Around Town
Learn more about the organizations you will find inside the Screw Factory, which brings together local artists and businesses in a collaborative space with industrial charm.
Learn about some longstanding buildings and structures that are getting a new look but still fit with the character of the city.
Lakewood
Meet some city residents who are making an impact on the community and infusing it with more personality.
Lakewood is a truly unique place to call home. As your mayor, I am privileged to serve a city that offers a strong quality of life and embodies the perfect blend of history, progress and a strong sense of community. Lakewood’s charm, unique character and vibrant energy continue to shine as we build on our legacy while shaping an even brighter future.
The architectural beauty and character found throughout our neighborhoods is one of the aspects of Lakewood that makes it a special place. In this issue, you will read about some of the exciting renovation projects happening throughout our city that contribute to and maintain the character of Lakewood. These projects are a testament to our commitment to honoring the past while embracing the future, ensuring that Lakewood remains a city where history and progress coexist and blend seamlessly.
Just as our buildings tell a story, so do the people who make up the heart of Lakewood.
In this edition of Lakewood Magazine, you will meet some of those inspiring individuals — entrepreneurs, artists, and longtime residents — who contribute to the fabric and vitality of our community. From beloved small business owners to the creative minds at the Lake Erie Building, these stories showcase the passion and innovation that define Lakewood. These features remind us that behind every storefront, studio and street, there’s a story worth telling and discovering.
As the temperatures warm up, I hope you will take advantage of one of Lakewood’s most treasured qualities: the walkability of our community. With well-maintained sidewalks, pedestrian-friendly streets, and a layout that connects homes, parks, shops and restaurants within a close walk, our city encourages residents to explore on foot. Whether it’s a morning stroll to a local coffee shop, an afternoon spent browsing our unique shops, or an evening walk along the breathtaking Lake Erie shoreline or our many
parks, Lakewood offers the opportunity for an active lifestyle. This walkability not only enhances our quality of life but also strengthens our local economy, reduces our environmental footprint and reinforces the neighborly spirit that makes Lakewood such a wonderful place to call home.
Thank you for being part of what makes Lakewood exceptional. Whether you are a lifelong resident or just recently made Lakewood your home, your presence and contributions help shape the future of our beloved community.
The Scalish Way isn’t just a process. It’s a promise of quality, craftsmanship, and communication. Every time.
Marie Nader is a distinguished real estate professional celebrated for her remarkable achievements and commitment to excellence. Ranked in the “Top 1% Nationally”, she has consistently demonstrated unparalleled expertise and dedication in the real estate industry. Marie’s impressive career is adorned with accolades, including the prestigious “National Sales Excellence Awards” and the “Quality Service Award” from the #WomensCouncilOfRealtors, underscoring her unwavering focus on delivering exceptional client experiences.
As a “Notary Public” and a recipient of the “Champions Awards #LeadersMadeHere ”, Marie exemplifies leadership and professionalism. She was honored as a “Leading Lady of Real Estate”, a testament to her influence and impact in a competitive market. Recognized by “Cleveland Magazine” as a “Top Real Estate Agent”, Marie continues to set benchmarks for success while inspiring others in her field. Wit a reputation built on trust, and quality service, Marie Nader is not just a leader in real estate, she is a symbol of excellence and empowerment in the industry.
“
... Would definitely refer Marie to everyone I know and will use her in the future...
... Very helpful and knowledgeable; was on top of the process every step...
Knowledgeable, helpful and quick to answer any questions or concers...
“ Exceptional service and very professional.
As we step into another exciting season, we take this opportunity to celebrate the heart and soul of Lakewood — our small businesses, visionary entrepreneurs and dedicated community leaders. The local business landscape is more than just commerce; it is the lifeblood of our community, shaping our identity, creating jobs and fostering an environment of innovation and collaboration.
In this issue, we shine the spotlight on some of the small businesses that make our community thrive. From the familyowned shops that have served generations to the bold new startups that bring fresh energy, each business contributes uniquely to our town’s growth and character. Their resilience and creativity inspire us daily, and we encourage you to continue supporting them, knowing that every purchase strengthens our community.
We also explore remarkable renovation projects that breathe new life into old spaces. Across town, we see historic buildings being repurposed in innovative ways, transforming former spaces into vibrant marketplaces, old homes into cozy cafés, and long-standing structures into dynamic community hubs. These projects not only preserve our town’s rich heritage but also pave the way for an exciting and sustainable future.
Moreover, we honor the community leaders who double as business owners and dedicated residents. These individuals embody what it means to give back, investing in both their businesses and the well-being of our town. Their leadership, philanthropy and commitment to community service create a ripple effect of positive change, making our town a better place for all.
As your Chamber of Commerce, we are proud to support these efforts and advocate
for continued growth and prosperity. We encourage you to explore, shop local and connect with the inspiring people who make our town special. Together, we will build a vibrant, sustainable and welcoming community for generations to come.
Thank you for being a part of our community.
Warmest Regards,
Lauren Small CEO & President Lakewood Chamber of Commerce
From Left to Right: Ward 2 Councilmember Bryan Evans, At-Large Councilmember Tom Bullock, Vice President and Ward 1 Councilmember Kyle Baker, President and At-Large Councilmember Sarah Kepple, Ward 4 Councilmember Cindy Marx, Ward 3 Councilmember Cindy Strebig, At-Large Councilmember Angelina Hamilton Steiner.
What we do: Lakewood City Council is a one-stop link to your local government. City councilmembers are ambassadors for the City, liaisons to City Hall and experienced problem solvers who can help you navigate questions or concerns about neighborhood issues and city services. City Council monitors and oversees the City’s finances and operations and may initiate changes in response to new information, resident feedback and evolving best practices in local government.
Who we are: Lakewood City Council is comprised of seven Councilmembers; Three who represent the city at-large, and four who represent each of the city’s wards. Councilmembers are elected in nonpartisan elections and serve four-year terms.
Get involved: General Meetings of City Council are held the first and third Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at Lakewood City Hall – 12650 Detroit Ave. Committee meetings are held on Monday evenings as needed. All meetings are open to the public and livestreamed. Public comment is welcome at all regular meetings and is often accommodated by Chairs of committees. Council also accepts written public comment, called eComment, in advance of public meetings.
Visit us online: www.lakewoodoh.gov/lakewood-city-council
› Watch meeting videos
› Sign up for meeting alerts and agendas
› Use eComment
› Contact your councilmember
Get to know Angelina Hamilton Steiner and Bryan Evans.
Lakewood City Council recently welcomed two new members. Angelina Hamilton Steiner, At-Large member, and Bryan Evans, Ward 2 representative, were both appointed to fill vacant seats. Both new members were selected through a competitive review process among multiple applicants, and their terms run through the end of 2025.
ANGELINA HAMILTON STEINER
Steiner was appointed to fill Tristan Rader’s seat after he was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives. Born and raised in Lakewood, she characterizes herself as a public servant and has served on many volunteer boards and commissions, including the Charter Review Commission, the Community Health Needs Assessment Steering Committee and the Anti-Racism Task Force. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. Most recently, she served as Director and eRA Manager for the Northeast Ohio Medical University. She also cofounded the grassroots organization Madison Court Community Coalition, formed in response to an incident of gun violence at Madison Park in 2021.
BRYAN EVANS
A longtime resident of Ward 2, Evans was appointed by City Council to fill the seat vacated by Jason Shachner. Evans brings over 20 years of leadership in urban design and planning, landscape architecture, design consulting, project management and public art to his new role. Before joining the council, he served as planning director for University Circle Inc. He has brought his creativity and passion to many projects in Lakewood, including the Birdtown Madison Masterplan, West End Public Art and the Kauffman Park Masterplan. The Ohio State University graduate also chaired the Lakewood Public Art Advisory Board and has served on the city of Lakewood’s Architectural Board of Review.
