Down to Business

Get excited about some of the city’s newest endeavors, from dining and entertainment destinations to a new senior living community. By Linda Feagler

Restaurants, hotels and specialty stores abound in North Olmsted, attracting customers who live in and out of the city.

John Sobolewski, executive director of the North Olmsted Chamber of Commerce, credits the bonds that businesses large and small have formed to make the community stronger.

“North Olmsted is a melting pot in a sense that you have nationally renowned companies and independent mom-andpop stores that support each other,” says Sobolewski.

Chamber members also to support initiatives that include awarding scholarships to North Olmsted High School seniors — a practice that’s been in place for 40 years. Additionally, the chamber is a member of the Power of MORE, a consortium of nine chambers, as well as Oberlin Business Partnership. Together, they serve 21 communities.

“There’s strength in numbers,” Sobolewski says, “which makes it a win-win for everyone.”

Here, check out some of the city’s newest businesses.

Cilantro Taqueria

When Rey Galindo, co-owner of Cilantro Taqueria, was looking for a place to open his fourth Greater Cleveland location, North Olmsted was the hands-down choice. It’s scheduled to open this fall.

“North Olmsted is perfect for our newest restaurant,” he says. “We chose the former Starbucks site because there’s a lot of heavy traffic on Lorain Road and Brookpark Road, along with car dealerships that see a lot of business. We also appreciate the fact that the city is open to being the site of a variety of restaurants.”

Tacos, tortas, burritos and bowls are the most requested items, along with the eatery’s signature quesabirrias filled with beef brisket and served with consomme.

“I was raised on the West Side, and it was time to bring special Mexican food here,” he says.

Cleveland Bakery Collective

In 2015, Nikki and Jay Odongray started making delectable dumplings out of their home in Olmsted Township. In 2017, they launched Pierogi Pantry, a pop-up business that travels to locations throughout the region. This fall, they’ll open Cleveland Bakery Collective, which will feature their culinary talents, as well as those of other local bakers and craft food makers.

“We’d been thinking about opening a retail store, and when Becker’s Donuts closed, we knew the spot would be ideal to give us a brick-and-mortar presence,” Nikki Odongray says. “To honor the building’s beloved legacy, doughnuts will definitely be on the menu.”

Habibi Shawrma Way and Bakery

Ammar Banna, manager of Habibi Shawrma Way and Bakery, is eager to introduce new tastes to guests who visit his shop on Brookpark Road Ext. Loosely translated, he explains, the word ‘habibi’ means ‘love’ and ‘shawrma’ is a Middle Eastern cooking method in which meat is placed on a vertical spit and slowly turned to ensure tenderness. The boneless chicken sandwiches he’s known for have garnered legions of fans. For dessert, Banna recommends trying the knafeh, a traditional Middle Eastern sweet made with shredded filo pastry that’s soaked in a sugar-based syrup and layered with cheese, clotted cream or nuts.

“Knafeh is famous in the Middle East for being a popular wedding cake,” Banna says. “I look forward to introducing it to those who have never tried it before.”

Buffalo Wild Wings

Rick Small, director of marketing for Grube Inc. — the Defiance-based company that owns and operates 36 Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants in five states — is looking forward to helping the popular eatery become a part of the community. It’s slated to open this fall on Lorain Road where Ruby Tuesday once stood.

“I love the fact that Great Northern Mall is located across the street and is still vibrant,” Small says. “You don’t find too many malls anymore that are.”

Small adds that Buffalo Wild Wings is dedicated to supporting the spirit of each community it’s a part of.

“I’ve met the athletic directors at North Olmsted and Olmsted Falls high schools, and they’ve given us football and basketball jerseys we’ll frame and hang,” Small says. “Buffalo Wild Wings also sponsors fundraisers for local elementary schools, high schools and colleges, and have partnerships with Cleveland pro sports teams. We cover it all.”

A New HoriZen

Jackie Chavez-Anderson is ready to help people relax in ways she says will soothe the body, mind and spirit. The lifelong North Olmsted resident opened A New HoriZen in August, which offers classes in yoga, Reiki and Ayurveda, as well as wellness workshops covering topics ranging from healthy eating practices and ways to improve sleep.

