More pictures by MuRrAy HiLL

 

The new "Murray Hill Market" independent grocery store, opening in two weeks.

 

27 Coltman additional townhome construction

 

 

Thanks for the pics.  I noticed that the townhomes under construction above are the last set of 5 out of the 27.  I'm pretty impressed by the speed that 27 Coltman went from concept through completion.  And I like the end product too.

^ You are correct.  These are in fact the last 5.  The area is now a night and day difference....meaning where Little Italy meets Euclid Ave at the E.120 rapid stop.

Just goes to show that a quality product in a top notch location can still work, even in Cleveland, even in this economy.  And UC is certainly a relatively untapped residential location.

 

Once again, thanks for the shots guys.  I love seeing the photo updates!

 

I'm still mystified by this "Washington Place" nonsense.  Talk about pulling a restaurant name out of your @ss.  But I guess there's no real history to that neighborhood so why not tack on a stupid arbitrary name?  Sheesh.  [Won't I feel small if someone tells me that the Cornell was originally called "Washington Place."]

 

Nice photos. I took pictures of the same things today.

I'm adding this one below that shows the Market's corner location.

 

About time we had a market in Little Italy!!! I love Italian food, and an Italian neighborhood without a fresh food market is like an Irish neighborhood without a pub.

About time we had a market in Little Italy!!! I love Italian food, and an Italian neighborhood without a fresh food market is like an Irish neighborhood without a pub.

 

There was a little market (crap, I don't even remember what it's called it's been so long) on Mayfield, but they mostly only had antipasti.

Here's an update on the new Washington Place Bistro and Inn.   

 

They are now officially open as both a restaurant and an Inn.  Here is there pretty impressive website:    http://www.washingtonplacelittleitaly.com/ 

 

I ate there for lunch last week, and I was pleseantly surprised and impressed by the quality of the meal and price ranges.  Every Wednesday night, they have a "2 for $40" special that includes an appitizer, two entered, and a bottle of wine.

 

Today I received a tour of the new remodeled rooms, and they give Glidden House a run for its money.  They are cozy, with some nice views of UC on the top floor.  They run for $149 a night...so not too bad at all.

 

So there's my report.  The new remodeled Inn and restaurant is now ip and running, and is a great improvement to both UC and LI. 

About time we had a market in Little Italy!!! I love Italian food, and an Italian neighborhood without a fresh food market is like an Irish neighborhood without a pub.

 

There was a little market (crap, I don't even remember what it's called it's been so long) on Mayfield, but they mostly only had antipasti.

 

Are you thinking of Mayfield Imports? That was back in the 70s-80s.

There was a little market (crap, I don't even remember what it's called it's been so long) on Mayfield, but they mostly only had antipasti.

 

Are you thinking of Mayfield Imports? That was back in the 70s-80s.

 

I doubt she was since DocBroc didn't move here until a few years ago.

There was a little market (crap, I don't even remember what it's called it's been so long) on Mayfield, but they mostly only had antipasti.

 

Are you thinking of Mayfield Imports? That was back in the 70s-80s.

 

I doubt she was since DocBroc didn't move here until a few years ago.

 

No, this was as recent as maybe 5 years ago, and it might still be there.  The name is just escaping me......

anthony's?

 

spuzzillo's?

Anthony's, IIRC.

Murray Hill Market will open up this week.  I'm on high alert to post when they are open.

^Awesome- can't wait to hear your assessment.  Thanks, too for the review of Washington Place- I was skeptical, but sounds pretty good.

January 10th!!  :-D :-) :-D

 

Monday, Monday, Monday!

 

Murray Hill Market will have its soft opening.

 

They were letting customers come in today, cash only, as they were finishing setting up. So if u really want to check it out today, I'm sure you could stop in.

 

Like I said before, the owners are great people.  Now, I have some pent up grocery shopping to do on Monday! 

January 10th!! :-D :-) :-D

 

Monday, Monday, Monday!

 

Murray Hill Market will have its soft opening.

 

They were letting customers come in today, cash only, as they were finishing setting up. So if u really want to check it out today, I'm sure you could stop in.

 

Like I said before, the owners are great people. Now, I have some pent up grocery shopping to do on Monday!  

 

*Wipes off drool running from mouth*

 

Hopefully I'll make it over there at some point soon.  My need for being away from University Circle as much as possible when not at work works against me sometimes.

I've been making room in my fridge.  I'm really hoping they'll meet all my grocery store needs.