— Joanne Cahill
The Screw Factory brings together local artists and businesses in a unique, collaborative space with industrial charm.
By Chrissy Kadleck
Home to more than 100 eclectic and creative ventures, the Screw Factory is Lakewood’s enviable hub of artist studios, event venues, fitness enthusiasts and incubator-like spaces for local entrepreneurs.
Originally built as the Templar Motors plant, where only a few thousand luxury cars were produced in the early 1900s, the factory was eventually taken over by Wasmer Fasteners in 1927, which operated as Lake Erie Screw — hence the nickname.
Today, the Lake Erie Building — as it is officially known — includes the popular CLE Clothing Co., gorgeous event and wedding venues Biographie and the Lake Erie Room as well as a towering indoor rock-climbing gym, Nosotros.
Here’s a look inside this historic space.
Open for about a year, Lake Erie Building Events provides a truly unique wedding experience, offering almost 13,000 square feet among two event venues and a full, fiveday rental with total access to the site.
Owned and operated by three sisters, Amanda, Allie and Laura McGreer, LEBE is an airy, white industrial space popular with people who want freedom to decorate and personalize their event to their exact vision.
“LEBE is 8,660 square feet and is attached to the McGreer, an additional venue at 3,220 square feet. So when brides and grooms book for a wedding, they get both venues to host their weddings,” says Melissa Upton, event coordinator with LEBE. Upton has her own
studio down the hall from the event space. There, she runs her niche perfume business, Yates in Leo, where she makes her own perfumes and teaches perfume workshops.
“What makes LEBE stand out from the majority of the other venues in and around Northeast Ohio is an extended time period from Wednesday to Monday to come in and set up and decorate and get everything the way that you want it,” Upton says, adding that the venues are also open to networking events, corporate events, banquets and fundraisers.
After being located in the basement of Lakewood Baptist Church for seven years, Nosotros rock climbing gym is soaring to new heights at its new space in the Screw Factory.
Relocating in early April, Nosotros doubled the fun for area climbers, expanding to 6,400 square feet by 16 feet tall.
Everything in the gym is new: climbing walls, climbing folds, volumes, weights, pads and even programs such as personal training, Zumba, climbing clubs and leagues for adults, and a new youth team. Nosotros offers day passes, punch passes, 2-week trials and monthly memberships.
“The cool thing about the Screw factory is it’s the best of both worlds,” says founder Peter Stancato III. “It’s big, double the size of our old space, and there’s foot traffic with 100 tenants and events going on every weekend, so it’s perfect.”
Stancato says Nosotros is welcoming to climbers of all ages and aptitudes.
“I opened the gym thinking that we were going to be for kids, and I found it’s mostly adults. The majority of our customers are 30 to 40 probably,” he says. “A climbing route is solving a problem on the wall. We set new routes every week, so it’s always new, and people continue to come back every week and for them, it’s like Christmas morning with a new problem to solve.”
Bathed in an abundance of natural light from large, sweeping picture windows facing Madison Park, Biographie is located on the first floor of the Screw Factory on Athens Avenue. This is the third venue for serial entrepreneur Maureen Koopman, who created CoLab Concepts, which offers two smaller Lakewood boutique event spaces, the Parlor and the Lounge, says the nearly 2,000-square-foot space exudes industrial elegance with a signature, enhanced flair.
“We love to call the space an elevated blank canvas that we have intentionally kept neutral enough to allow our hosts to come in with their vision,” says Koopman, who also created the “Home for the Holidays” annual pop-up store for local artists.
Ideal for wedding ceremonies and receptions, birthday parties, showers, anniversaries and engagement parties, Biographie is perfectly named with “a beautiful connection to hosting life events and milestones,” she says. “It’s your biography that you’re writing out within our space.”
Easily accommodating up to 100 guests, Biographie requires a minimum 6-hour
booking, which is $900 and includes tables and chairs, a bar, high-top tables, speakers, WIFI and a complimentary 1-hour planning meeting. Hosts can bring their own food and drinks with a licensed bartender (if serving alcoholic beverages).
“We sit down with the hosts and talk about what their vision is for the day and help bring that to life,” she says.
For a decade, CLE Clothing Co.’s warehouse and online fulfillment center located
in the Screw Factory has been designing and delivering Cleveland-inspired T-shirt designs into the hands — and onto the backs — of proud natives.
Owner and founder Mike Kubinski, along with his wife Laura, who is the director of operations, run their family business from offices that have grown, expanded and relocated multiple times during their tenure in the building.
“We jumped at the chance when we had another opportunity to find real offices upstairs where everyone had their own space. There was a common area, a meeting room and
lots and lots of natural light and windows,” says Kubinski, noting that in addition to the 5,000-square-feet of space in the Screw Factory, CLE Clothing Co. has four retail stores in the area, including its flagship on the corner of East Fourth Street and Euclid Avenue.
“We’re Lakewood residents, so we could walk to work on nice days or ride a bike,” he says. “Our kids go to Harrison Elementary, which is right there in Birdtown. There’s also a great community within the building, and beyond that, Lakewood itself is a great community.”
Breathing new life into historically prominent buildings is a good fit for Lakewood.
// By Christine Schaffran
Careful attention was paid to the architectural integrity during renovations.
When a building overextends its useful life, the knee-jerk reaction might be to tear it down and construct something newer or more modern in its place. After all, a building where an event takes place might seem like an insignificant part of a memory. But, if it’s where your children were baptized or where they learned to ice skate, returning to these familiar places ignites a sense of nostalgia that can’t be erased from memory.
Much like your own history and the memories collected over time, buildings have that same vault. As the years become decades, the buildings’ familiarity becomes a source of comfort for the community members who frequent them. And when the community rallies behind a structure to breathe new life into it instead of tearing it down, you know it’s something special.
Tim Frazee is breathing new life into the old Bi-Rite building on Madison Avenue with the introduction of Birdietown Mini Golf and Lounge in the Birdtown neighborhood.
Opened in January, the historic project was a labor of love that now spans 12,000 square feet throughout the firstfloor lounge and nine-hole mini golf course and the basement bar designed to resemble a speakeasy with another ninehole mini golf course.
While many mini golf courses attempt to capture the hearts of children with bright colors and overblown features, Birdietown aims to catch the eye of adults looking for a night on the town in a stylish but casual atmosphere.
Frazee explains renovation of the building began in 2020 with careful attention not to disturb the architectural integrity — including the tin ceiling on the first floor — all the way down to the sign that hangs on the outside of the building, which is recognized by the state of Ohio as a historic building.
“It’s fun to work with the different features that you inherit with these old buildings,” Frazee says. “It makes it interesting, and it gives it character. And in a neighborhood like Birdtown, which is an older neighborhood, if you built something new, it would lose a lot of that charm.”
With Cleveland-based Shred & Co designing the holes and the course and locally known Chef Jill Vedaa creating the menu, the details are what really make the project sing, Frazee notes.
“We wanted to bring something fun where people could escape their dayto-day life, play a fun game like mini golf that everybody knows how to play already, and do so in a setting that has great food and great cocktails and all the things that adults enjoy,” he explains. “That’s what we were trying to do here. And I feel like we’ve done it.”
When Trinity Lutheran Church held its final mass in the 7,000-square-foot structure that was built in 1921, a national fast-food restaurant expressed interest in tearing it down as well as the 6,000-square-foot classroom addition and a 4,300-square-foot retail strip on the site to make way for a drive-thru restaurant.
Once the public caught wind, city officials decided to purchase the three-quarteracre parcel in 2018 and invite developers to share their vision for it. That’s when Scalish Construction stepped in with a plan to rehabilitate the buildings and create a mixeduse destination on the west end of the city. It would also become the Lakewood-based construction company’s new home.
Owners Maria and Frank Scalish assembled what they dubbed the Lakewood Dream Team, which included Dimit Architecture and Historic Preservation Group LLC — all Lakewood businesses.
