Local Food Economy

New energy is infused into former Barking Spider with opening of Cosmic Dave’s Rock Club
In case the psychedelic decor and music posters that wallpaper his Dave's Cosmic Subs shops don't give it away, rock-and-roll energy encompasses founder Dave Lombardy—and the opening of Cosmic Dave’s Rock Club in the former Barking Spider Tavern space on the Case Western Reserve University campus has him even more energized.
Bohemian rhapsodies and business woes: Coventry routinely cycles through good times and bad
As businesses depart the street and pedestrian traffic wanes, Cleveland Heights' iconic street is gearing up to get its groove back.
Act local, eat global: Culture.CLE set to spotlight Cleveland's unsung ethnic eats
Though minority business owners comprise just 29 percent of the overall economy, minority restaurateurs make up 40 percent of that sector—with that number steadily rising. Cleveland’s own culinary scene has also made strides in supporting minority food business owners, with Latino Restaurant Week and Quicken Loans Arena's Launch Test Kitchen. A new dinner series, Culture.CLE, is the newest local initiative aimed at bringing Cleveland’s ethnic restaurateurs to the forefront.
Five generations later, Dave's Supermarket is still feeding the needs of Cleveland
On the surface, a Cleveland-area supermarket naming their aisles after local streets is a smile-inducing novelty. But this isn’t your run-of-the-mill supermarket. This is the newly opened Dave's Market & Eatery on E. 61st St. and Chester Ave. in Midtown—an ambitious venture that simultaneously honors a storied past, addresses the current needs of the community, and lays the groundwork for a vibrant future.
The sweet life: Business is starting to "pop" for Daisy Cakes
It was Amy Mucha’s love for koalas that drew her into the baking business. Knowing that Mucha is obsessed with the animal, her mother-in-law bought her a book on how to make cake pops for Christmas in 2011—simply based on the fact the book had instructions on how to make koala cake pops.
Ohio City Farm is thinking Spring with CSA enrollment and new offerings
The growing season at Ohio City Farm is just over two months away, and this week, farmers with Refugee Response are starting to plant the seeds for the ninth year on the six-acre farm—offering up the harvests to more than 20 local restaurants and members of the farm’s CSA program.
Cheers! Sipt café serves up healthy food and drink with an extra boost for what ails you
Carina Grenier opened Sipt in February to give customers a healthy, fresh option for fueling up in Beachwood's fitness plaza.
Brews for beasts: Terrestrial Brewing & Cleveland Zoological Society debut conservation-themed beers
Beer and wildlife conservation might seem like an unlikely duo, but the new partnership between Cleveland's Terrestrial Brewing Company and the Cleveland Zoological Society (CZS) is proving otherwise.
The fixe is in: Two March restaurant weeks showcase Northeast Ohio eateries
March is the season to sample new menus in Northeast Ohio as two Restaurant Weeks kick off.
Some like it hot: The secret sauce behind Cleveland's most caliente condiments
Cleveland and Pittsburgh may have a legendary rivalry when it comes to football, but Matt McMonagle and his wife, Lisa, are taking that rivalry to the condiment arena. As supporters of locally-owned businesses, Matt and Lisa noticed that everyone in Cleveland was serving Pittsburgh-based Heinz ketchup. “We saw a lot of [local] mustard, hot sauces, and barbeque sauces," says Matt. "But why are we buying ketchup from a Pittsburgh company?” 
Cleveland’s newest coffee company introduces farm-to-cup coffee beans
Pablo Lopez and Farris Khouri just completed their college degrees last year, but they're already making waves in the business world with Ohio’s first farm-to-cup coffee company, Mocina Coffee.
One year in, Play Grounds has found its perfect blend of family, caffeine, and fun
Step into Lakewood-based Play Grounds, and you’ll see all the trappings of a neighborhood coffee shop—tasty pastries, cozy sitting areas and tables, and whirring machines ready to whip up a hot cuppa Phoenix Coffee upon request. But explore a little further, and you’ll come across “The Fort,” a kid-friendly haven replete with play kitchen, dollhouse, train table, and plenty of other things to keep pint-sized sidekicks occupied for a while.
Making the cut: EDWINS butcher shop almost ready to make its debut in Buckeye
Ever since Brandon Chrostowski opened EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute on Shaker Square in 2013, he has had his eye on bigger things for both his graduates and the Buckeye neighborhood.

On Thursday, Dec. 13, Chrostowski will take a second big step forward in that vision when he opens EDWINS Butcher Shop at 13024 Buckeye Road, just steps from the $1.3 million EDWINS Second Change Life Skills Center campus he opened in 2016.
Uber for helping fewer people go hungry? Yes, please.
Helping make a dent in local food crises while dramatically reducing food waste—all with a minimal time commitment—sounds like a dream for many busy people stuck in the daily grind who still want to make a difference. With Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland’s new Food Rescue app, it’s a reality.
Chef Michael Schwartz switches restaurant concepts at Van Aken District
As shops and restaurants continue to open their doors at the new Van Aken District, James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schwartz has announced that he will open his Miami-based Michael's Genuine Food & Drink in the space originally planned for his Genuine Pizza chain at 3427 Tuttle Road in Shaker Heights.
This Old Brooklyn bakery is fighting human trafficking, one cupcake bouquet at a time
A cupcake bouquet can make anyone's day—but, for some, it can make a world of difference. Enter Abolition Bakery, the brainchild of Old Brooklyn resident Rita Ballenger. Celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, the home-based bakery operation donates a portion of its proceeds to help combat a devastating issue: human trafficking.
La Villa Hispana begins a new chapter with the food entrepreneurs who helped shape it
When Haguit Marrero got word that the Hispanic Business Center was assisting startups, it sparked an idea: she would cater the same recipes her mother and grandmother had taught her on the island when she was a kid. Enter Pura Cepa (‘full-blooded’), her culinary attempt to return Puerto Rican cuisine to its faraway roots. “When you’re on the island,” she says, “people always ask, ‘Are you pura cepa?’ I want other people like me to be proud of saying, Si, soy.”

Today Pura Cepa is one of four businesses spotlighted in La Villa Hispana’s latest development in business incubation: Las Tienditas del Mercado.
How Old Brooklyn finds culinary oases despite its food desert status
The average distance an Old Brooklyn resident travels to visit a grocery store is 4.2 miles, and Save-a-Lot is the neighborhood’s only true grocery store within boundaries. For these and other reasons, Old Brooklyn is considered a food desert, where one-fifth of the residents report choosing between food and housing in terms of affordability. So beyond the burgeoning dollar menus of the neighborhood's abundant fast fooderies and not-so-abundant grocery stores, how does one navigate this food desert?
Lakewood hits a new tippling point with Western Reserve Distillers
After four years of planning, Western Reserve Distillers is set to take its spot as one of just a handful of certified organic distilleries in the country. The family-owned business—run by husband-and-wife team Ann and Kevin Thomas—celebrated its grand opening in early September.
What do Skyline Chili, Yuengling Lager, and crab chowder have in common? Ask JACK Casino.
In honor of the Browns playing the Steelers, chefs at JACK Cleveland Casino made Pittsburgh’s well-known smiley face cookies—with the cookies in Browns colors smiling and the Pittsburgh colors frowning. Rounding out the offerings were other favorites like wedding soup and chipped ham BBQ on pretzel buns (along with Yuengling lager, naturally). The Pittsburgh-style feast kicked off the casino's new "Cook the Competition" menu, which will highlight the opposing teams' hometown fare.