The Observation Deck

Stan, you're right. And that is especially so with pizza parlors. They really have to differentiate themselves these days because pizza is considered to be a commodity. And it's so easy for an indifferent owner to make a mediocre pizza. Let me know how the place on Madison is.

Michael Loje wrote:Their lifetimes, I think, were measured in months. What was that story?

It was a simple case of oversight.

Crazy Rita's owners dominate downtown Cleveland and West 9th. They were huge in the Flats. They own(ed) high volume accounts like Panini's on East 9th and own trendy places on West 9th (Sushi Rock). They simple thought that the Lakewood location would be a simple lay up - open the doors and people will come. They forgot that they had to put on the same high performance that they did at their other locations. The owners remain high volume accounts all over the county, just not in Lakewood.

The ownership of Cleats were used to being the only show in town. They had high volume accounts in North Royalton and Strongsville. They came to Lakewood and the service was terrible and the food was bad. In the other locations, quality food and good service. I think they just expected more of the same success without putting in the same effort.

In the end, I chalk it up to simple oversight. This in one thing that Deagan's has not done, hence the successful addition of Humble.

Corey

Corey Rossen wrote:

Michael Loje wrote:Bill, sometimes a place that is underfunded, with bad food and bad service, and management/ownership that has no affinity for that business, just cannot survive. Especially in a large building with probably high rent. An example would be Cleats/Crazy Rita's.

Cleats and Crazy Rita had strong, established owners who have run successful businesses outside of Lakewood. They were just poorly run here. They had the mentality that in Lakewood all you have to do is open the doors and a bar/restaurant will be successful. The owners of your two examples proved that theory to be wrong.

I'm glad that their poor management paved the road for an amazing place that the city can be proud of, Deagan's.

Corey

Cleats and Crazy Ritas was just like every other place in Lakewood, a sports type bar with a lame beer selection and crap food. 8 years ago, the only decent food that wasnt bar food (barring specific ethnic restaurants because there have been many good ones; I am speaking specifically of 'american fare') in Lakewood was Players and Three Birds. Neither were places that I could bring my kids, imo. And I was sick of picking between wings and burgers at every other establishment in town. Lakewood was a desert for mid priced options of good food that wasnt bar food.

So when Deagan's (and then Jammy Buggars, and then Humble, and then.....) opened, it was a breath of fresh air. I remember when Dan Deagan was promoting before we opened his 'gastropub' and many people, some on this site, were like "we dont need another bar in town" because they didnt understand what a gastropub was or what Dan Deagan's vision was. I am glad he stuck it out and won over the naysayers. He helped to provide a climate and show there was a market there for that type of place.

With that said, I will never tire of good places to eat where it isnt too expensive and I can show up in jeans on a friday with my kids at 6:30 pm without a reservation and not wait an hour. Corey is right, in that people are getting pickier with what they want out of where they spend their money for food. Marginal service and dishes may not cut it anymore.

The Stache is still open. TV's were on yesterday, people were there, and their facebook page had updates.

Valerie Molinski wrote:...and many people, some on this site, were like "we dont need another bar in town" because they didnt understand what a gastropub was or what Dan Deagan's vision was.

Val

I love it when you attack a place with hundreds of views with such a broad brush as group
speak.

I believe the conversation was, not about a bar. as it was already a bar, but people hoping it
was another place that served mediocre burgers or ground beef.

Which is what I believe you are agreeing with in the second part of the post.

But you just love taking those jabs.

John

I hope the Stasche is open, the kid put a ton of money into it. It has to be a mind blower
to him that Cleveland Vegan has a line out the door.

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Valerie Molinski wrote:...and many people, some on this site, were like "we dont need another bar in town" because they didnt understand what a gastropub was or what Dan Deagan's vision was.

Val

I love it when you attack a place with hundreds of views with such a broad brush as group
speak.

I believe the conversation was, not about a bar. as it was already a bar, but people hoping it
was another place that served mediocre burgers or ground beef.

Which is what I believe you are agreeing with in the second part of the post.

But you just love taking those jabs.

.

Jim:

I love when you take everything so personally. It's so predictable and I wouldnt expect anything less. I would have quoted it if I could find those old posts, but I figured you would not have an issue to referring to ethereal comments made without backing up sources.

There was a lot of those comments from people back then, not just here. The LO Deck is not the center of the universe. It's easy to paint a site with a broad brush as group think when only one person uses it as a bully pulpit and runs off other contributors who do not share and/or challenge his views, despite his protestations to the contrary.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:I hope the Stasche is open, the kid put a ton of money into it. It has to be a mind blower
to him that Cleveland Vegan has a line out the door.

.

Hint

Everyone--- Give Forage a try (old Player's location in Lkwd Ctr North) a friend and I ate there last week and were very impressed with the local and original dishes

Stan, you mean the old PACER'S location

Mike, you're correct. I believe that Forage is an offshoot of the chef at Deagan's. Once again-- well worth the visit.

Getting back to the original topic: My son informs me the reports of the demise of Stache are premature. He was in there on Saturday so they are indeed still open

Glad to hear that they are actually still open. Apparently they had a heating issue or something? Just curious that when I tried the phone number on their website the other day (after seeing the place dark when it should have been open), I got a "this line is no longer in service" message. I apologize for the confusion but I saw no messages on FB or their website or the door indicating a temporary problem. Looks like I still have a chance to try them out. (If I'm convinced it's worth skipping Jammy Buggar's for.)