One painstaking project after another, the developers rolled up their sleeves and dug into asbestos abatement, tuckpointing, utility work, roofing, masonry, rebuilding the church’s front steps and removing every piece of stained glass in each floor-to-ceiling window in the sanctuary.
“After those windows were replaced with aluminum replicas of the original wooden windows, the surprise was the amount of natural light that it brought into the building; it was pretty unbelievable,” notes Frank Scalish. “I think that was the biggest transformation.”
As the first building within Lakewood to be awarded state and federal historic tax credits, Frank says, the stakes were high in ensuring the project met the standards for maintaining historic accuracy.
“[The guidelines] are pretty strict as far as what you can and cannot do, like alterations to the building, so it really kind of set the stage for a proper historic restoration, which we did,” he says.
In June 2024, Scalish Construction moved into its new space, and other tenants, such as The Cleveland Bagel Co., Jersey Mike’s, Lakewood Bottle Shop, Makeup by Meredith and Megan Cox Bridal began to trickle in to fill the retail spaces while a Body Fit Training studio opened in the former sanctuary
“This project is adding energy to a street corner that was dead. There was nothing going on here,” Frank notes. “And while a fast-food restaurant certainly would have brought energy here, it’s not the energy and momentum that we’re bringing to this block, especially considering all of the positivity that’s happening with folks coming here focusing on their health and well-being.”
With a June 2025 grand opening planned to officially welcome the project to the neighborhood, Maria teases the promise of more tenants as well as additional opportunities to create community gatherings and events.
She adds that as residents of Lakewood since 2006 as well as developers who specialize in historic preservation, she feels a duty to capture the beauty of the buildings that mean something to the community.
“I consider us like stewards to these buildings. We are in charge of the story of this building,” she explains. “And ethically, it’s our job to bring that to the forefront and to tell that story and to preserve this building and to let it breathe another form of life.”
Officially reopened in November 2023, The Winterhurst Ice Arena has become a cornerstone for the community.
With passion. With purpose. With you.
Deeply rooted in Lakewood since 1982, Larsen embraces the power of “with” in every project.
With passion, purpose, and collaboration, we create spaces that strengthen communities and serve those who use them. www.larsenarchitects.com
Perhaps no project in Lakewood has undergone as big a transformation as Winterhurst Ice Arena. After all, it didn’t even have walls until 1976, according to the facility’s official website.
Originally built in 1931 by The City Ice & Fuel Co., the 30,000-square-foot rink on Lakewood Heights Boulevard was the largest refrigerated skating area in the country at the time, according to the website. In 1957, the rink was purchased by John Nolan, and it remained private until 1961 when it was purchased by the city, which hired several management teams over the years to run it. It is currently operated by Lakewood Community Ice, a partnership that includes Russ Sinkewich, Michael McNeill, Tim McCarthy, Kevin McCarthy and Don Rodgers.
“We recognize the importance of the facility in the community,” notes Sinkewich, a former professional hockey player who also spent time at Winterhurst as his home rink for St. Edward High School. “We also recognize the nostalgia and the historical relevance in Northeast Ohio, and we’re really proud to be a steward of the city and bring this facility into the next chapter.”
Since the management company took over, there have been several upgrades, mainly behind the scenes, but perhaps some of the most important. For instance, a project that replaced the facility’s 30-year-old ice plant
“We recognize the nostalgia and the historical relevance in Northeast Ohio, and we’re really proud to be a steward of the city and bring this facility into the next chapter.”
russ sinkewich
and cooling tower at a cost of $1.5 million was not obvious to guests, but it was necessary to reduce energy consumption.
“Basically, all of the refrigeration above ground was replaced,” Kevin McCarthy notes.
In April, the building began a new construction phase that will give the locker rooms a complete refresh — something that has never been done at the facility — as well as add space for a total of eight mixed-use locker rooms, a dedicated female locker room, a dedicated referee’s room and a coach’s room. Lakewood High School will also have its own dedicated locker room in this new configuration, Sinkewich says.
Additional plans that are being discussed include an elevator that will provide access to a new second-floor, 6,000-square-foot community space complete with a turf field, weights and fitness equipment for performance training with the hope of eventually adding a physical therapy component as well.
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“The goal is that for any athlete who calls Winterhurst home, they never have to leave that home,” Sinkewich explains. “Now they’ll have every aspect of training, development and competition.”
For spectators, wheelchair-accessible bleachers with lifts and ramps will replace the existing noncompliant bleachers.
“I think the next phase of the project is where the community is really going to get excited, because we’re talking about things like making the entire building ADA compliant,” Sinkewich points out.
Video boards, which resemble oversized TV monitors, will also flank both sheets of ice and be used to display upcoming
“The ultimate sign of gratitude and appreciation is to use the space. We love doing this because we love providing a space for families and kids.”
russ sinkewich
programming and events at the facility as well as provide an opportunity for local advertising, Kevin says.
As for how residents can support the facility and their approval of the renovation, Sinkewich says to come and use it.
“The ultimate sign of gratitude and appreciation is to use the space,” he asserts. “We love doing this because we love providing a space for families and kids. So come and take advantage of the services; from learnto-skate and open skates, and learn-to-play programs, just come and participate.”
Not every project requires a building as its canvas. Every year, the city taps into its prolific art community to find talented individuals to inject life and vitality into public areas. In 2023, the Spectacular Vernacular project focused on wrapping bus enclosures in vibrant scenes meant to make the public smile. This year, the call is for artists to decorate the traffic boxes along Madison, Hilliard, Warren, Athens, Woodward and Franklin, says City Planner Amanda Cramer.
“There’s a big opportunity to infuse some color into some of our infrastructure that we have to have as a city to be functional,” she explains. “And this is a really good opportunity for that.”
Between three and five artists will be selected by the Lakewood Public Art Advisory Board to embellish up to 42 boxes that contain the electrical equipment responsible for controlling the sequence of the traffic lights at each intersection.
“[The focus is on] some of the areas of the city that we’re not able to touch as often with our public art, because they’re a little more residential,” Cramer explains.
“Lakewood has a very strong artist community, so it was an important piece of the mayor’s administration to have a standing public-art budget to showcase those unique talents that we have here.”
Applications were due in March, and the artists were selected in early April. With a deadline of mid- to late-June to submit final designs, the intent is to install the vinyl wraps by the end of the summer.
Cramer adds Mayor Meghan George’s dedication to artists has been a driving force
amanda cramer
behind the beautification program.
“Lakewood has a very strong artist community,” she relates. “So, it was an important piece of the mayor’s administration to have a standing public-art budget to showcase those unique talents that we have here, as well as to make it as welcoming to the community as we can.”
Get to know residents who love giving back to the community.
BY CHRISTINE SCHAFFRAN
Whether picking up groceries or dropping off library books — Lakewood is full of residents who love to walk the vibrant city’s streets. The next time you’re out and about, peer at the faces of those around you and say hello with a smile. One person just might be the owner of your favorite bakery or the director of the YMCA — but they’re all your neighbors.
Steve
As the director of sales operations for American Greetings’ retail stores in the U.S. and Canada for 30 years, Steve Meka didn’t use much of his degree in biochemistry. In fact, he didn’t use it all. That is, until he decided he was going to teach himself how to make soap as a hobby.
He toiled over the formula, making a new batch of all-natural soap every month and inviting a focus group of 15 people to weigh in on whether it dried or moisturized their skin, lathered nicely and smelled appealing.
“After a year and a half, I thought I had the recipe for the perfect bar of soap, and I was done,” he explains. “I had scratched that side of my brain.”
When members of the focus group began requesting additional bars to send out as gifts, Meka obliged. But when those friends asked for more, the popularity began to germinate into an idea for a side hustle.
We like to give back to the community, and the community certainly gives back to us.
— Steve Meka
Meka and his husband, Dave Willett, began cranking out STEM Handmade Soap in their basement and set up a website for sales.
