquor a store can carry based on area demographics.  Mr. Malik will also have an onsite deli, humidor for cigars, temperature controlled wine room for high end wines, small selection of wine complementing cheeses, possibly a few stools/couches/etc, and a selection of snacks and sundries.  It is yet undetermined if he will be taking over the laundromat site as well. 

 

He appears to be the kind of owners neighbors will really like as he promises to create a store for the neighborhood.  I asked if he would consider carrying beer brewing supplies.  All in all, things look good.

^Sounds very interesting.  The whole Ohio liquor thing just totally boggles my mind though.

^ Some states are worse than others when it comes to liquor laws but South Carolina takes the prize.

I am considering home ownership, and I've started to look at properties in Detroit-Shoreway!

I finally made it over to Room Service and Duo Home this weekend, loved both stores, the wife couldn't help but buy a few things.  I will still go to Banyon tree more often, since it is only a block from my house, but love that more cool stores are coming to Cleveland.  This neighborhood is coming along nicely.

I am considering home ownership, and I've started to look at properties in Detroit-Shoreway!

 

Congrats!

I am considering home ownership, and I've started to look at properties in Detroit-Shoreway!

 

it is a great time to buy! Good luck.

I finally made it over to Room Service and Duo Home this weekend, loved both stores, the wife couldn't help but buy a few things.  I will still go to Banyon tree more often, since it is only a block from my house, but love that more cool stores are coming to Cleveland.  This neighborhood is coming along nicely.

 

Welcome aboard Boneill!

Nice article KJP:

 

Plan brews for beat up site

Thursday, February 14, 2008

By Ken Prendergast

West Side Sun News

 

A run-down building on Lorain Avenue could soon become grounds for a coffee company's roasting and distributing operations.

 

Brendan and Patricia Walton, owners of Cleveland Coffee Co. and residents of the Ecovillage neighborhood, bought a building at 5718 Lorain for $26,100. The building is immediately west of the Four Horseman Saloon.

 

More at:

http://www.cleveland.com/westsidesun/news/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1202932323185960.xml&coll=4

Thanks, but I think I rushed through it -- even though I interviewed the guy a week before I actually wrote it. I forgot about it and then wrote it at the last minute before deadline.

International wine and liquor sales proposed for new store on Detroit and W. 61st

by Chuck Hoven

 

(Plain Press, March 2008) Thirty Detroit Shoreway residents came to the offices of the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization in early February to hear a proposal for a new wine, liquor, cigar and convenience store at the current Convenient store at W. 61st and Detroit Avenue.

 

Ward 17 Councilman Matt Zone opened the meeting with a description of some investments planned for Detroit Avenue including the now fully funded renovation of the Capital Theatre. Zone indicated that public investment in the neighborhood was attracting private investors. Zone introduced Malek Abood, who along with his nephew would be partners in the proposed new business. Zone said the proposed new business would include the sale of high-end wine and liquor.

 

Councilman Zone indicated that, while he supported the project he felt would be compatible with Arts and Entertainment District being created along Detroit Avenue, he understood the community may have some reservation about a state liquor store in the neighborhood. Zone said he would not support the project without the community’s stamp of approval.

 

As an insurance policy, Zone offered to create a binding agreement with the new owners. He said he hoped members of the community would voice their concerns about the project so they could be included in a cooperative agreement with the new owners of the business and the property. He said such an agreement would be a binding document that would assure the best interests of the community were followed if the project is approved by residents and moves forward.

 

Malek Abood said when he first came to Cleveland he lived near W. 88th and Detroit and lived in the neighborhood from 1976 to 1981. He remembers fondly the Thursday night Arabic movies at the Capital Theater during that time period that were a great comfort to him as he adjusted to living in a new city. He said he was impressed with plans for neighborhood improvements described by Councilman Zone and had a “gut feeling” that the neighborhood was a good place to invest in a new business.

