Restaurateur Marlin Kaplan insisted that his latest restaurant would open in July. Apparently, skepticism crept into my voice when I pressed the point — remodeling and openings are capricious undertakings — because Kaplan was all “No, no, watch me.” You win, Marlin. His Roseangel — the down-priced reinvention of partner Rosita Kutkut’s former La Boca, not only opened close to target, it pretty much hits the bull’s-eye. It’s at 5800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, on the edge of Cleveland’s Gordon Square area, across from Happy Dog, if you need a cool landmark.
Tacos, salsas and a modest selection of sides are the big deals here. Order one of each and it’ll set you back under $11 (though you’ll probably want seconds, and maybe a beer; brews range from $2 to $5.50). Tacos, built on hand-shaped and griddled tortillas, are heaped with tasty fillings, including a hauntingly delicious seared tuna with artichoke hearts and a just-fiery-enough grilled hanger steak version topped with crisp onions and a smoky chipotle mayo — to name just two of the 17 varieties. They are small but hefty hand-to-mouth fare, $4.25 each, but bring along friends and order a platter of eight for $30. There are good chips and really good salsas (one evening a cunning cantaloupe-and-cucumber combo) plus fine guacamole (at $7, a splurge). Oh, and very seductive Sauza and triple sec margaritas.
The rooms are equally seductive, from the sexy bar to the center room tarted up in magenta croc-print wallpaper, and the expanded patio. Tacos, grandparents to today’s “wraps,” are eminently tactile, and Kaplan wanted to carry that sensuous style into the environment.
“I feel there should be a seamlessness between where you eat and what you eat,” he says. “And I was going for a way different feeling here. I wasn’t really building a restaurant, per se. This is a hybrid, a lot like Happy Dog isn’t your usual neighborhood bar.”
True on both counts. Here’s to fitting neighbors. Coolness now reigns at West 58th Street and Detroit Avenue. 216-961-5800.
Score one for the Detroit Shoreway area, and minus-one for downtown Cleveland.
One Walnut, the nationally acclaimed restaurant and longtime watering hole for Cleveland’s powerbrokers, is closing later this month. Owner Marlin Kaplan, who also operates the highly successful Luxe Kitchen and Lounge in the Gordon Square neighborhood, will shift even greater attention to the emerging West Side arts district when he opens a second restaurant a few blocks down the street from Luxe.
Kaplan has formed a partnership with restaurateur Rosita Kutkut to transform her recently shuttered spot La Boca, 5800 Detroit Road, into an upscale taqueria.
“My wife, Melissa, and I decided to close One Walnut after a lot of heartfelt thought,” Kaplan said. “Times have changed since we opened nearly 11 years ago.”
The couple’s move had long been under consideration, as a growing number of vacancies in neighboring office buildings steadily eroded the restaurant’s core customer base. Meanwhile, the air of dressy sophistication that characterized One Walnut and earned it the praise of publications such as Esquire and Gourmet seemed increasingly detached from the far more casual tone of modern dining — the very style that has drawn droves of dinner guests to Luxe.
“[One Walnut] had its heyday, and at a time when Cleveland didn’t have a lot going on in terms of restaurants,” says Kaplan. “It’s lasted 10 years; there aren’t a lot of restaurants downtown that can say that.”
Josh Taylor, a spokesman for the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, regrets the departure of a prestigious name on the city’s landscape. But he points to the recent opening of Chinato on East Fourth Street and the soon-to-debut Zinc around the corner on Euclid Avenue as indications of downtown’s continuing revitalization.
“That’s not to diminish Kaplan,” Taylor says. “And just because one opportunity closes doesn’t mean another won’t open. We hope he can be a part of downtown again in the near future.”
The restaurateur won’t be too far away — certainly not for fans of his cuisine. When the new spot, Roseangel, opens sometime in early July, they will find house-made margaritas, more than a dozen moderately priced tacos and a variety of a la carte menu items.
“It’s a good change, I think,” says Kutkut, who will lend her behind-scenes expertise. “This is the direction I’ve wanted to take, going smaller and making the corner even better.”