But when the public asked for all-natural lotion, production reached a fever pitch.
“The response from the community was so tremendous in wanting more handmade natural products, so we added more to our product line,” Meka explains. “And five years in, we both quit our corporate jobs to make soap and all-natural skincare full time.”
From a 1,600-square-foot production facility with a 300-square-foot retail space on Madison Avenue to a storefront in Shaker Heights, the operation is expanding once again, this time taking up residence in a space in the Screw Factory that will more than double production capabilities. And when you’re already producing more than 60,000 bars of soap a year, the secret to success lies in more than the formula for the soap.
“Small Business Saturday is our largest retail day of the year, because everyone in Lakewood says, ‘I’m going to go support my favorite businesses today,’ whether
they need a new bar of soap or not,” Meka notes. “And that’s why we keep our business in Lakewood, because it’s the community that matters. We like to give back to the community, and the community certainly gives back to us.”
Operating on the belief of “care of self, care of community and care of planet,” the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce member tries to check all the boxes of the company’s mantra by donating more than 2,000 pounds of soap scraps annually to those in need of hygiene products.
Meka adds he and Willett also mentor other small businesses to help them realize their dreams of making their basement hobby a reality with a brick-and-mortar storefront. He adds that there’s no other place he, Willett and their Bassett Hound, Pearl, would feel more at home.
“Everyone’s your neighbor in Lakewood, and I say that from the customers who walk into our store to the people I meet walking our dog in the evening,” he asserts. “It’s just a unique community where everyone’s your friend.”
Don’t be fooled by the name. Despina’s Bakery sells more than cookies and cakes and sweet-tooth comforts.
Since March 2022, Despina Sarantopoulou has been churning out homemade soups and salads along with authentic Greek dishes such as keftedes, kourabiedes, and zucchini balls from her Detroit Road location.
“I like to share my culture and food with other people,” Sarantopoulou admits. “I’ve always loved to cook. And for me, it’s not like work. I just love to create stuff that’s fantastic.”
Sarantopoulou’s first taste of Lakewood came when she immigrated from Greece to the United States at 19 years old. After she met and eventually married her husband, Athan Sarantopoulou, she moved to Cleveland to raise three daughters, Kyriaki, Mahi and Iliana.
While her husband taught math in Cleveland Public Schools, Sarantopoulou took to volunteering around town. As a member of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Cleveland, Sarantopoulou notes there was no shortage on indulging her culinary talents.
“We do a lot of cooking there for our festival and a lot of different events, and I was very involved with the school, volunteering for different events,” she explains. “I love to cook and bake, so I thought I would open the bakery.”
Although she acquired her storefront in 2020, renovations and COVID temporarily put her plans on hold, she says. Still, she prepared the bakery and coffee shop (sourced by Rising Star Coffee Roasters), adding her own touches that would give it the authenticity locals would appreciate and visitors would embrace.
Among her most popular dishes, she says, are her quiches, which she makes daily, with a roasted red pepper, red onion and feta variety rising to the top as a fan favorite. She has also put her own spin on baklava by creating baklava cheesecake — an indulgent treat she highly recommends.
As for what prompted her to return to the city to set up shop nearly five years ago, Sarantopoulou says it’s simple: “[I like] the vibrant nature of Lakewood’s culture.”
On March 7, Despina’s Bakery celebrated its third anniversary — a milestone Sarantopoulou commemorated with the ribbon-cutting she was unable to have during the pandemic. It was the same date as her original store opening.
When Sarantopoulou is not elbow-deep in flour, she is volunteering her time with LakewoodAlive, a local nonprofit that works to maintain a vibrant housing stock for the city. She joined the organization during COVID when she was still catering exclusively and serves as a member of the Small Business Support Committee. She also frequently donates treats and meals to events hosted by the organization, which rewarded her as a 2024 Community Leader Award winner.
She says her dedication to LakewoodAlive, which she refers to as a big family, is her way of giving back to the city that has given her so much.
“The organization helped me a lot when I started,” she explains. “I want to help other small businesses as much as they helped me.”
I like to share my culture and food with other people. I’ve always loved to cook. And for me, it’s not like work. I just love to create stuff that’s fantastic.
— Despina Sarantopoulou
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J
im “J P ” P tacek, Owner, Larsen Architects
For Jim “JP” Ptacek, the road to a profession was split between a cartoonist and an engineer. The owner and principal of Larsen Architects believes he struck a happy medium.
“[Architecture] kind of married both,” he explains.
The University of Detroit Mercy graduate notes that he can’t say for sure, but he believes his 30-plus-year career with the firm where he began as an intern could be credited to a short stint working at Parma Pierogies, where owner Mary Poldruhi took him under her wing; her pink flamingo wing, that is.
The Old Brooklyn native explains it was there that he was introduced to Larsen Architects on the original set of blueprints for the Ridge Road location of Parma Pierogies — the blueprints that Poldruhi rolled out in her office to show him.
“She said, ‘You should go talk to Jim [Larsen]. Maybe he’ll give you a job,’” Ptacek explains.
But before he was able to take her advice, he took to Ridge Road as the restaurant’s pink flamingo mascot that flitted about and beckoned to passing cars to stop in and try the world-famous pierogies.
“I’m not proud or embarrassed,” he admits.
That single exchange between boss and employee delivered Ptacek to a career with the architecture firm.
“I’m just profoundly grateful for starting out in a profession that I get to help people and use my skills and talents, and be able to problem solve for people,” he says, “whether it’s a commercial building, a residential building or a municipal project.”
Ptacek adds Larsen was and continues to be an inspirational figure for him, and he hopes to continue the atmosphere and camaraderie in the office that he acquired from his mentor.
“He kind of structured the office like, ‘We’re all in this together, and we’re all going to work together and well with our individual strengths, and we’re going to do amazing things,’” he explains
Realizing he had found his professional home, Ptacek moved from the Tremont area to Lakewood with his wife and daughter in 2006 and began chipping away at building projects that help to create community.
But creating community is not only reserved for working hours. As a volunteer for LakewoodAlive, Ptacek is dedicated to helping others create welcome neighborhoods that encourage residents to invest in maintaining the homes in Lakewood. He was recently awarded the Founders Award, which is “reserved for an individual who exemplifies the vision of LakewoodAlive’s founding members,” according to the organization. He previously served on the board of directors and is currently on the Housing Outreach Committee.
As for what makes Lakewood special to him, Ptacek says it’s the intricate details that the city takes seriously in creating a community that’s truly walkable and ensuring homes maintain their value. From repairing sidewalks to scrutinizing properties for violations, Ptacek appreciates the time the city invests in its people.
“As the housing stock goes up, so does the community,” he says.
I’m just profoundly grateful for starting out in a profession that I get to help people and use my skills and talents, and be able to problem solve for people.
— JP Ptacek
Kevin Born-Crow
, Executive Direc tor, Lakewood Family YMCA
For Kevin Born-Crow and his wife, Nicole, putting down roots in Lakewood was a no-brainer when they returned from New York City after 10 years.
“We were so accustomed to everything being within a 5-minute walk of wherever we lived, so that’s what we were craving,” Born-Crow explains. “It was a feeling of being in a city and not just a suburb, but a place where we could have the very best resources and schools and have everything we needed with that big city feel, but also as a small town.”
And when their first of three children came along, the Lakewood Family YMCA
threw the couple an eye-opening lifeline in revealing all the facility had to offer.
“That’s when I really realized it was a lot more than just a gym,” Born-Crow admits. “It’s a place where families can go and feel a sense of belonging, and there is an encouragement to bring your kids.”
So, when the Lakewood-born native happened upon the job opening as the Lakewood Y’s executive director after being a member for 10 years, he knew the position was a perfect fit for his passion for his family, his background in customer service and his mission as a disability advocate.
