📰 First Look Inside the Reopened Red Chimney

Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: An iconic fish-and-chips chain is returning to Lakewood after decades away. Somewhere, a bottle of malt vinegar just shed a tear 🐟🍟🔙

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RIP, Dolly Parton.

The country music icon always had a soft spot for Ohio that went beyond sold-out shows.

Parton, who passed away on Tuesday at 80, called it her “second state.”

She often recalled childhood memories of visiting relatives in Northeast Ohio

Born in 1946 in a one-room cabin in the Appalachian foothills of Tennessee, Parton grew up as the fourth of twelve children in a large, close-knit family.

Her kin tied her to Northeast Ohio.

During a 2022 visit to Columbus to celebrate the success of her Imagination Library program in Ohio -- which mailed millions of books across the state -- Parton shared the connection with the area:

“This is kind of like a second state to us because many of my family live in Ohio—different parts, Cleveland, Akron, Willoughby. I used to visit Ohio when I was little to visit family. So we kind of claim you as our second state.”

It was a devastating day – for the Skantzos family and the city.

Red Chimney, the Slavic Village institution since 1970 that was featured in the new Superman movie, was gone for good.

Well, it’s back — one year after it was destroyed in a fire.

The Red Chimney opens today in Parma in the location that once housed Pappou’s.

“Repairing it would have cost a lot of money, with a lot of headaches,” says Louie Skantzos, who moved here from Greece in 1978.

“We had a lot of customers coming from Polish Village in Parma – so it made sense to reopen here.”

The new Red Chimney seats 165 and will serve the same menu of classic comfort food.

“We always did well with breakfast – a lot of eggs, old-style food,” he says. “Also stuffed cabbage, city chicken, potatoes and gravy.”

The Skantzos family has been working on the new spot since March.

“A lot of work, everything is new,” says Skantzos. “We were very sad when the fire broke out and didn’t think we’d be able to re-open – but we’re happy to be back.”

Arthur Treacher’s cult spans near and far – with locals and out-of-towners alike making pilgrimage for a taste of fish & chips and gold-breaded memories.

Today, they’ll have another reason to visit the last bastion of the iconic fish & chippy.

The revived chain will open its fourth location in Lakewood – at Madison and West 117^th in Lakewood, in the site of Joe’s Deli.

“It was used to be a Treacher’s in the ‘70s and ‘80s,” say Ryan Nichols, manager and co-partner. “The exterior has the original roof and front, but the interior was completely renovated.”

It boasts the red-white-and-blue color scheme that was introduced in the early-200s and will offer carry-out and dine-in.

It could also spark a resurrection of the faux-British Empire.

Owner George Simon has teased new openings in Rocky River, Westlake, North Olmsted and Canton.

Arthur Treacher’s once had 826 eateries around the country and now survives and thrives in Northeast Ohio.

Simon revived the Garfield Heights location after it closed in 2021.

He picked up another in Cuyahoga Falls, then opened a third in Cleveland Heights.

“Arthur Treacher’s is about more than food to people,” says Nichols. “And we’re looking to keep it growing.”

WEDNESDAY

National Dog Day: Celebrate you pup with dog park and cocktail lounge Taps & Tails! Half price dog admission and half price doggy ice cream. 5 p.m. Info.

Profanatica: The leaders of the first wave of American black metal bring their primeval blasphemy to the Grog Shop. 7 p.m. Info.

THURSDAY

Browns vs. Patriots: The pre-season game is on Prime, so how many Deshaun signs will we see? 8 p.m. Huntington Bank Field. Info.

Pat McGann: Comedy’s rising star has gone from opening for Sebastian Maniscalco to packing theaters and arenas. Hilarities at 7:30 p.m. (with two more shows Saturday and one on Sunday). Info.

Cleveland Pinball and Arcade Show: Play 125 games and compete in tournaments. The show includes vendors and entertainment. 5 p.m. and runs through Sunday at Holiday Inn Cleveland South in Independence. Info.

👉 View Listing on Zillow

Cleveland lost 130 years of soul when the Friendship Baptist Church burned down on Friday.

Now, investigators at the Cleveland Department of Fire have ruled it arson and expect to make arrests soon.

A key piece of evidence is a photo that circulated on social media. The department has yet to release the photo.

Built in the 1894, the church played a key role in the Civil Rights Movement.  

Many of its congregants were leaders in the Black community. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke there. It hosted portions of the 1929 NAACP convention.

It was also spring board for Bobby Womack, who was nine when the Womack family band opened for Sam Cooke in 1953.

View of downtown from the Cleveland Waterfront Breakwater, 1976. Throughout the decade, beaches were often closed due to unsafe water and swathes of the lakefront were used as garbage dumps.

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81 °F 🌡️ 67 °F | ⛅ (Partly Cloudy) | 7% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 11 mph SSW (≈ 10 knots)

77 °F 🌡️ 65 °F | ⛅ (Partly Cloudy) | 24% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 10 mph W (≈ 9 knots)

74 °F 🌡️ 60 °F | ⛅ (Partly Cloudy) | 24% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 11 mph NNE (≈ 10 knots)

_{Please note that weather conditions can change rapidly. For the most up-to-date information, consider checking a reliable local weather service.}

Away vs. Angels, 4:07 PM August 26 (Wednesday)

Home vs. Royals, 7:10 PM August 28 (Friday)

Home vs. Royals, 4:10 PM August 29 (Saturday)

Home vs. Royals, 1:40 PM August 30 (Sunday)

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