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Tag: University Heights

  • Jack’s Deli in University Heights Will Have New Ownership Come January – Cleveland Scene

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    A year ago, Jack’s Deli (14490 Cedar Rd., 216-691-6837) in University Heights was purchased by the Cleveland Restaurant Management Group, a multi-unit restaurant group led by Marc Glassman of Marc’s fame. The Jewish delicatessen was founded in 1980 by the Markowitz family and operated in later years by Alvie Markowitz and Gary Lebowitz.

    After what many loyal customers would call a turbulent year, the deli will once again change hands come January 2026. Don Apel, a familiar face and name in the Cleveland restaurant scene, will take the keys to the delicatessen from the Glassman group. Apel has managed places like Flour in Moreland Hills, 3 Palms in Hudson, Red in Beachwood and many other restaurants.

    “I’ve paid my dues under every type of restaurant owner in this city and other cities, but this is my first taste of ownership,” Apel says“I don’t think I could ever be more prepared and more ready of what to do and definitely what not to do.”

    Apel says that the first order of business is to right the ship.

    “I want to restore what Jack’s was,” Apel states. “I’ve been listening to what people have been saying and my plan is to just get it back to where it was.”

    But Apel also says that he isn’t beholden to the past if it will hinder the deli’s future. He references places like Katzinger’s Deli in Columbus, which has been contemporizing the Jewish deli experience since 1984.

    “You know, you walk in there and you look at the chalkboard behind the counter and there’s fun names for all the sandwiches,” he explains. “Everything’s very colorful. It’s just a different vibe, a different energy. My ideas moving forward are definitely to make the place a little bit more fun, a little bit more young.”

    Apel also says that down the road, the deli might move away from the full-service model for part of the day. Shifting to counter service with food runners would help alleviate the sort of labor costs and hiring struggles that are plaguing restaurants.

    “My dream would be to shift in that direction but that’s not something I can do overnight,” he says, adding that breakfast – the busiest meal of the day – would remain full-service.

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    Douglas Trattner

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  • First Look: Crowley’s at John Carroll, Opening Monday, Nov. 3rd – Cleveland Scene

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    It’s all systems go for the new Crowley’s (20621 Fairmount Blvd., 216-205-4060) location at John Carroll University in University Heights. The “unapologetically unglamorous” dive bar opens to the public at 11 a.m. Monday, November 3rd.

    This is the fourth location for the enormously popular neighborhood pub, which partners David Bartulovic, Brendan Kearney, and brothers McPat and Seamus Coyne launched in Eastlake in 2023. The winning formula consists of a straightforward but well-executed menu of wings, fried cheese curds, smash burgers, fried bologna sandwiches, grilled cheese sandwiches, chili cheese dogs and Polish boys.

    This latest location on Fairmount Circle is much larger than any previous Crowley’s, says Bartulovic, but the formula will be the same.

    “The menu will stay true to form, but we will add a few more menu options,” says Bartulovic, who along with partner McPatt Coyne is a John Carroll alum. “We want this to be a college bar. This will be the first college bar on campus that they’ve had.”

    Those new options include salads, nachos, chicken tenders and wraps, items to make the bar more family friendly.

    All told, the space seats 106 guests, 30 of which are at the lengthy bar.

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    Douglas Trattner

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  • Cocky’s Bagels Now Open in University Heights – Cleveland Scene

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    Since launching eight years ago, Cocky’s Bagels has opened shops in North Olmsted, downtown Cleveland and Columbus. Next up is University Heights (13898 Cedar Rd.), specifically the former Zina Greek Street Food space.

    Today, owners Natalie and Keene Cockburn have announced the “soft opening” of their newest shop. This one, management explains, is closer in operation to the North Olmsted shop than the one downtown, which offers booze and late-night hours on the weekends.

    Starting today, east-side diners can enjoy classic bagel sandwiches like the Wake ‘N Bacon, starring bacon, egg, cheese and garlic herb cream cheese; the Lox, with smoked salmon, cream cheese, tomato and onion; and the signature Cocky’s, stacked with grilled turkey, salami, egg, cheese, lettuce and tomato.

    Sandwiches are joined by sides like fresh-cut fries, deep-fried macaroni and cheese bites, and Buffalo chicken dip served with bagel chips.

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    For 25 years, Douglas Trattner has worked as a full-time freelance writer, editor and author. His work as co-author on Michael Symon’s cookbooks have earned him four New York Times Best-Selling Author honors, while his longstanding role as Scene dining editor has garnered awards of its own.

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    Douglas Trattner

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  • Trader Joe’s Coming to University Heights in 2026 – Cleveland Scene

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    Captains and Crew Members are coming to John Carroll.

    Cuyahoga County is slated to get its fourth Trader Joe’s, recent plans and building permits show, this time in the middle of University Heights.

    The coveted grocer is planned to be the largest retail tenant at the in-progress Gateway North development, a mid-rise going up near Fairmount Circle in between Warrensville Center and Milford roads.

    Plans for the development show 96 apartment units, designed for juniors and seniors at John Carroll’s campus across the street. (And a parking lot with 487 spaces.) They also hint at a “specialty grocer” occupying a massive ground-floor commercial space on the western side of the building.

    University Heights Mayor Michael Brennan confirmed the plans in a call with Scene on Monday, adding that the city’s been in talks with Trader Joe’s since at least 2021 to bring them to the Gateway North space.

    “It’s basically been the worse kept secret in town,” Brennan said, adding: “People talk about food deserts—University Heights will be a food oasis.”

    The store is slated to open in the fall of 2026, according to plans, but both John Carroll and Trader Joe’s skated around confirmation in comments to Scene.

    “At this time, we can’t confirm the specialty grocer’s name,” a spokesperson for John Carroll told Scene, “but we hope to share more details about our exciting Gateway North project soon.”

    A Trader Joe’s spokesperson said, “We are actively looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country, including areas around Cleveland, as we hope to open more new neighborhood stores each year.”

    Founded in Pasadena, California, in the 1960s, Trader Joe’s is known for its unique food at low prices, along with its vibrant aesthetic and chill atmosphere.

    There are three TJ’s already in the Greater Cleveland area: Westlake, Woodmere and Mentor.

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    Mark Oprea

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