🍔 Two New Spots Join Cleveland’s Food Scene

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It’s been a bumpy year in the foodie land. It opened with drops in revenues and employment numbers followed by a fast recovery in March. There were high-profile closings, including Melt, and more than 20 openings – many in spots that had housed restaurants that closed.

Well, it’s full steam ahead for Cleveland Restaurant Management Group. This year alone, it has opened Capriccio’s in Solon and Lopez 44 in Chagrin Falls, purchased Jack’s Deli in University Heights and will open another Original Pancake House in Strongsville.

The group, whose largest investor is Marc Glassman, CEO of Marc’s discount stores, focuses on underperforming locations and underserved markets – filling voids in areas with a broad range of menus, eateries and locations.

Its portfolio just hit 18 with the announcement of two more openings, both in Legacy Village:

The Legacy: Located in the old Bar Louie space, it will boast a speakeasy bar and food offerings that compile fan-favorite dishes from restaurateur Brad Friedlander’s previous restaurants – Brio, Moxie, RED and Cut 151. “The Legacy is a love letter to the diners who’ve shared their lives with us,” says Friedlander, who has been in the center of the foodie scene since opening Lopez, in 1980. He’s opened more than a dozen eateries since then, including Ciao, Capriccio’s. The Legacy targets a November opening.

EVOO: Located in the old California Pizza Kitchen spot, it’s a “modern Greek-Mediterranean concept” with modern takes on traditional Greek dishes. Taking its name from extra virgin oil, it will include healthy, vegan options and focus on fresh and bold flavors in an upscale setting. CMRG sees EVOO filling a void when it comes to modern Greek dining and targets an early-2026 opening.

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Cleveland must be a really, real American place.

After all, Hulk Hogan whooped it up here in January to promote his Real American Beer. And the wrestling legend has also just announced that he will debut his new wrestling promotion in Cleveland.

On August 30, the inaugural event of his Real American Freestyle hits Wolstein Center. Tickets are on sale now.

“Cleveland is an incredible city, and Real American Freestyle is channeling its rock and roll style into this first event,” said the Hulkster, who co-founded the promotion with Cleveland native Chad Bronstein.

OK, so, what exactly is RAF?

The event features eight men’s and four women’s matches. More info.

Goodbye, old friend. Hello, old friend… The musical chairs of openings and closings hits Tremont.

Since 1999, Lava Lounge has been a mainstay in the Cleveland neighborhood – an iconic bar that shined when trendies and locals ruled over this dimly lit hideaway. It mixed cool vibes with DJs that were as varied and eclectic as the drink more.

No more. Lava is closing – but all is not lost.

Taking its place is another longtime Tremont fave: Edison’s Pizza Kitchen.

For 15 years, the pizza spot located next to Edison’s Pub was the go-to place for a slice. It closed in 2023 and went on to sell slices in Lucky’s Market and Dave’s Market.

Lava Lounge is slated to close in July. EPK will open a few weeks after that.

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Step right up, ladies and gents – and you too, freaks and geeks. The Wizbang Theatre & Spirit Room Cocktail Bar in Cleveland Heights is rolling out a totally bonkers time at 8:30 tonight. Bring on the Squidling Brothers Circus Sideshow featuring Jelly Boy the Clown -- a fire breather and sword swallower and Coney Island legend. The show includes death-defying stunts, grotesque shenanigans and all-around craziness. More info.

Gay America was a very different place before Pride parades became mainstream events. It thrived in clubs, bars and restaurants – meeting spots, but also vibrant cultural magnets. North Olmsted native and New York Times contributor Erik Piepenburg explores such eateries in cities and small towns in his new book, Dining Out: First Dates, Defiant Nights, and Last Call Disco Fries at America’s Gay Restaurants. At 6 tonight, he will appear at Jukebox for a Cleveland Public Library event during which he shares stories of the spots that defined Gay America before it was mainstreamed. More info.

Bang your head, slam your skull… metal mayhem hits No Class on the West Side at 7 tonight. You get four wallops of it with Deceased, Nunslaughter, Vincent Crowley and Molder. And get this: The show is free. More info.

Raise a glass to the golden days of summer… It’s the 216 Scoop Cleveland Patio Guide -- our road map to the best bar and restaurant patios in the area.  Check it out here.

👉 View Listing on Zillow

Busted concrete, twisted metal beams and rods and piles of bricks consume what was the parking lot of one of the area’s most iconic department stores.

The Sears building in Middleburg Heights – one of the last examples of Googie-style design in the area – has been largely demolished to make way for a Meijer superstore.

Meijer, which has embarked on an expansion plan in Northeast Ohio, is scheduled to open in 2026. It will anchor the Southland Business District, a mixed-use development proposed by the city in 2020.

The project envisions retail, dining, businesses and townhouses. It also calls for walkability and greater access.

Closed since 2017, the Sears building remained a popular stop for “ruin porn” photographers in search of Abandoned America. Not just because it represented a long-gone era of shopping and the death of the mall. It’s a hulking of architectural design that became all the rage in the Space Age ‘60s.

Opened in 1962, it was an attempt to modernize the brand, which started in 1887 and once had 4,000 locations and a dozen in Northeast Ohio. Sears revolutionized shopping with iconic catalogs that sold everything from houses to hubcaps.

Ah, those were different times. Sears went bankrupt in 2019.

It’s the Day the River Burned -- June 22, 1969 -- when some oil-drenched debris led to a 20-minute blaze that made Cleveland the butt of a never-ending joke. The Cuyahoga River was regarded as an ecological disaster, a piece of slimy gunk on Cleveland’s reputation and an easy punchline for comedians across the country. That is, until ecological activists sparked a movement to clean up the river and transform it into a magnet for recreation and entertaining -- making it one of the great environmental comeback stories.

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Get ready for an unforgettable evening at the Fairmont Creamery Building on June 27th! Enjoy food, drinks, and incredible company as we kick off the season with a rooftop happy hour. Don’t miss out on TechTalk and live music featuring Chris Lugo and Anya Van Rose!

🎟️ RSVP Now and get your tickets for this unique, creative experience!

🔗 Secure your spot and buy your tickets at GetLivFresh.com!

#GoldenHourCLE #thatsgreyt

79 🌡️ 65 | ⛅ | 24% | 💨 WSW 11 mph (10 knots)

84 🌡️ 70 | ☀️ | 23% | 💨 SSW 16 mph (14 knots)

86 🌡️ 74 | ☀️ | 10% | 💨 WSW 12 mph (10 knots)

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

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Away vs. Athletics, 10:05pm Friday

Away vs. Athletics, 10:05pm Saturday

Away vs. Athletics, 4:05pm Sunday

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