 

Malek Abood described his proposed store as a wine shop with a liquor component. He said the store would sell high-end international wines, would feature wine tasting, a humidor to keep cigars fresh, and a selection of groceries. He said the store would try not to sell street wine or single cans of beer, which he believes create problems he does not want associated with his establishment. He said he has a State of Ohio Liquor Franchise and the State would determine the types of liquor the store would sell. The liquor would be in a self-contained area behind a counter.

 

Abood urged residents to visit stores he currently operates the Village Bootlegger in Brecksville and Mookies Beverage in North Randall. He said like his other stores, he plans a quality operation. He mentioned features like ceramic tiles and a deli.

 

Residents seemed to approve when he mentioned the store would be open from 7 a.m. to no later than 10 p.m. unless the community wanted later hours. Someone asked if it could be open to eleven. They mentioned some dissatisfaction with the limited hours of the current convenient store on the site.

 

Additional requests by residents included fine cheeses in the deli, high quality micro brews, some green environmentally friendly features in the rehabilitation of the store, a quality store like the convenient store on W. 112th and Clifton, and hours that would make the store an option as place to purchase a newspaper in the morning. Residents seemed pleased that there would be quality wines in the neighborhood, saying they now had to leave the neighborhood to buy a good wine.

good luck with that..

I heard a rumor this morning ... from a VERY reliable source ... that a restauranteur was thinking of setting up a Vegan restaurant in Gordon Square. I think this is still very speculative, but it sounded promising. That would be a great boon for the neighborhood.

 

Call me the Payne Avenue Pollyanna, but I'm beginning to envision a STRONG potential for a fully built-out, progressive, authentic restaurant and retail corridor running from W. 73rd to E. 40th along Detroit and Superior in the next ten years. With developments in Gordon Square, Ohio City between W. 30th-ish and W. 25th-ish, Pesht, The Avenue District, the loft buildings along Superior in the 20s, Asiatown and Tyler Village, it seems like the only substantial gap to making this a reality is the section between the Bop Stop and W. 54th. Obviously, some of the other projects need some more momentum or are only speculative in nature at this point, but this seems like the only stretch that isn't receiving a lot of attention. Something as simple as increasing the aesthetic appeal of that little park by Bop Stop  (read: green strip bordering the highway) with some public art could do a world of good in increasing connectivity.

 

But I digress. Yay Vegan restaurant!

I heard a rumor this morning ... from a VERY reliable source ... that a restauranteur was thinking of setting up a Vegan restaurant in Gordon Square. I think this is still very speculative, but it sounded promising. That would be a great boon for the neighborhood.

 

Call me the Payne Avenue Pollyanna, but I'm beginning to envision a STRONG potential for a fully built-out, progressive, authentic restaurant and retail corridor running from W. 73rd to E. 40th along Detroit and Superior in the next ten years. With developments in Gordon Square, Ohio City between W. 30th-ish and W. 25th-ish, Pesht, The Avenue District, the loft buildings along Superior in the 20s, Asiatown and Tyler Village, it seems like the only substantial gap to making this a reality is the section between the Bop Stop and W. 54th. Obviously, some of the other projects need some more momentum or are only speculative in nature at this point, but this seems like the only stretch that isn't receiving a lot of attention. Something as simple as increasing the aesthetic appeal of that little park by Bop Stop  (read: green strip bordering the highway) with some public art could do a world of good in increasing connectivity.

 

But I digress. Yay Vegan restaurant!

 

It's not just a rumor, the restauranteur in question has a very strong name and knows how to build a client base in urban environments. This person has looked at a few places in Ohio City and Detroit Shoreway that could be considered "edgy" by many of the suburban-ites who come onto Market Square on the weekends.

I had not heard this before... it would be fantastic!

I need another news story for this week's Sun. Can anyone tell me on IM what restaurant/owner this is?

^^It's the Johnny Mango's people.