“My heart is in making sure that everyone who comes through the door is welcome and really feels that they belong here,” he notes.
After taking the helm at the YMCA in September 2024, Born-Crow adds he couldn’t be happier that he began his journey at the launch of a major capital campaign for the Detroit Road facility and sees it as an opportunity to reach even more residents.
“We want to develop spaces that are uniquely built for and meant for specific generations,” he notes. “We plan to build a youth and teen and family center, as well as an active older adult space; I guess you could call it a community space.”
The plan, which is still in the design phase, calls for roughly 10,000 square feet to be added to the corner of the building near the front entrance. It also includes an overall refresh of the facility, which has not been renovated since the organization moved into its current building in 2006.
As ideas are kicked around on how to best utilize the $5-million budget, Born-Crow notes a walking track or similar amenity would be ideal for the city, which is known for its pedestrianfriendly design.
“What I would love to be able to recreate for folks is having the same walkability that the community is so proud of,” he says. That’s something I’ve always heard living here is, ‘We love that we have a walking community. We love that we don’t have school buses. We love that you can hop on a bike or walk your dog and go anywhere in the city.’ So, that’s one of those things that I’m really trying to have the Y reflect is making it just as walkable of a facility.”
For more than six decades, the O’Neill family has proudly provided exceptional skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and long- term care to Cleveland’s west side communities.
We are honored to serve veterans through a specialized contract with the Veterans Administration.
O’Neill Healthcare Lakewood has recently been renovated to enhance comfort and care. We accept Medicare, Medicaid, commercial insurance, and self-pay.
By Joanne Cahill
Lakewood residents and visitors might see some area high school students working at local businesses around town these days. That’s because those students are doing internships through the West Shore CareerTechnical District, an offering at Lakewood
High School that aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills and hands-on experience needed to thrive in today’s job market. Students from Rocky River, Bay Village and Westlake also are eligible for the program Business Management Program Instructor Cassandra Tetorakis says the business program draws high participation among students and local businesses. It is one of 13 career tech programs housed at the school.
Currently, 23 juniors and 17 seniors participate in the business program. The curriculum includes classes such as banking and finance, marketing and management. Students also must master Microsoft Office before placement into internships. Students currently are working at the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, accounting firm Laskey Costello LLC and Stepan CPA Firm Inc.
Two of the students, Lay Phalt Htoo and Ella Hyatt, landed internships at the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce. Lauren Small, chamber president, appreciates the helping hands and keeps watch for opportunities that will provide the students with a meaningful learning experience.
“One of their first assignments will be helping us create assets for use on social media,” she says. “They will be going around
town to members and taking photos and videos for our Instagram, reels and website. It will benefit our members and build their exposure and visibility, as well.”
Small adds that it’s helpful having the interns to do some of the tasks she doesn’t always have time for. Reviewing and cleaning up the chamber database is one of those jobs.
“The program helps the students and the community. It’s a win-win,” she says.
Small will be bringing the students along with her to meetings, as well. She hopes this adds value to their internships and gives them insight into being a small business owner or entrepreneur like so many Lakewood Chamber of Commerce members.
“It’s real-life experience they do not get in college,” she adds. “Both of these young women have a lot to offer. I may learn something from them, too, and I am thankful for that. It’s all about collaboration and learning from each other.”
Tetorakis affirms that the program benefits all parties involved and said that the feedback from community business participants has been positive.
“Businesses fill out an evaluation every year, and we get very positive comments,” she explained. “It is illustrated by how many of them return yearly and request more students.
“I am in constant contact with them throughout the internships. They say they cannot thank us enough for how well the students perform,” she added.
Celebrating 75 years of excellence
St. Edward High School recently wrapped up a year of celebrating its 75th anniversary. The main event was an epic football game in September at Lakewood Stadium with thousands of alumni, friends and families in attendance. One of the most unforgettable moments of the event was a flyover by a real bald eagle during the National Anthem — a tribute to the school’s mascot, the eagle. Afterward, attendees had the opportunity to meet Clark, the bald eagle, up close and snap some pictures.
Founded in 1949, St. Edward High School is a college-preparatory school that offers the international baccalaureate diploma alongside a rigorous academic experience. Founded by the Brothers of Holy Cross, the school is dedicated to education, service, hospitality and welcoming all people, which is why its diverse student body is such an important part of its mission.
And, with 80 state and 11 national championship titles, the school’s athletics are well-known among
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Area: 5.6 square miles
Website: lakewoodoh.gov
Population: 49, 337
Lakewood has a mayor, four ward council representatives and three at-large council representatives. These elected officials serve fouryear terms. Lakewood also has a municipal court judge.
Mayor Meghan F. George 216-529-6600
Mayor@lakewoodoh.gov
Council
Council meets on the first and third Mondays of the month (recess in August) at 7:30 p.m. in the City Hall Auditorium, 12650 Detroit Ave. City Council Office 216-529-6055
At-large
Sarah Kepple - President Sarah.Kepple@lakewoodoh.gov
Tom Bullock tom.bullock@lakewoodoh.gov
Angelina Hamilton Steiner Angelina.Steiner@lakewoodoh.gov
Ward 1
Kyle Baker - Vice President kyle.baker@lakewoodoh.gov
Ward 2
Bryan Evans Bryan.Evans@lakewoodoh.gov
Ward 3
Cindy Strebig cindy.strebig@lakewoodoh.gov
Ward 4
Cindy Marx cindy.marx@lakewoodoh.gov
Clerk of Council
Maureen Bach
maureen.bach@lakewoodoh.gov
Deputy Clerk
Danielle Cariglio danielle.cariglio@lakewoodoh.gov
Lakewood Municipal Court
Judge Tess Neff 216-529-6700 lakewoodcourtoh.gov
Male: 49.1%
Female: 50.9%
Median age: 35.4 years old
Average household size: 2.02 persons
Lakewood City Hall 12650 Detroit Ave., 216-521-7580 lakewoodoh.gov
Animal Control & Shelter 1299 Metropark Drive, 216-529-5020 animalshelter@lakewoodoh.gov
Community Relations Office 216-529-6650 commrel@lakewoodoh.gov
Department of Finance 216-529-6090 finance@lakewoodoh.gov
Division of Municipal Income Tax 12805 Detroit Ave., 216-529-6620 taxdept@lakewoodoh.gov
Division of Vital Statistics 12805 Detroit Ave., 216-529-7690 vitalstats@lakewoodoh.gov
Department of Human Resources 216-529-6611 hr@lakewoodoh. gov Department of Human Services 216-529-6685 humanservices@lakewoodoh.gov
Division of Aging Cove Community Center 12525 Lake Ave., 216-521-1515 aging@lakewoodoh.gov
Division of Youth 12525 Lake Ave., 216-529-6870 youth@lakewoodoh.gov
Division of Early Childhood 12525 Lake Ave., 216-521-5018 echildhood@lakewoodoh.gov
Department of Planning and Development 216-529-6630 planning@lakewoodoh.net Division of Community Development 216-529-4663 dcd@lakewoodoh.net
Department of Public Works 216-529-6805 pubworks@lakewoodoh.gov
Percentage of families with children under 18 years old: 22.5%
Housing units: 32,000
Form of government: Mayor/Council
Division of Engineering and Construction 216-529-6692 engineering@lakewoodoh.gov
Division of Parks and Public Property 216-529-6815 parks@lakewoodoh.gov
Foster Pool Lakewood Park 14532 Lake Ave., 216-227-5800
Becks Pool 13029 Madison Ave., 216-227-5500
Division of Refuse & Recycling 12920 Berea Road, 216-252-4322 refuse@lakewoodoh.gov Division of Water and Wastewater Collection 12805 Detroit Ave., 216-529-6820 water@lakewoodoh.gov
Water Service Problems: 216-529-6820 (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
Sewer Service Problems: 216-529-1867 (7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.) or 216-529-6820 (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
After-business hours, weekends, holidays: Lakewood Police Dispatch 216-521-6773
Division of Building and Housing 216-529-6270 housing.building@lakewoodoh.gov
Fire Department 911 and 216-521-1234 (Emergency) fire@lakewoodoh.gov
Station 1: 14601 Madison Ave., 216-529-6661
Station 2: 18124 Detroit Ave., 216-529-6662
Station 3: 12567 Clifton Blvd., 216-529-6663
Law Department 216-529-6030 law@lakewoodoh.gov
Police Department 911 and 216-521-1234 (Emergency) police@lakewoodoh. gov Crime Prevention, 216-529-6780 Detective Bureau, 216-529-6760
D.A.R.E., 216-529-6780 Jail, 216-529-6758
Juvenile Bureau, 216-529-6775
Police Records, 216-529-6785 (Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Wastewater Treatment Facility 1699 Metropark Drive, 216-529-5690
LAKEWOOD MUNICIPAL COURT
The Court serves the City of Lakewood, portions of Cleveland Metroparks, U.S. Interstate 90 and adjacent Lake Erie waters to the Canadian border. The presiding judge is Judge Tess Neff Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Phone: 216-529-6700 Website: lakewoodcourtoh.gov
BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS
Lakewood Chamber of Commerce 16017 Detroit Ave., 216-226-2900, 216-226-1340 (fax) lakewoodchamber.org
LAKEWOOD BOARD OF EDUCATION
Nora Katzenberger - President nora.katzenberger@ lakewoodcityschools.org 310-592-1970
Betsy Bergan ShaughnessyVice President betsy.shaughnessy@ lakewoodcityschools.org 216-521-0392