“I started taking yoga classes about 10 years ago,” she says, adding that she was

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Cilantro Taqueria

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The O’Neill family has been The O’Neill family has been providing quality skilled nursing, providing quality skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and long-term rehabilitation, and long-term care for more than 55 years in care for more than 55 years in Cleveland’s west side communities. Cleveland’s west side communities. Our goal is achieving the highest Our goal is achieving the highest level of function during a therapy level of function during a therapy stay, helping them return home stay, helping them return home as soon as they are safely able. as soon as they are safely able. We also offer Assisted Living We also offer Assisted Living suites allowing seniors to live in a community with services and amenities, with our exceptional medical team close at hand. suites allowing seniors to live in a community with services and amenities, with our exceptional medical team close at hand. For those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia, our uniquely designed memory support unit promotes positive memories while providing specialized care. For those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia, our uniquely designed memory support unit promotes positive memories while providing specialized care. Skilled Nursing Assisted Living Rehabilitative Therapies Memory Support Hospice Care Skilled Nursing Assisted Living Rehabilitative Therapies Memory Support Hospice Care

A New HoriZen

particularly drawn to Ayurveda, which focuses on improving holistic health by recognizing everyone is different and taking individual lifestyles into account.

A registered yoga teacher and certified Ayurveda health educator and Reiki master, Chavez-Anderson knew her hometown was the place she wanted to open her studio.

“I feel very grateful that I can bring Ayurveda — something that’s been around for so long and can help so many people — Reiki and yoga to this beautiful little place in the world of North Olmsted,” she says.

Vitalia Active Living

At Vitalia Active Living, life is being lived to the fullest. While some residents meet in the library to discuss the latest bestseller, others go for a swim in the pool or enjoy a movie being played in the on-site theater. In the demonstration kitchen, a chef prepares meals, and the residents can ask questions and participate.

“We believe in amenities,” says Gary Biales, vice president of development for Omni Senior Living, the firm that owns Vitalia, which opened in June and was designed to resemble a lodge in Colorado.

Vitalia features eight villas, 88 independent living apartments and 44 assisted living apartments, as well as offers memory care.

“We find that people who move into Vitalia have lived within a 3-mile radius of where we’re located,” Biales says. “They want to be close to family members, former neighbors and the stores they love.”

RollHouse of North Olmsted

It’s been 44 years, but Glenn Gable, CEO of RollHouse Entertainment, remembers his first visit to Buckeye Lanes. The bowling alley, which opened in North Olmsted in 1959, contained a treasure trove of memorabilia that quickly captivated him.

With five locations throughout Ohio, Gable’s company is already known as a premier bowling destination with a twist. And RollHouse of North Olmsted will be no exception. “We’re proud to be a part of North Olmsted,” Gable says. “The city has welcomed us with open arms.”

Along with traditional bowling lanes, the complex, slated for completion in September 2022, will feature a private bowling suite, themed escape rooms and a patio. Dining options include burgers, wings, pizza, ribeye bowls, pierogies, mini doughnuts and more.

Although the ambiance will be modern, Gable has ensured Buckeye Lanes’ legacy will live on. “The bowling alley is a revered iconic landmark,” Gable says. “It’s a compliment to add to a history that’s too precious to discard.”

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Staying Connected

Since 1980, North Olmsted Senior Center has never wavered in its mission to offer opportunities that improve the lives of older adults. Although COVID-19 forced it to close from March 2020 to June 2021, the staff’s dedication to the city’s senior community never stopped.

Tiffany Hunt, North Olmsted Senior Center administrator, partnered with Westlake’s Far West Center to present Senior Strong, a weekly series of conference calls designed to help people cope with loneliness and anxiety. The center also hosted virtual bingo games and compiled cooking kits filled with ingredients and instructions for making pies, cookies and candy.

“A lot of the people we serve are living alone,” Hunt says. “For many of them, the friends they meet here are their main source of socialization — which is obviously important for physical and mental health. That’s why we were most excited to reopen the center.”

In addition to exercise classes that include yoga and Geri-Fit, a body-sculpting program, the center also offers a Wednesday walking club. Participants stroll the new half-mile paved trail in North Olmsted Community Park next door.

Other popular programs include a Lunch and Learn lecture series; pinochle and dominoes tournaments; and Artistry Hours, where members can bring their own handmade projects and work on them in the company of friends.

“I love the older adults who come here,” Hunt says. “They are really a fun, joyful bunch.” — LF

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