Also, from the Free Times:

 

Once More Into The Breach

Wiser From Past Mistakes, Marlin Kaplan Plans His First New Venture In Almost A Decade

By Douglas Trattner

 

Marlin Kaplan may be a chef, but for the past few months he's played the role of general contractor. Most hours of the day he can be found on the site of his soon-to-open restaurant, choreographing a ballet of electricians, plumbers, painters and carpenters. He could have hired someone else to do it, but where is the fun in that?

 

"I love putting the whole thing together," Kaplan says while gliding around the room. "It's the tail end of a very long creative process."

 

It has been nine years since Kaplan opened a restaurant, and his excitement is palpable. Moving through the space, which is largely a construction zone, the chef points out details he is particularly jazzed about. Over there is the bar, a 1930s art deco gem he picked up in Collinwood. Here is an antiquated bank vault, a vestige of a former tenant that soon will be filled with wine bottles and left permanently ajar. Stately brass and glass doors, vintage Terminal Tower fixtures, form a partition between dining room and kitchen. A worn wood credenza, salvaged from a hardware store in Lodi, will function as a server station.

 

"I like the idea of repurposing old things," notes Kaplan. "It is environmentally friendly - "green' - but these items also fit the rusticness of the space." That space, a double storefront on Detroit Avenue, in the heart of the Gordon Square Arts District, features exposed brick walls, wood-and-iron ceiling joists, decades-old oak flooring and a bricked archway that transitions guests from bar to dining room.

 

Luxe Kitchen & Lounge will be Kaplan's fifth Cleveland restaurant, an impressive number considering that he entered the game so late. Born and raised in Manhattan, Kaplan for years made his living in advertising. At the age of 36, he traded in his lucrative white-collar gig in favor of long days in a hot kitchen. "I needed to make a change," he says matter-of-factly. Quickly working his way up the ranks, he was soon second in command at a popular New York restaurant. When that restaurant, Sfuzzi, needed someone to turn around its struggling outpost in Cleveland, Kaplan's number came up.

 

Eager to partake in the downtown boom of the early '90s, it wasn't long before the highly motivated chef struck out on his own. "Cleveland was on the verge of blowing up," he recalls. "There was Gateway, the Rock Hall - it was all so exciting."

 

Wife and business partner Melissa Cole agrees. Though not affiliated with Kaplan at the time, Cole was in the hospitality business. "There were very few independent restaurants downtown when Marlin opened his first restaurant," she notes. "At that time the industry was dominated by big corporate places with over-thought, overpriced food. Marlin brought in a product different from what people knew. That's why he was so embraced."

 

Embraced indeed. Marlin, the restaurant, opened in 1993 to rave reviews. This tidbit appeared in The Plain Dealer food section soon after opening day: "If Marlin Kaplan is smiling, it's because his new restaurant, Marlin, has been open for less than three weeks and it's already packing them in."

 

Kaplan's knack for making everyday comfort food seem new and exciting made Marlin a popular and commercial success. Striking while the iron was hot, as they say, Kaplan opened his second restaurant just over two years later. Unfortunately, Pig Heaven, an eclectic barbecue joint, may have been a little ahead of its time. "I don't think people got the idea of an upscale barbecue place," says radio personality John Lanigan, a longtime friend of Kaplan's. "I loved Pig Heaven; it was one of my favorite restaurants of all time."

 

Despite a struggling Pig Heaven, Kaplan went on to open a third restaurant, Lira, one year later. Though Marlin remained popular, and Lira, a breezy Mediterranean bistro on Public Square, was well on its way, Pig Heaven was the anchor that ultimately sunk the ship. In less than a year, all three restaurants were shuttered.

 

"Marlin is an artist and his restaurants are his creations," Cole explains. "He just couldn't let go of that piece of art, Pig Heaven. And that's what brought down his business."

 

Kaplan returned to the scene a little over a year later, this time with One Walnut, a ritzy dining room that caters to bankers, lawyers and the generally well-heeled. It, too, was well received, earning props in Gourmet magazine and routinely finding its way onto "Best" lists. But One Walnut, which is approaching nine years old, has never generated the buzz of Kaplan's breakout debut.