Micharl J. Callahan michael.callahan@lakewoodcityschools. org 216-202-4082
Colleen Clark-Sutton colleen.clark-sutton@ lakewoodcityschools.org 216-402-7999
Lisa Dopman lisa.dopman@lakewoodcityschools.org 216-570-5706
Lakewood City Schools
13701 Lake Ave., 216-529-4000 lakewoodcityschools.
org
Lakewood High School
14100 Franklin Blvd., 216-529-4028
Franklin School of Opportunity 13465 Franklin Blvd., 216-529-4037
Garfield Middle School 13114 Detroit Ave., 216-529-4241
Harding Middle School 16601 Madison Ave., 216-529-4261
Emerson Elementary 13439 Clifton Blvd., 216-529-4254
Grant Elementary 1470 Victoria Ave., 216-529-4217
Harrison Elementary 2080 Quail St., 216-529-4230
Hayes Elementary 16401 Delaware Ave., 216-529-4228
Horace Mann Elementary 1215 W. Clifton Blvd., 216-529-4257
Lincoln Elementary 15615 Clifton Blvd., 216-529-4232
Roosevelt Elementary 14237 Athens Ave., 216-529-4224
West Shore CareerTechnical District 14100 Franklin Blvd., 216-529-4163
Albert Einstein Academy of Ohio
14725 Detroit Ave., 440-471-4982 aeaohio.org
Lakewood Catholic Academy 14808 Lake Ave., 216-521-0559 lakewoodcatholicacademy.com
Grades Pre-K-8
Lakewood Lutheran School 14560 Madison Ave., 216-221-6941 lakewoodlutheran. com
Grades Pre-K-8
Padre Pio Academy 12920 Madison Ave., 216-571-0174 pioacademy.org
St. Edward High School
13500 Detroit Ave., 216-221-3776 sehs.net, Boys/Grades 9-12
• SEWERS
• FOUNDATIONS
• WATERPROOFING
www.adelioscontracting.com (440) 943-2233
Cleveland Clinic Lakewood Family Health Center (Emergency Room) 14601 Detroit Ave., 216-237-5500
Neighborhood Family Practice
- North Coast Community Health Center 11906 Madison Ave., 216-281-0872
University Hospitals Urgent Care 14800 Madison Ave., 216-925-4600
Building Permits
Building Department, 216-529-6270
City Hall 216-521-7580
Cuyahoga County Board of Health 216-201-2001
Electrical Permits/ Inspections
Building Department, 216-529-6270
Fences Building Department, 216-529-6270
Garage Permits Building Department, 216-529-6270
Department, 216-529-4081
Remodeling Permits Building Department, 216-529-6270
Street Signs & Traffic Signals 216-529-6810
Unsanitary Conditions
Cuyahoga County Board of Health, 216-201-2001
Water Main Breaks Water Department, 216-529-6820
Zoning & Variances Planning Department, 216-529-6630
St. James Catholic Church
17514 Detroit Ave., 216-712-6755
The Church of St. Luke the Evangelist 1212 Bunts Road, 216-521-0184
Transfiguration Parish 12608 Madison Ave., 216-521-7288
EPISCOPAL Church of the Ascension 13216 Detroit Ave., 216-521-8727
St. Peter’s 18001 Detroit Ave., 216-226-1772
FOURSQUARE
GracePoint Church 2150 Warren Road, 216-221-1245
LUTHERAN
Faith Lutheran Church 16511 Hilliard Road, 216-226-6500
Gethsemane Lutheran Church
14560 Madison Ave., 216-521-0434
Grace Lutheran Church 13300 Madison Ave., 216-221-4959
United Latvian Evangelical Church 1385 Andrews Ave., 216-228-0396
ORTHODOX
UTILITIES
AT&T
800-288-2020
Cox Communications 866-456-9944
Enbridge Gas Ohio 800-362-7557
FirstEnergy 800-589-3101
Lakewood Water Department 216-529-6820
Appliance Disposal Refuse & Recycling Division, 216-252-4322
Baseball/Soccer Leagues Community Recreation & Education Department, 216-529-4081
Better Business Bureau
216-241-7678
Bicycle License Police Department, 216-521-6773
Block Parties 216-529-6810
Board of Education 216-529-4000
Board of Elections 216-443-3200
Housing Inspection Building Department, 216-529-6278
HVAC Permits/ Inspection Building Department, 216-529-6270
Lakewood Chamber of Commerce 216-226-2900
Leaf Collection Division of Streets & Forestry, 216-529-6810
License Bureau 216-941-8008
Licensed Contractors Building Department, 216-529-6270
Neighborhood Family Practice 216-228-7878
Plumbing Permits/ Inspection Building Department, 216-529-6270
Post Office 216-226-1415
Property Tax Assessment Cuyahoga County Auditor, 216-443-7100
Prosecutor Law Department, 216-529-6030
Recreation Community Recreation & Education
PLACES OF WORSHIP
ANGLICAN
St. Anselm Anglican Church
14560 Madison Ave., 216-859-8500
BAPTIST Lakewood Baptist Church
14321 Detroit Ave., 216-221-4005
North Coast Baptist Church 2051 Quail St., 216-402-1095
CATHOLIC
St. Clement Catholic Church
14501 Madison Ave., 216-226-5116
St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox ProCathedral 2101 Quail Ave., 216-226-5506
Sts. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church 12711 Madison Ave., 216-521-0923
PRESBYTERIAN
Faith Presbyterian Church
12601 Detroit Ave, 216-228-2210
Grace Presbyterian Church 1659 Rosewood Ave., 216-228-6060
Lakewood Presbyterian Church 14502 Detroit Ave., 216-226-0514
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST
Lakewood Seventh-Day Adventist Church
1382 Arthur Ave., 216-221-9612
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Lakewood Congregational Church 1375 W. Clifton Road, 216-221-9555
UNITED METHODIST
Calvary United Methodist Church 16305 Hilliard Road, 216-221-4324
Lakewood United Methodist Church 15700 Detroit Ave., 216-226-8644
OTHER PLACES OF WORSHIP
Baha’is of Lakewood 800-228-6483
City Edge Christian Church 14837 Detroit Ave., Suite 101, 216-236-3970
H2O (Help to Others)
12525 Lake Ave., 216-529-6045 lakewoodoh.gov/H20
Healthy Lakewood Foundation PO Box 770230, Lakewood, 216-206-6749 info@healthylakewood foundation.org
HELP Foundation 18228 Sloane Ave., 216-308-5814
LakewoodAlive 12815 Detroit Ave., 216-521-0655 lakewoodalive.com
Lakewood Chamber of Commerce 16017 Detroit Ave., 216-226-2900 lakewoodchamber.org
Lakewood Charitable Assistance Corp. 216-532-5222 lcac.info
Lakewood Community Services Center 14230 Madison Ave., 216-226-6466 lcsclakewood.org
Lakewood Vineyard Church
15300 Detroit Ave., hello@ lakewoodvineyard.com
Lakewood New Life Church
14224 Detroit Ave., 216-221-6174
King’s Church 14100 Franklin Blvd. (Lkwd Civic Auditorium), 216-600-0711
