The Westside Buzz
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☕ Restaurants Opening & Restaurants Closing

☕ Restaurants Opening & Restaurants Closing

Cordelia's Chef having a heck of a month | Tons of events to get rid of the winter blues

January 24, 2025

Welcome to a Foodie Friday edition of The Westside Buzz. We hope you are thawed out from “The Big Freeze”🥶.

Here’s what we are buzzing on today:

🥊 Local Chef tries to Beat Bobby Flay
🥬 Tons of restaurant turnover
🥪 We discuss our favorite sandwiches on the west side

Things we’re not buzzing on:

💧 Frozen pipes
🧊 Scraping off your windshield (why is this the worst thing in the world?)
⚡ Dry air and static shocks

We are stoked for what the New Year has in store for this wonderful community. Thank you for being a big part of it!

Cheers,

—The Briggses

A MESSAGE FROM LOFT 40*

Are you planning a Bridal Shower, Baby Shower, Graduation Party, or a Downtown Cleveland Staycation?

Loft 40 is Cleveland’s most unique Airbnb and small event venue perfect for large-group overnight stays and celebrations.

The venue features original hardwood flooring, beautiful natural lighting, tall 15’ ceilings, exposed brick, and tons of space for gathering and making memories.

What you need to know:

Overnight Airbnb stays sleep up to 14 across 3 floors & 6,500 sq ft.
Events can be rented by the hour, have full kitchen access, and plastic folding tables and chairs included.

Loft 40 has over 50 reviews in its first year of operation with an ⭐average rating of 4.95⭐.

Here is what people are saying 👇

We had such a lovely time hosting my Bridal Shower at Loft 40! Our guests were so impressed. Would 100% recommend - Alicia

Incredible Loft and very clean! Perfect for a group of adults traveling to explore Cleveland. Only a few minutes to downtown to visit the attractions. - Katie

I hosted a Bridal Shower here and everything was exactly as we envisioned. The sky is the limit with the things you could do here! - Alascia

Inquiries:

Click 👉 Here for Airbnb listing
Click 👉 Here for the event venue listing
Click 👉 Here for more info & special inquiries

^{*starred articles are sponsored posts. We only work with sponsors who we endorse and share our values}

Community Blend

Cordelia Chef on Beat Bobby Flay

A couple of things are true about the daily life in the Briggs household.

We have approximately 100 nicknames for each of our pets.
Taking out the trash is the worst.
The Food Network is ALWAYS on at our house.

Last week, the head chef at one of our favorite Cleveland restaurants competed on Beat Bobby Flay! Vinnie Cimino of Cordelia’s star continues to burn bright in the eyes of all Clevelanders as he appeared on the popular Food Network show and has been nominated as a semi-finalist for a 2025 James Beard Award.

@chefvinniecimino on IG

I don’t want to… spoil (couldn’t help myself) the results of the episode. However, the episode is titled, “From Plies to Plating” and is Season 37 Episode 3.

If you haven’t been to Cordelia yet, go! Pro Tip: Order the Brussels Sprouts—they’re served on the stalk.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio

Fans of Dolly Parton can now purchase a specialty Ohio License Plate online at OPLATES.com or at any Ohio deputy registrar. With each purchase, $25 of every purchase goes straight to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, funding a year’s worth of books for kids in your county.

Ohio is only the second state to offer these plates, following Dolly’s home state of Tennessee. So, if you’re a Dolly fan and want to help inspire young readers, it’s time to let your wheels shine like rhinestones on Dolly’s dress.

New Business

Always Golf Club (Westlake)

Calling all duffers and weekend warriors! Always Golf Club is officially open.

Where: 📍 25027 Center Ridge Road, Westlake

AGC features 10 golf simulators and a full-service bar, perfect for playing a few rounds with friends or sharpening your skills. They have specials for events and leagues to join.

Check out their IG for a video showing the work it took to transform the space. 👇

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Poll

From Reddit User FireEight

Redditor FireEight shared a list of their favorite sandwiches in R/Cleveland. This is a pretty solid list. Although there is a glaring lack of Roast Beef from La Bodega (my personal favorite).

Agree with anything on his list? Vote below or submit your own!

What is your favorite sandwich on the west side?

Restaurant News

Jolene

Walking down East 4th Street always gives me a feeling of Cleveland pride, while simultaneously yearning for something I can’t quite put into words. I’ve always thought it has been missing something.

I think it needs a place where folks can go late night. Some new energy. A buzz perhaps.

That change may be on the horizon.

Coming this Spring, A Dolly Parton-inspired honky-tonk will be coming to East 4th street, taking over the former Greenhouse Tavern. The same people who have brought Steak to Tremont want to add a little Nashville fun to Cleveland.

Jolene’s will feature:

🎤 Live music
🎸 Guitar Shotskis
👢 Shareable boot drinks
💃 A fun rooftop

Goodbye Salt, Hello Sofia’s Kitchen + Bar

Lakewood lovers were understandably upset when the owners of Salt closed its doors this summer. But we don’t have to mourn for long.

Immigrant Sun owner Andrew Revy has teamed up with James Beard Award-nominated chef Andy Strizak to open Sofia’s Kitchen + Bar. The duo plan to freshen up the space, change the main entrance, and turn the place into a corner bar bistro. (Full Story Here)

Banter closing its doors

Banter, the beloved Cleveland spot known for its epic poutine and legendary Polish Boys, is saying goodbye to its Gordon Square location on February 2. Owner Matt Stipe broke the news with a heartfelt message, calling it “one of the hardest decisions” as the restaurant industry continues to face tough challenges.

The good news/bad news? Banter’s Van Aken District location in Shaker Heights is thriving and will continue serving up the city’s best gravy fries and sausages. Make sure to bring your passport when you travel to the east side.

Over the years, Banter has earned national love from the Food Network and Travel Channel, solidifying its place as a local icon.

While this chapter closes, Stipe hinted at an exciting new concept set to take over the space, promising something “unique and amazing” for Cleveland. Stay tuned!

New Place to Buzz in Avon

Paris Baguette Bakery Café is opening its first Cleveland location in Avon on Chester Road. The popular neighborhood bakery has hundreds of locations throughout the USA and is known for its freshly baked pastries and cakes. The location should be opening soon! (Check here for more details)

Weekend Events

Bridal Show @ the IX Center

The Bridal Show is taking over the IX Center this weekend, and it’s your chance to turn those Pinterest boards and saved TikToks into reality. Think dreamy dresses, DIY workshops, giveaways, and every vendor you need to pull off your big day. (Word on the aisle is there’ll be wedding cake samples, too!) Grab your bride tribe and make a day of it.

Saturday, January 25th, 2025 12 PM – 6 PM

Sunday, January 26th, 2025 10 AM – 4 PM