 

"Any artist in any genre is continually redefining who they are," says Cole. "One Walnut is not a departure from Marlin's cooking, it is an evolution. It is Marlin [the restaurant] grown up."

 

So why now, after all this time, is Kaplan taking a chance on a new restaurant, so unlike the successful One Walnut?

 

"Detroit Shoreway is the right place at the right time," Kaplan asserts. "I spent a lot of time looking at this neighborhood. I look around at everything that is going on here and it reminds me of how I felt about downtown in the early '90s."

 

Cole, while grateful for the support One Walnut has received, seems eager for a change. "You know, downtown can be a bit of a downer," she allows. "Detroit Shoreway is a neighborhood people can look to in the future. We want to feel connected to a community."

 

Councilman Matt Zone could not be happier that Kaplan chose his ward to set up shop. "This neighborhood is getting stronger by the day," says Zone, "but getting a chef with Marlin Kaplan's talent validates that the Gordon Square Arts District is going to be a happening community."

 

And Kaplan, for his part, is making sure Luxe is a good fit. "Luxe will be a fairly youth-oriented restaurant," he says. "It's the kind of place where you can spend $10 or $100." The menu features salads, pastas and hand-tossed pizzas. There are numerous appetizers designed for sharing and most items are priced below $18. Kaplan's signature Midwestern comfort food will appear in family-style meals. Wine will be sold at just $10 over retail. A house DJ will set the vibe from his corner perch.

 

"I want to remove the intimidation factor from dining," explains Kaplan. "Luxe will be affordable, approachable and fun. I'm attempting to recapture the spirit and philosophy of Marlin."

 

Kaplan has always had his detractors, people who denounce him for not being classically trained, for being an interloper from New York, for supposedly being a vainglorious publicity hound blind to his own ruinous ways.

 

"There have always been people who like to question everything he tries to do," says Lanigan. "They look at the fact that he opened and closed restaurants, that he left and came back. He's creative. I think he gets bored doing the same thing."

 

"I tried to build a mini restaurant empire on my own, and that was a mistake," Kaplan admits. "I learned a lot of lessons after those restaurants closed. I've been focused on One Walnut for nine years now, and in that time I've become a much better operator. I've lasted through some of the most trying times in this city and country. I think I've paid my dues."

 

Luxe Kitchen & Lounge is slated to open by late March 2008.

fantastic all around!  now, if we get a decent pizza shop for the nabe and an Indian restaurant, I'll be set!

it seems like the only substantial gap to making this a reality is the section between the Bop Stop and W. 54th.

 

I agree, but that gap is percisely the area that would be most transformed by the Shoreway's downgrade to boulevard, so I think transformation would happen there relatively quickly.

if we get a decent pizza shop for the nabe and an Indian restaurant, I'll be set!

 

I'll second both of those.  friday night has become pizza night at our house.  we used to order, but nothing is worth the money, so now we make it ourselves.  also, my wife and I stopped in to latitude 41 on saturday morning.  despite feet of snow plowed to their doorstep, they were open.  we had a nice breakfast, an omelet and some french toast.  the owner said she is adding pizzas soon as well.   

 

and I am tired of driving to parma for decent indian food.  cafe udipi needs to open up in det/shore! 

^ There is an Indian restaurant on Detroit in Lakewood (albeit western lakewood, but it might easier than going to Parma)

 

"and I am tired of driving to parma for decent indian food.  cafe udipi needs to open up in det/shore! "

 

I agree!

 

There needs to be more good Indian restaurants in Cleveland proper.

 

In Boston I had a choice of like 15 different Indian buffets to go to.. come to think of it, maybe that's why I lost 10 pounds when I moved back to Cleveland.

 

 

In Boston I had a choice of like 15 different Indian buffets to go to.. come to think of it, maybe that's why I lost 10 pounds when I moved back to Cleveland.

 

Sounds like Central Square in Cambridge...mmmm.

 

I also agree on the lack of Indian; and I think downtown is ripe for Thai food too (Tremont is not downtown).