 

If not, I still have my Little Italy Wines for beer and wine, and a short trip on the Red Line to the Westside Market for everything else.

Here's a great article from the Observer, CWRU student newspaper:

 

 

Murray Hill Market opens; offers familial atmosphere and quality food

Nicole Lord

Issue date: 2/25/11 Section: Focus

 

Do you find yourself gnawing on pencil erasers to procrastinate the dreaded journey to Dave's or Giant Eagle? Do you feel like a child in a horrible candy shop stocked with generic items and vegetables whose origins you couldn't trace if you tried? Grocery shopping does not have to be the necessary evil we must face to stay alive. It can be a fun experience that teaches us more than how to use the self-checkout machine; a place where the owner refuses to sell you canned soup because of the high sodium content but instead shows you how to make it; a place for people to feel good about food.

 

Something out of the ordinary was evident when newspaper clippings from the 1930s were posted on the windows of a vacant Italian boutique. The owners of the soon-to-be market discovered clippings underneath the carpet and used them as a symbol of the market. As the newspapers disappeared, their images intertwined with the original ceiling tiles, locally crafted farmhouse benches, and smiles of Billy Buckholtz and wife Michele Buckholtz, proprietors of the new Murray Hill Market. .

 

The Murray Hill Market offers a wide range of goods, from Cookies'n' Cream Pop Tarts and Campbell's soup to Nature Path Wildberry Acai toaster strudels and Amy's organic low-sodium soup. The owner does her best to support local farmers, with most produce hailing from Miles Farmers Market and local items such as the legendary Ohio City Pasta, cookies from On the Rise Bakery, Phoenix organic fair trade coffee, and homemade wedges of sheep's milk Romano cheese. Meats are grain-fed and roasted on site. The renowned deli meat is the porchetta: an Italian pork tradition. The menu changes daily, offering a wide selection of vegan soups and chili, squash casseroles, and fresh seafood ranging from scallops to swordfish.

 

Each Thursday, the market fills with the aroma of Michelle's homemade pasta sauce, which uses the Italian tradition of using pork neck bones for flavor. The market also sells specialty items such as imported Italian chocolate bars, tins of olive oil and specialty teas, cans of liver pate, and most importantly, every type of Jeni's organic ice cream.

 

www.cwruobserver.com/media/storage/paper1370/news/2011/02/25/Focus/Murray.Hill.Market.Opens.Offers.Familial.Atmosphere.And.Quality.Food-3981022.shtml

^That's awesome.  This totally cracked me up- is this the "wide range" of college student diets these days? :):

 

The Murray Hill Market offers a wide range of goods, from Cookies'n' Cream Pop Tarts and Campbell's soup to Nature Path Wildberry Acai toaster strudels and Amy's organic low-sodium soup.

 

The place's web site is refreshingly useful and simple too.  I can't wait to try their porchetta my next visit.

I didn't realize until just the other day that I know the owners of this new market.  Very nice folks.

Construction has resumed today on the remaining 4-5 townhomes of 27 Coltman.

 

I wanna say Amish or Menonite workers?

^Yeah, I got some photos from last year with an Amish construction team there.  Pretty common around the city I think. 

Their website shows updated sales figures/availability, with 20 out of 27 having been sold to-date.  Not bad for a project that started in the recession.

^Plus they are situated in the ass end of Little Italy near train tracks which could be an issue for a lot of people.  They are doing an incredible job marketing these.  Good job.

Does anyone have an update on the mayfield lofts? i drove by the other day and noticed an updated sign on mayfield that shows 27 coltman as well but when i got home and checked the website its now disabled

27 Coltman townhomes:

Thanks for the photo updates, MayDay!  I'm as excited as anyone for the relocation of the E120th rapid station, but at least the view's a lot better from the current station for what we hope are its last few years of service :)

The remaining 27 Coltman townhomes have topped off:

 

 

 

Good to see.  I hope that something can be done soon about the parcel immediately to the North now that the litigation is resolved.  Anyone remember what the latest update on that was?  From an aesthetic standpoint, it reallly could make a huge difference for the Coltman 27 development.

Good to see.  I hope that something can be done soon about the parcel immediately to the North now that the litigation is resolved.  Anyone remember what the latest update on that was?  From an aesthetic standpoint, it reallly could make a huge difference for the Coltman 27 development.

 

I would hope so.  We looked at the place over Easter, and thought how strange it was that such a nice development was in such a strange spot..