WKYC Article: Cleveland: Governor praises Gordon Square Arts District economic investment
Kim WendelUpdated: 5/22/2010 7:51:02 AM Posted: 5/21/2010 3:23:46 PM
CLEVELAND — Governor Ted Strickland touted the Gordon Square Arts District when he addressed about 200 business and civic leaders gathered for a leadership breakfast Friday morning at the recently renovated Capitol Theatre.
Strickland said the District is a great example of how to create jobs and investment in a city neighborhood.
“You are creating long-term economic growth, and new jobs,” said Strickland. “In the short term, you are creating construction jobs. In fact, dollar for dollar, an investment in a building rehabilitation project creates more jobs than an investment even in a highway construction project.”
Team NEO, an economic clearinghouse for the 16 counties in Ohio’s northeast corner, has tracked the economic impact of the arts district as a dramatic $317 million in Cleveland alone through 2013.
In comparison, the five major projects of the arts district — three theatres, a stylish streetscape and added parking — represent a total investment of just $30 million.
The state of Ohio has invested $1.9 million in capital funds and provided leveraging for $4.4 million in federal tax credits.
Other funds have come from a variety of sources, including the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, foundations and private contributions.
“Our urban agenda in Ohio is clear,” said Strickland. “We must build upon the great resources already existing within our cities, we must revitalize forgotten treasures and we must celebrate the cultural and economic vitality that pulses through our cities.”
“The Gordon Square Arts District serves as an example for cities across the nation of how to uncover a neighborhood’s assets, invest in them and watch it take off and deliver more than a tenfold return,” said Christopher M. Connor, chairman and CEO of Sherwin-Williams.
“The non-profits and civic leadership behind its revival have cleverly leveraged the arts into a newly revived, productive community.”
Connor is also chair of Team NEO.
The Gordon Square Arts District, a collaborative work of three nonprofits — the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization, Cleveland Public Theatre and the Near West Theatre — is seen as a national model of how the arts can stimulate economic development.
The Team NEO study did not measure additional real estate and development activity, which is estimated by the Gordon Square Arts District and Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization at an additional $400 million or more.
Most of the restaurants, shops, galleries and other businesses are flourishing, with 33 new ones opening since 2006.
Housing ranging from live-work spaces for artists to spacious condominiums for successful entrepreneurs is in demand.
Additional components include streetscape improvements on Detroit Avenue between West 58th and West 73rd streets and new parking to accommodate residents and visitors.
The theatres provide unique entertainment to attract audiences from throughout the region.
For more information about Gordon Square, please contact 216-961-4242 or visit online www.gordonsquare.org
Project will add jobs and millions of dollars to the economy.
Friday, May 21, 2010
(Cleveland) – Local leaders met at the renovated Capital Theatre at West 65th and Detroit to talk about the success of the Gordon Square Arts District.
The $30 million revitalization program is expected to pump $317 million into the economy of the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood by 2017. Backers say the Gordon Square project has created 950 permanent jobs, plus 310 construction jobs.
Gordon Square Co-Chairman Dick Pogue says fundraising continues. Governor Strickland says the project is an amazing success. Chris Conner of Sherwin-Williams and team NEO agrees.
Plans are now underway to link Gordon Square to Lake Erie allowing residents to walk from the arts district to the shoreline.
The man who revived the gritty ABC Tavern has an XYZ in store
On pace to open five new eateries in just 18 months, Alan Glazen is the most ambitious restaurateur you’ve never heard of. In contrast to chefs like Zack Bruell and Michael Symon, who slowly and deliberately expand their culinary portfolios, Glazen seems bent on opening as many new joints as possible.
Restaurateur Marlin Kaplan insisted that his latest restaurant would open in July. Apparently, skepticism crept into my voice when I pressed the point — remodeling and openings are capricious undertakings — because Kaplan was all “No, no, watch me.” You win, Marlin. His Roseangel — the down-priced reinvention of partner Rosita Kutkut’s former La Boca, not only opened close to target, it pretty much hits the bull’s-eye. It’s at 5800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, on the edge of Cleveland’s Gordon Square area, across from Happy Dog, if you need a cool landmark.
