Tea, Pierogies, Sausage Are All On The Menu In Slavic Village

CLEVELAND, OH --The history of Slavic Village can be traced back to the influx of Eastern European immigrants who flooded the neighborhood for jobs in the nearby steel mills and garment factories at the beginning of the 20th Century.

Czechs, Poles, Slovenians and other ethnic groups made a home for themselves in the area bordering what is now I-77 and Broadway-Miles. If they worked in the steel mills, it was a short walk down Independence Road into the Flats, or they could take a street car to the many factories along the Broadway/East 55th Street corridor.The neighborhood was a melting pot of various ethnic groups, with their churches within blocks of each other.

Over the years, an exodus to the suburbs by the ethnic groups and their families left the neighborhood with the usual problems that face inner-city residents: crime, drugs and gang activity. Slavic Village became the “poster child” for foreclosure and boarded-up houses. Ward 12 Councilman Anthony Brancatelli, who’s been on council since 2005, has been a leader in the city’s fight against urban blight and the national foreclosure crisis.

It’s been a long, slow reversal of the economic environment on Fleet Avenue for stakeholders like Slavic Village Development and other longtime businesses like Seven Roses Polish Restaurant, Red Chimney Restaurant and Fortuna Funeral Home.

The $9 million Fleet Avenue streetscaping project took years to complete, and the businesses suffered through the construction. Slavic Village Development’s Community Outreach and Marketing Manager Andrew Kinney knows the development corporation has its hands full to bring new businesses back to the storefronts that line Fleet.

Already, a number of new businesses have opened on Fleet, with more in the Broadway-Union area. Inca Tea sells “exclusive teas derived from an ancient Incan recipe,” and the company just renovated an historic substation on Union Avenue as their new HQ and packaging and distribution center.

Saucisson, an artisan cured meat and sausage butcher shop, took over new space in the former Jaworski Meats building on Fleet, and Triple Threat Press is a new letterpress and graphic design company on Fleet. These two opened up following the street’s $9 million renovation.

“The new streetscape is the first compete Green Street in Cleveland,” Kinney said. “It lends itself to all roadway users: pedestrian, bicycle, buses or cars. Not only was it built for all modes of transit but there are additional benefits wrapped into the design including increased health, safety and environmental improvements.

“NEORSD [Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District] created a 4,300 square foot plaza with 8,700 square feet of green space as a storm water retention basin,” Kinney explained. “The basin manages 15 acres of surface area run-off from catch basins along the street. It absorbs about 4.7 million gallons of storm water annually.

“This investment has set the stage for SVD and the community to continue the great events we have established. Like ‘Rooms to Let: CLE! Now’ planning for the fifth year. Over 2,000 people come and explore vacant homes transformed with temporary art installations on a weekend in May 2018.

Kinney said that Slavic Village is home to the first series of the “Cleveland Hustles” spin-off titled “Cleveland Chain Reaction.” It’s a show hosted by Fox 8 News’ Kenny Crumpton.

“Local investors received pitches from local emerging businesses proposing their plans to open a storefront and/or manufacturing space in the neighborhood,” Kinney said. “The finalists were narrowed down to six: Lina Wines, Midwest Basics, Metro Croissants, Holmes Mouth Watering Applesauce, Sides To Go! BBQ and Baby Munch.

“Lina Wines has space secured on Fleet with plans to open soon,” Kinney said. “The others are still in the process of finding the perfect piece of real estate for their business.”

It’s readily apparent that Slavic Village and Fleet Avenue are making a strong comeback going into 2018.

Photo By Mark Holan