Club Isabella on the cornell and random is about to pop.  Its gorgeous both inside and out.  Looks to be fine dining and drinks.  Mass outdoor seating.

 

http://clubisabella.com/index2.php

 

 

What happened to the old Club Isabella? I remembered they closed, but I didn't remember when/why.

The old Club I site (along with the old Speech and Hearing Center) is where the Seidman Cancer Center was built.  I think that the original Club Isabella became a wine/jazz bar called Vina Note before eventually being demolished.

So it wasn't closed for the demolition? It was closed for another nightspot? Wonder why they think a new Club Isabella will work when the old one failed?

KJP-

 

did you check out the website?  I dont know what the old Club Isabella was like, but this one will seemingly have an impressive menu and the vibe looks like it will be great.  Was the old Club Isabella a place one would want to go out of their way to eat?

It was Club Isabella until 2002, when they changed the name to Vina Note for a year (not sure why).  In 2003, it was changed back to Major's Club Isabella, then in late 2007 it was closed down and shortly after torn down by UH.

 

http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/vina-what/Content?oid=1483349

Thanks Jam.

There will definately a larger focus on food at the new one.  The old one was focused more around the music.  In fact the new one will only have music on weekends. 

 

They went through a couple of different owners the last few years.  From the original Ms. Chesler (Mike Chesler the urban developer's mom) to the former owner of Johnnys.  The current chef, who is also the owner now (and apparently the last owner at the previous location) spent a number of years at Johnnys (after studying in Paris).  So yeah more of a food focus.   

There will definately a larger focus on food at the new one.  The old one was focused more around the music.  In fact the new one will only have music on weekends. 

 

They went through a couple of different owners the last few years.  From the original Ms. Chesler (Mike Chesler the urban developer's mom) to the former owner of Johnnys.  The current chef, who is also the owner now (and apparently the last owner at the previous location) spent a number of years at Johnnys (after studying in Paris).  So yeah more of a food focus.   

 

Yeah, that's my understanding as well.  I think they were competing with Night Town more before (focus more on jazz than food), whereas now it seems they want to be more of a trendy restaurant that also occasionally has music.

^Isn't the name 'Isabela' Ms. Chesler's 1st name?  Interesting that a succession of owners is keeping it... Website says jazz on weekends but, you're right, food is the new focus... Hope they make it; love jazz and the old place.  The new building looks nice, but it seems kinda hidden wedged in on Random Rd (love that name) next to the Rapid/freight tracks -- hope those noisy freights to disrupt the music/eating...

 

^^anyway, I'm thrilled with Coltman and Circle 118 too.  It does seem odd these places are being built around a Rapid station, E.120, that's supposed to be moved... of course the latest federal funding issues are pushing that relocation into the distant future.

^^anyway, I'm thrilled with Coltman and Circle 118 too.  It does seem odd these places are being built around a Rapid station, E.120, that's supposed to be moved... of course the latest federal funding issues are pushing that relocation into the distant future.

 

I'd bet those people use the HealthLine more than the rapid station.  Look at the stats on the E. 120th station, hardly anybody uses it.  And won't the new rapid station be about the same distance from 27 Coltman as the current one?

Maybe... depending on which unit you buy.  You could spit at the 120th stations from the patios of some of the units closer to Euclid. 

Yeah, that's right.  I always forget how close 27 Coltman is to Euclid on the north end of the development.

Depends on where you're going and what your needs are. The HealthLine is more frequent, but the Red Line is faster to downtown. But if you're going to the east side of downtown, the HealthLine is faster. Either way, it's nice to have those choices right at all of the new townhouses in that area.

Club Isabella on the cornell and random is about to pop.  Its gorgeous both inside and out.  Looks to be fine dining and drinks.  Mass outdoor seating.

 

http://clubisabella.com/index2.php

 

 

 

Anyone have a contact at this place if someone wanted to be considered to play jazz at this venue?  It's hard to get your foot in the door at clubs/restaurants without a personal recommendation.  It's not for me actually, but I know a few duos/trios that would love to play there and are great.

 

^ i walked the dog past this place the other day and the owner and other chefs were putting golfballs outside on the green they built near the outdoor patio.  I talked to one, but i dont have a name.  You may just want to drop by sometime this week before they fully open while they are just meeting people.

Club Isabella is OPEN.  Place was packed tonight...nice addition to the neighborhood.

Yay! Glad to see it's back.

Huzzah!

 

P.S. Apologies if this has been covered, but how are the 27 Coltman townhouses selling?