The Observation Deck

Not only is Lakewood rated the best suburb, but it seems we're best at almost everything else. Most romantic restaurant, best pizza, best middle eastern food, best hardware store, best chocolate, best sporting goods store, best local theater and director, best health food store.

And we're close to a lot of the other winners, like Edgewater Park-- best park, best swimming. Best cab service, best jukebox!

I wonder if this will have an effect on our population?

From The Scene Best of list:

Best suburb:Lakewood
Best playground for kids: Lakewood Park
Best Entrepreneur: Matt Fish of Melt
Best Jewelry maker:Erika Originals, Erika Laine Hansen of Lakewood
Best restaurant, best sandwich shop, best Taste of Cleveland, and best local food champ,
Melt Bar and Grilled
Best Restaurant for Romance: Pier W
Best New Restaurant: Deagan's Kitchen and Bar
Best Pizza: Angelo's Pizza
Best Middle Eastern: Aladdin's Eatery
Best Health Food Store: Nature's Bin
Best Locallly Owned Hardware Store: Lakewood Hardware
Best Chocolate Shop: Malleys
Best Wine Shop: Rozi's Wine House
Best Bicycle Shop: Spin Bike Shop
Best Florist: Brennan's Floral Gift Shop
Best Tobacco Supply Shop: Cheap Tobacco-- all locations
Best Discount Store: Marc's-- all locations
Best Sporting Goods Store: Geiger's
Best High School Team: St. Edward
Best Skate Park: Lakewood Park
Best Local Theater Company: Beck Center for the Arts
Best Director: Scott Spence
Best Sports Bar: Winking Lizard-- all locations
Best Beer Selection: Buckeye Beer Engine
Best Scenic Drive: Cleveland Metroparks-- all of it

VERY NEAR LAKEWOOD

Best park: Edgewater Park
Best place to swim: Edgewater Park
Best place to cure the munchies: My Friend's Deli
Best place to buy groceries: Heinens
Best Vintage Store: Flower Child (115 Clifton)
Best Gay/Lesbian Bar: Twist (11633 Clifton)
Best Jukebox: Spitfire Saloon (1539 W 117th)
Best Cab Company: Westlake Express (19061 Depot St. Rocky River)
Best Golf Course: Big Met (4811 Valley Parkway, Fairview Park)
...

Betsy Voinovich

Looking at the list, it would seem attactive to young urbanites who want to be close to things. That is a great population to attract. And it also reflects things that keep many of us already here, here.

The Scene missed one of our most valuable assets.

Best Online Forum: Lakewood Observation Deck/Good Neighbors Talking Over The Digital Fence

Couple observations: in reviewing the list of winners, it is nice to see that there is balance both in geographic location within Lakewood and single/multiple location businesses. While there is a backlash against franchise, corporate owned businesses it starts with one location that did well and expanded (Aladdins, Angelo's, Melt). It's tremendous that Lakewood is positioned to be the breeding ground for successful startups.
Speaking of startup opportunity, it's interesting to me that several of the categories Lakewood did not have a winner were those that we didn't have a candidate. May be a good place to start in identifying a niche to fill. Maybe not best tattoo parlor, but BBQ or Dim Sum, Best place to hold a wedding maybe?
Good work to the winners, and to those in the running who will be on the list next year.

The Beachland won ‘Best Club for Concerts’. I would have to think Lakewood’s Winchester or nearby Brothers Lounge are close behind.

So many good things here in Lakewood on that list that I take for granted because that has become the norm here.

Every burb has their pluses and minuses. Lakewood is not perfect but I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

Maybe I should move back to Lakewood

Shawn Juris wrote:Couple observations: in reviewing the list of winners, it is nice to see that there is balance both in geographic location within Lakewood and single/multiple location businesses. While there is a backlash against franchise, corporate owned businesses it starts with one location that did well and expanded (Aladdins, Angelo's, Melt). It's tremendous that Lakewood is positioned to be the breeding ground for successful startups.
Speaking of startup opportunity, it's interesting to me that several of the categories Lakewood did not have a winner were those that we didn't have a candidate. May be a good place to start in identifying a niche to fill. Maybe not best tattoo parlor, but BBQ or Dim Sum, Best place to hold a wedding maybe?
Good work to the winners, and to those in the running who will be on the list next year.

Shawn,

Great observations! I agree that we have the perfect place for cultivating start ups.

I am sure you are aware of this, but for everyone else I am posting details of tomorrow's Start Up Lakewood event below.

Time Tuesday, April 5 · 6:30pm - 8:30pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location Virginia Marti College of Art and Design
11724 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, OH

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Created By Startup Lakewood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More Info "You Have An Idea -- Now What?"
Resources for New Entrepreneurs

The first Startup U event will be all about resources that are available to entrepreneurs right here in Lakewood and throughout the rest of Greater Cleveland. Startup Lakewood's Director of Ideation, Mike Belsito, will keep the conversation going by interviewing a couple of special guests, and there will be plenty of time for questions from the audience...networking...and more!

Confirmed Guests:
Dar Caldwell: Founder, LaunchHouse
Dru Siley: Assistant Director of Planning and Development, City of Lakewood