I was sitting on the deck at the former Hough Bakeries complex, on a beautiful spring afternoon, having a BBQ picnic meeting with the current owner of the complex (and Hot Sauce Williams BBQ), LeMaud Williams, and his son Greg, and we realized it is time to share this special place with others, by opening a restaurant and cybercafe here in the Inner Circle. You are invited to join us and help grow the circle, right now, at the planning stages.
Located at 1519 Lakeview Road, on the border of Cleveland and East Cleveland, 44112, the Williams operate the Inner Circle Restaurant on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, with a full bar, and they host events here, but the restaurant is not open during the day and most evenings, and has limited food services - largely catered BBQ and soul food buffets. In addition to the large bar and seating area shown above (before recent renovation), there are three large bar, reception and meeting areas, and outdoor deck areas - the place is huge, tucked inside the huge Hough Bakeries complex. As you shall soon see, this is too cool a space, facility and location not to open it to the public every day, and there is a need in this neighborhood for new commercial and social space, and a good place of go for coffee, light food, and free wifi or use of a computer and the Internet.
So, I've formed a partnership with the Williams and others to expand operation of the Inner Circle space to every day, from early morning into the evening, with a broader menu, customer base and business model, and I welcome anyone else in the community who is interested in helpng start and operate this space to get in touch or post here. We're still working on the menu and details - do you have some ideas you'd like to add to the mix? We have the commercial kitchen and restaurant to pursue your dreams.
The general concept we have in mind is casual urban cybercafe, featuring fresh, light food from organic, locally-sourced ingredients prepared and baked at the former Hough Bakeries - in their old catering kitchen.
There is also a commercial canning facility on site. Hot Sauce Williams uses the large commercial kitchen for baking and preparing dishes for their restaurants and for catering and serving at the Inner Circle, and they make their sauces and products for others on the canning line.All this is available for the Inner Circle, and food will be prepared by the Hot Sauce Williams kitchen staff.
The Inner Circle and Hough Bakeries complex are the center for redevelopment of the neighborhood surrounding this property, and the neighborhood needs this kind of place - great coffee and food, free wifi, art, coffeehouse-type events - serving all ages of people of Case and University Circle and Cleveland and East Cleveland and anyone else making this a destination.
The Inner Circle is freshly painted (since the pan photos above) and already open on weekends... it is time to get it open during the day as well. We have ordered the DSL for the wifi and plan to open the doors for business as a cybercafe in 15-21 days. In the mean time, we are planning what food to serve and how to prepare and present it. We are seeking out good local vendors, partnering with the Coit Farmers Market and their vendors, and exploring other partnerships that will add to the value of this facility to the community.
Post or contact me if you want to help out launching the expanded Inner Circle, or know anyone who should be connected with this development. Think creatively... do you have a muffin or drink recipe to share... need a place for meetings... want to be guest bartender some night... know a good barrista? Here's your chance to plan your own club.
We'll keep details posting here, and will invite all realneo friends to whatever opening events and other activities we plan for the Inner Circle.
Links:
[1] http://li326-157.members.linode.com/content/growing-inner-circle-within-star-excellence-open-house
[2] http://li326-157.members.linode.com/content/next-chance-join-inner-circle-friday-june-1st-open-house
[3] http://li326-157.members.linode.com/content/welcome-snags
[4] http://li326-157.members.linode.com/hough-bakery-becoming-the-star