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Happy Tuesday, Buzz Nation. In typical fashion, it has been spring in Cleveland for a few weeks, and it is finally starting to feel like it. Fear not!

No matter what the weather is, The Buzz will be here to showcase the best things to do, see, and eat on The Westside.

Today we’re buzzing on:

• 🛍️ Are malls back?

• 🌭 A new bombshell has entered the Hot Dog Race

• 🍦 Scoops up on Playhouse Square

Let’s get to it,

—The Briggses

SPONSORED BY ALWAYS GOLF CLUB

Experience Westlake's Premier Indoor Golf Destination 🏌️‍♂️

Ever wonder where to practice your swing when Cleveland weather doesn't cooperate? Looking for a unique venue for your next gathering? Always Golf Club has you covered year-round with its state-of-the-art indoor golf experience.

The Westside Buzz team recently got to test out the simulators in their private back party room, and we were blown away! This space would be perfect for hosting a birthday celebration or your next boys' or girls' night out.

What makes Always Golf Club special?

• 🎯 10 premium simulators featuring Uneekor's latest EYEXO2 launch monitors for incredible accuracy

• 🌎 Thousands of virtual courses, including local favorite Big Met and the legendary Golf Course in Augusta

• 🍹 Full-service bar to keep your spirits high while you perfect your game

• 🏆 Spring leagues starting April 29th with multiple format options

What we love most about Always Golf Club? It's a homegrown business created by Frank Geib, a fellow Westsider who returned home to build his dream right in our community.

Ready to book your tee time or learn more about spring leagues? ⛳

👉 Address: 25027 Center Ridge Rd, Westlake

COMMUNITY BLEND

Dragons Spotted Arriving at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo! | Cleveland Zoo

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is always a great place to bring the kids. They are launching "Dragons Landing" on May 2, which will feature over 20 massive animatronic dragons (some 30 feet long!) that roar and breathe smoke around Waterfowl Lake for a limited time. The zoo will be bringing back its adorable Swan Voyage paddle boats, where families can explore the lake in five-passenger Trumpeter Swan-shaped vessels.

Both attractions are add-on experiences with separate tickets ($3-4 for Dragons Landing and $15-20 for Swan Voyage), but savvy visitors might want to grab the Wild Savings Pass for unlimited access to multiple attractions including these magical summer offerings!

Are malls back? | Great Northern

Back in my day, messing around at the mall with your friends (and maybe your secret crush) was the height of middle school socializing. Malls might be back! Great Northern Mall in North Olmsted is experiencing renewed growth as data from Placer.ai bears out. Nationally, January 2025 mall foot traffic increased by 5.5% for indoor malls compared to January 2024.

Great Northern is embracing change by filling vacancies with innovative businesses like unique restaurants "Build the Pho" and "One Pot," along with Prime Time Sports and Framing, which all focus on experiences that attract shoppers. North Olmsted City Council is considering new mixed-use overlay zoning legislation that would allow the mall to incorporate retail, residential, office space, and green areas, providing flexibility for future development.

LOCAL START-UP

Former St. James Church building houses exciting business | Lakewood

Walk My Plans, housed in a former Lakewood elementary school gym, is revolutionizing construction by allowing clients to experience their blueprints full-scale through an innovative projection system that has already expanded to 28 territories nationwide.

Joe Matejka's brilliant solution helps homeowners and developers save thousands by identifying design flaws before breaking ground (with the average client making 10-20 changes). Additionally, when the space is unused, it can unexpectedly evolve into an immersive event space where yoga enthusiasts can practice while being "transported" to beaches in Portugal.

It's exciting that the once-abandoned school gym has become a thriving Westside business! Full story 👉 WKYC

🤝 REFER A FRIEND

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If you could share The Buzz with just 3 people using the link below, it would mean the world to us. 👇 Refer 3 friends and receive a sweet Westside Buzz Sticker!

📸 TWB AROUND TOWN

Jodie was at an in-town bachelorette party on Saturday, so the other half of The Buzz headed down to the Jake to take in a ball game.

Without warning, the Guardians dropped a bombshell that could be felt throughout the stadium. A fourth member of the Hot Dog pack was introduced! Spicy!

I had so many questions…who calls it spicy mustard? Why not relish or stadium mustard?

BUSINESS OPENING

Candle Bar Moves To Avon Village | Avon

Sandstone Candle Works, a fun candle bar where customers can create custom-scented candles, is relocating from Amherst to Olde Avon Village at 36840 Detroit Road. The charming new location was intended for Duck Island Cocktails, a sangria bar that never opened, and is conveniently situated near Avon Commons and Strip Steakhouse.

The family-friendly business, which also offers custom sugar scrubs, lotions, and party hosting for 25-30 people, is planning to open on April 23rd. Stop by to show them some love! (Short Takes Cleveland.com)

Ben & Jerry's Scoops Up | Playhouse Square

Ben & Jerry's is opening its second Greater Cleveland ice cream parlor at 1422 Euclid Ave in the bustling Playhouse Square theater district. The new Scoop Shop, part of the Vermont-based company's nationwide expansion with updated store designs, will join just three other Ohio locations. Beyond their famous ice cream, theatregoers can treat themselves to sundaes, milkshakes, brownies, cookies, and their special banana split brownie creation.

Mr Buzz’s personal favorite is the warm Brownie Sundae with Phish food, hot fudge, and whipped cream topped with sprinkles. Perfect for enjoying before or after catching a show! (Neo Trans Blog)

EVENTS THIS WEEK

Weather

Tuesday

47 🌡️ 37 | 🌧 | 70% | 💨 W 17-25 mph

Wednesday

49 🌡️ 35 | 🌤 | 40% | 💨 W 15-17 mph

Thursday

55 🌡️ 47 | 🌤 | 70% | 💨 W 5-7 mph

💧^{🌡️ Water temperature = 44ºF}

That’s it for today, Westsiders.

Until Friday,

—The Briggses