Clevelanders will be soon be faced with a difficult choice. Will it be the OMG Philly sammie (made with chicken and shrimp), the Hibachi Burger (topped with yum yum mayo and sautéed shrimp) or a Cleveland Polish Boy?
Those tempting items along with a host of other delectables will soon be available at Black Box Fix, the latest effort from Cleveland chef Eric Rogers.
Rogers, who left a lucrative career in healthcare finance in 2011 to cook professionally full time, will be opening the new venture in the space formerly occupied by Sweetie Fry at 2307 Lee Road.
The nearly 1,500-square-foot space (300 of which houses the kitchen) will feature seating for 19 or 20, counter service and cuisine Rogers describes as fast gourmet.
"We do out-of-the box cuisine. Everything's fresh and we try to use local," says Rogers. "All of our breads are made locally. This concept will focus on gourmet sandwiches that we've done at Nevaeh and several other things that we'll add to the roster."
Patrons of the popular Nevaeh, Rogers' South Euclid eatery that closed last November, will be able to get their fix at Black Box Fix, including Nevaeh favorites such as the Creole Soul Roll, which is stuffed with Andouille Sausage, collard greens and smoked turkey.
Ending up on Lee Road wasn't exactly what Rogers had planned.
"I wasn't looking for this location," says Rogers. "It just kind of fell in my lap though a friend of mine. It had what my first location couldn't give me, which was diversity." The foot traffic and eclectic surrounding communities sealed the deal for the self-taught chef.
In anticipation of a mid-March opening for Black Box Fix, which will serve lunch and dinner, Rogers is frantically refurbishing the cozy new space, largely by himself.
"I do have another handy man and my father's been helping out a lot," says Rogers. "Having been through this before, I know kind of what to expect."
Judging from his more than 22,500 followers on Instagram and Facebook, he can also expect to garner his share of business. Roger's will be offering promotions and direct ordering via those venues, to which he credits much of his success. He plans to employ 10 to 15 people at Black Box Fix, some of whom may also work for the catering side of the business, which Rogers hopes to expand after he opens the new eatery. Other Black Box Fix franchises are another future possibility.
Until then, Rogers will be enjoying a bit of celebrity. The Cleveland native taped an episode of Guy Fieri's Guy's Grocery Games last November that's scheduled to air in April. While mums the word on the outcome of the program, Rogers' energy is palpable.
"I have a high passion for what I'm doing."