Parkside Church Westside 16511 Hilliard Road, 216-430-0585
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
Barton Communities 14300 Detroit Ave., 216- 521-7260
Beck Center for the Arts
17801 Detroit Ave., 216-521-2540 beckcenter.org
Centering Space 14812 Lake Ave., 216-228-7451
GiGi’s Playhouse 15316 Detroit Ave., 216-529-3333
Lakewood Historical Society 13314 Detroit Ave., 216-221-7343 lakewoodhistory.org
Lakewood Kiwanis Club
lakewoodkiwanis.com, help@lakewoodkiwanis. com
Lakewood Public Library 15425 Detroit Ave., 216-226-8275; 13229 Madison Ave., 216-228-7428 lkwdpl.org
Lakewood Ranger Education Foundation 14100 Franklin Blvd., 216-529-4033
Lakewood Women’s Club lakewoodwomensclub.org, lakewoodwomensclub@ gmail.com
Three Arches Foundation 14700 Detroit Ave., Suite 6, 216-350-4443
YMCA
16915 Detroit Ave., 216-521-8400 clevelandymca.org/ branches/lakewood
Aladdin’s Eatery 14536 Detroit Ave., 216-521-4005
Amazonia 1640 Hopkins Ave., 216-712-6745
Angelo’s Pizza 13715 Madison Ave., 216-221-0440
Around the Corner 18616 Detroit Ave., 216-521-4413
Artis Lakewood 17900 Detroit Ave., 216-785-9785
Avenue Fine Pastries 18520 Detroit Ave., 216-221-4500
Bar Italia Lakewood 15625 Detroit Ave., 216-303-9699
Barrio 15527 Madison Ave., 216-226-7714
Barroco Grill 12906 Madison Ave., 216-856-9687
Barry Bagels
14861 Detroit Ave., #6 Opening Spring ‘25
Beyond Juicery + Eatery 15008 Detroit Ave., 216-471-8609
Birdietown 12501 Madison Ave.
Blackbird Baking Co. 1391 Sloane Ave., 216-712-6599
Black Market Meats 15613 Detroit Ave.,
Boom’s Pizza 14730 Detroit Ave., 216-465-1130
Borderline Café 18510 Detroit Ave., 216-529-1949
Breadsmith of Lakewood 18101 Detroit Ave., 216-529-8443
Brewella’s Coffee, Crepes & Collectibles 16806 Madison Ave., 216-712-4907
Brown Sugar Thai Cuisine 14725 Detroit Ave., #103 216-221-1015
Buckeye Beer Engine 15315 Madison Ave., 216-226-2337
Burger King 11790 Madison Ave., 216-228-3755
Burning River Coffee 17116 Detroit Ave., 216-712-6720
Caffeine 14701 Detroit Ave., 440-857-0320
Charleys Philly Steaks 14833 Detroit Ave., 440-857-0618
China Express 13621 Detroit Ave., 216-227-7890
China Garden 14867 Detroit Ave., 216-226-3434
Chipotle Mexican Grill 14881 Detroit Ave., 216-221-9100
Cilantro Taqueria 18260 Detroit Ave., 440-857-0024
Cleveland Bagel Café 16300 Detroit Ave. 216-923-1299
Cleveland Vegan 17112 Detroit Ave., 216-832-7440
Coffee Pot 12415 Madison Ave., 216-226-6443
Cozumel Restaurante 16512 Detroit Ave., 216-228-1415
Crumb & Spigot 15322 Detroit Ave., Crumbl Cookies 14210 Detroit Ave, 216-200-5580
Dairy Queen 16803 Detroit Ave., 216-521-7763
Dang Good Foods 13735 Madison Ave., 216-785-9321
Dave’s Cosmic Subs 14813 Detroit Ave., 216-221-1117
Dave’s Hot Chicken 15012 Detroit Ave., 216-238-4999
Despina’s Bakery 11823 Detroit Ave., 216-269-7272
Dewey’s Pizza 18516 Detroit Ave., 216-228-2299
Dianna’s Deli & Restaurant 1332 W. 117th St., 216-521-9393
Dinerbar on Clifton 11801 Clifton Blvd., 216-521-5003
Doc Lanky’s 15609 Madison Ave., 216-712-6263
Domino’s Pizza 14212 Detroit Ave., 216-221-0030
Donatos 18100 Detroit Ave., 216-227-7200
Doughnut Pantry 14600 Madison Ave., 216-228-5533
Dunkin Donuts 1520 W. 117th St., 216-221-5500
17609 Detroit Ave., 216-221-8139
East End Bistro & Pub 11922 Madison Ave., 216-521-9740
Eat Me Pizza 1384 Hird Ave.
El Arepazo Latino 14725 Detroit Ave., 216-785-9912
Elmwood Home
Bakery 15204 Madison Ave., 216-221-4338
Emerald Necklace
Marina Cafe 1500 Scenic Park Drive, 216-226-3030
Eugene’s Kitchen 13360 Madison Ave., 216-465-1130
EuroGyro 13429 Madison Ave., 440-857-0200
Falafel Xpress 14877 Detroit Ave., 216-228-7377
Ferris Shawarma 13507 Lakewood Heights Blvd., 216-252-3354
Forage Public House 14600 Detroit Ave., 216-226-2000
Frosty’s Ice Cream 13343 Madison Ave., 440-857-0842
Game On Lakewood 17103 Detroit Ave., 216-303-9700
Georgetown 18515 Detroit Ave., 216-221-3500
Georgio’s Oven Fresh Pizza 13804 Detroit Ave., 216-221-0066
Gingham Market by Gatherings Kitchen 17000 Madison Ave., 216-228-2285
Goodkind Coffee 15526 Madison Ave., 216-772-2414
Gray Dog Diner 13411 Detroit Ave., 216-228-8269
Hako 13603 Madison Ave., 216-273-7110
Harlow’s Pizza 14319 Madison Ave., 216 -712-6502
Hola Tacos 12102 Madison Ave., 216-801-4666
Harry Buffalo 18605 Detroit Ave., 216-221-1313
Humble Wine Bar 15400 Detroit Ave., 216-767-5775
Hungry Howie’s Pizza 16210 Detroit Ave., 216-521-7200
Immigrant Son Brewery 18120 Sloane Ave., 216-288-8516
India Garden 18405 Detroit Ave., 216-221-0676
Insomnia Cookies 18508 Detroit Ave., 877-632-6654
IRIE Jamaican Kitchen Lakewood 13804 Detroit Ave., 216-712-4489
Jersey Mike’s 16306 Detroit Ave., Unit 121 216-712-4208
Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches 14725 Detroit Ave., 216-221-8740
Joe’s Deli & Restaurant 11750 Madison Ave., 216-521-2477
KB Confections 13519 Detroit Ave., 216-227-2253
Kenilworth Tavern 18204 Detroit Ave., 216-226-6882
KFC Kentucky Fried Chicken 1560 W. 117th St., 216-228-5350
LaLa Custom Cake 15301 Madison Ave., 216-553-8619
La Plaza Supermarket 13609 Lakewood Heights Blvd., 216-476-8000
Lakewood Truck Park 16900 Detroit Ave., 216-712-4032
Lakewood Village Tavern 13437 Madison Ave., 216-521-0301
LBM 12301 Madison Ave., 216-712-4692
Little Caesar’s Pizza 13342 Madison Ave., 216-221-5757
Mahall’s 20 Lanes 13200 Madison Ave., 216-521-3280
Malley’s Chocolates and Ice Cream Parlor 14822 Madison Ave., 216-529-6262
Marco’s Pizza 14871 Detroit Ave., 216-228-2200
Mars Bar 15314 Madison Ave., 216-248-4500
Master Pizza 14701 Detroit Ave., 103, 216-243-5353
McDonald’s 16407 Detroit Ave., 216-226-7754
1430 W. 117th St., 216-521-9110
Merry Arts Pub & Grille 15607 Detroit Ave., 216-226-4080
Mid Town Booths Tavern 16934 Detroit Ave., 216-227-1000
Molto Bene Italian Eatery 18401 Detroit Ave., 216-273-7333
Mr. Hero 16204 Detroit Ave., 216-228-6489 1510 W. 117th St., 216-521-2299
Muze Gastropub 1384 Hird Ave.
Nature’s Oasis 15613 Detroit Ave., 216-505-5333
New China King 16210 Madison Ave., 216-226-8000
Nunzio’s Pizzeria 17615 Detroit Ave., 216-228-2900
Oasis Bakery & Eatery 13615 Detroit Ave., 216-458-5803
Ohio City Burrito 14412 Detroit Ave., 216-712-4492
One Star Bar 13601 Detroit Ave., 216-712-6658
Oscar’s Pizza
18206 Detroit Ave., 216-712-4511
Pachamama Kitchen and Garden 15207 Madison Ave., 216-712-4494
Panda Wok Asian Bistro & Sushi 1512 W. 117th St., 216-521-1200
Panera Bread 14701 Detroit Ave., 216-920-1030
Papa John’s Pizza 18400 Detroit Ave., 216-228-1944
Peking Restaurant 18198 Sloane Ave., 216-226-7800
Pepper’s Italian Restaurant
12401 Detroit Ave., 216-226-6191
Pier W 12700 Lake Ave., 216-228-2250
Pins & Needles 13200 Madison Ave., 216-521-3280
Plank Road Tavern 16719 Detroit Ave., 216-221-5900
Potbelly Sandwich Shop 15020 Detroit Ave., 234-226-4911
Propaganda Coffee 17806 Detroit Ave., 216-767-5811
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers 14115 Detroit Ave., 216-867-6606
Ranger Café @ West Shore 14100 Franklin Blvd., 216-529-4091
Richland Café 14027 Madison Ave., 216-521-6678
Rising Star Coffee Roasters 13368 Madison Ave., 216-903-6709
Riverwood Café 18500 Detroit Ave., 216-521-9999
Robeks Fresh Juices & Smoothies 14875 Detroit Ave., 216-772-2200
Robusto and Briar 1388 Riverside Drive, 216-767-5338
Roman Fountain Pizza 15603 Detroit Ave., 216-221-6633
Rood
17001 Madison Ave., 216-471-0241
Root Café 15012 Detroit Ave., 216-563-1115
Rush Inn 17800 Detroit Ave., 216-221-3224
Sacred Waters Kava Bar 15319 Detroit Ave., 440-857-0870
Sarita [a restaurant] 14523 Madison Ave., 216-226-5200
Sauced Taproom & Kitchen
14701-4 Detroit Ave., 216-303-9213
Shore Restarant 12009 Detroit Ave., 216-221-8711
Sophie’s Kitchen & Bar 17625 Detroit Ave., Opening Spring ‘25
Souper Market 14809 Detroit Ave., 216-712-7292
Starbucks 15027 Detroit Ave., 216-221-6636
Subway 1628 W. 117th St., 216-226-8806
15317 Detroit Ave., 216-228-2227
16208 Madison Ave., 216-228-9300
Summer Place Restaurant at The Carlyle on the Lake, 12900 Lake Ave., Unit 2, 216-270-2300
Sweet Designs Chocolatier 16100 Detroit Ave., 216-226-4888
Szechwan Garden 13800 Detroit Ave., 216-226-1987
Taste of Europe 15512 Madison Ave., 216-521-9530
T.J.’s Butcher Block & Deli 14415 Detroit Ave., 216-521-3303
Taco Bell
15500 Detroit Ave., 216-529-9454
Taco Tonto’s 13321 Madison Ave., 216-221-4479
Thai Kitchen 12210 Madison Ave., 216-226-4890
Thai Phoon Restaurant 15211 Detroit Ave., 216-785-9335
Thai Thai
13415 Madison Ave., 216-226-4890
The Arcade on Detroit 14810 Detroit Ave., 216-712-4239 Opening Spring ‘25
The Blue Café 15715 Madison Ave., 216-273-7474
The BottleHouse Brewery 13368 Maison Ave., 216-926-0025
The Distillery 14221 Madison Ave., 216-505-5188
The Flying Rib 11926 Madison Ave., 216-521-0117
The Greek Village Grille 14019 Madison Ave., 216-228-4976
The Ohio Inn 11822 Detroit Ave., 216-226-6446
The Place To Be 1391 Warren Road, 216-226-8783
The Proper Pig Smokehouse 17100 Detroit Ave., 440-665-3768
The Red Rose Café 14810 Madison Ave., 216-228-7133
The Tea Lab 14534 Detroit Ave., 216-712-4410
Woodstock BBQ 13362 Madison Ave., 216-226-8828
Facilities
Brennan’s Catering & Banquet Center 13000 Triskett Road, 216-251-2131
Gatherings Kitchen 17004 Madison Ave., 216-228-2285
Italian Creations 16104 Hilliard Road, 216-226-2282
Lake Erie Builkding Events LLC
13000 Athens Ave., 216-937-9650
The CoLab Concepts: The Parlour 17008 Madison Ave., 216-633-7097
The Lounge 17008 Madison Ave., 216-633-7097
Biographie 13000 Athens Ave., Suite 103, 216-633-7097
Vosh 1414 Riverside Drive, 216-767-5202
Special Attractions
The Vegan Doughnut Co. 14811 Detroit Ave., 216-712-4192
Tommy’s Pastries 14205 Madison Ave., 216-521-4778
Toni’s Pizza 13619 Detroit Ave., 216-801-4477
Tomori’s Pizza 15621 Madison Ave., 216-712-6996
Trellis Rooftop Bar 1384 Hird Ave.
Vintage India 14423 Madison Ave., 440-857-0639
Voodoo Tuna 15326 Detroit Ave., 216-302-8862
West End Tavern 18514 Detroit Ave., 216-521-7684
Wine Dive CLE 16918 Detroit Ave., 216-712-4513
Wingstop 14873 Detroit Ave., 216-770-9464
Winking Lizard Tavern 14018 Detroit Ave., 216-226-6693
Cove Community Center 12525 Lake Ave., 216-529-5062
Lakewood Civic Auditorium 1400 Franklin Blvd., 216-529-4081
Lakewood Dog Park 1699 Valley Parkway
Lakewood Park 14532 Lake Ave.
Madison Park 13201 Madison Ave.
Neighborhood Parks lakewoodoh.gov
Nosotros Climbing + Weights 13000 Athens Ave., 216-512-1841
The Sanctuary Museum 12905 Madison Ave., 216-712-7094
Studio West 117 1384 Hird Ave., studiowest117.com
Templar Motors 13000 Athens Ave., templarmotors.com
Western Reserve Distillers 14221 Madison Ave., 216-333-9291
Winterhurst Ice Arena 14740 Lakewood Heights Blvd., 216-529-4400
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