Katz Club on Track for April Opening

Renovations are ongoing at the stainless steel diner cars on Lee Road

In a little more than two months Cleveland Heights residents can try the latest business venture to hit the diner cars on Lee Road. Katz Club, at 1975 Lee Road, will open in early or mid-April as a '50s style diner and event center, said Amy Viny, who will handle marketing and social media for the new eatery. Cleveland Heights resident Douglas Katz purchased the property there in November with the help of a $200,000 loan from the city. "We're thrilled about what's going on," said Viny, who serves the same role for Katz's popular Fire Food & Drink on Shaker Square. "We've had positive interactions with the city and we're looking forward to it. "Everything is going swimmingly well." Viny said people should expect a high-end diner when they …

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Cleveland Heights Filmmaker Offers Free Video Profiles to Business Owners

Stephon J. Davis will select three business owners to create video profiles for

Stephon J. Davis is in a giving mood, even when it comes to services he could be paid handsomely for if he demanded it. Instead, the Cleveland Heights-based filmmaker is looking for three businesses in the area to create free profile videos for as part of a contest. The companies can put them on their websites, YouTube channels or wherever else they see fit. "I figured everyone could use a good Web video to get your name out there more, use social media, things like that," he said. "A lot of businesses are still not really making that transition yet, so I thought it was a great way to open people up to that and be a part of that type of advertising." There's really no catch other than for business owners to tell Davis how they got started …

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Spynga Expands, Offers Classes for Kids

"Lil gym flow" begins this Sunday

Change has been a constant at Spynga Yoga and Cycling Studio for the past year, and it continues this weekend with the introduction of additional space and a new class for youngsters. Contractors worked feverishly Wednesday on finishing the room that will house the Coventry studio's latest offering, "lil yoga flow." The new class gives children, ages 4 to 13, an opportunity to learn the same physical and mental confidence, patience and peace that instructors at Spynga try to instill in parents. The new class, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, takes place during Spynga's weekly "Super Duper Spynga Flow" for adults. Both classes consist of two 45-minute components — spinning and yoga. Parents can take their class while children do the same, or…

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Mac's Backs Owner Appears on NPR

Listen to or download the "Best Books of 2012" discussion featuring the coventry business' co-owner

You've seen our rankings of the top local news stories of 2012 and some national lists of the best movies, songs and shows, but what about the best books? A Cleveland Heights retailer joined a panel on NPR this week to help listeners remember the year in pages. Suzanne DeGaetano, co-owner of Mac’s Backs on Coventry, was a guest on NPR's Ideastream program Wednesday to help discuss the top titles of 2012. Click here to listen to/download the program and view the list of books discussed Hosted by Dee Perry, the panel also included representatives from the Plain Dealer and the Cuyahoga County Public Library.

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Heights Arts Holiday Store Open Through Sunday

There are two days left to get gifts at the holiday store on Lee Road

Consider These Coventry Stores for Christmas Shopping

With one weekend left for Christmas shopping, here are a few local options

Just like shoppers, business owners are hoping for the best results going into the final weekend of Christmas shopping. "We should have a really busy weekend on Coventry," Big Fun Toy Store owner Steve Presser said. "I really feel good about the mix of stores on this street. In the next four days, (a business owner) could do 15 to 20 percent of your sales." Presser is cautiously optimistic, though. Cleveland Heights could get up to 12 inches of snow this weekend. Still, Presser expects large crowds on through Monday. Thinking of visiting Coventry? Check out Santa and caroling this weekend. "We have a number of independent stores," he said. "We have the full range of offerings — clothes, jewelry, books, records — really, the full gamut." …

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What Should Go in Soon-to-Close Big Dog Space?

The theater will close at the end of this month. What kind of business do you think should replace it?

Cleveland Heights Patch readers had a variety of reactions upon learning last week that Big Dog Theater owner Don Mitri plans to close after less than two years of operation. Some readers considered it another disappointing loss for the Coventry business district, while others said they had no clue that Big Dog had even opened at the former Centrum Theater in February 2011. "With a name like Big Dog, I assumed it was still a sports bar," reader Jim Raden wrote on our Facebook page. "Who knew that it had become a theater again? "Had they chosen another name, they would have heightened awareness that it was actually a theater. With that, I'm sad to see them go." Mayor Ed Kelley said the city would work with property owner Coventry Holdings …

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Garry Kanter

2:49 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

I agree with just about every word you wrote. The city needs one of more comprehensive, well thought out programs to deal with the commercial/retail vacancies. Instead, the mayor and council give those Meadowbrook-Lee guys $5 MILLION in discounted and unappraised land and tax abatements to exacerbate the problems you describe. Things gotta change in November, 2013, or things will *never* change …   more ›

SweetieFry to Secretly Offer Free Scoops to Gift Card Buyers

Two gift card purchasers will get extra ice cream as part of a special promotion

If you bought a SweetieFry gift card in the past six days or plan to purchase one before New Year's Day, you could be in for more ice cream than you bargained for. The Lee Road eatery has announced that two of its gift cards purchased between Dec. 3 and Dec. 31 will secretly include the right to 25 free, extra scoops of ice cream. The lucky buyer will realize he or she won the free ice cream the first time the gift card is used after Dec. 31. Visit SweetieFry's Facebook page for more information.

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Mayor Kelley Reacts to Big Dog Theater's Closing

The mayor believes cutbacks in entertainment spending led to the closing

Cleveland Heights Mayor Ed Kelley lamented the news that Big Dog Theater will close at the end of the month, attributing it to patrons who needed to cut their spending. "We're certainly sad to lose them," Kelley said in a phone interview. "They're part of the fabric of the Coventry commercial area. "The competition for entertainment dollars is so fierce." Big Dog owner Don Mitri wrote an email to his subscribers Wednesday morning announcing the closure. He said the theater will close after two more shows later this month. The 260-seat theater opened in February 2011. "This decision was not easy to make, but it was one that had to be made and it is time to say goodbye," Mitri wrote. The owner said the theater will continue to offer classes…

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Passion for Pink Party on Coventry to Benefit The Gathering Place

Ten percent of purchases made during Blush Boutique's benefit party will be donated to The Gathering Place

A Coventry Village boutique will turn pink this Saturday in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Blush Boutique will host a "Passion for Pink" benefit party from 5 to 10 p.m. at 1783 Coventry Road. The shop will be filled will pink decorations, dresses and miniature martini glasses to celebrate the perseverance of cancer survivors like owner Laurie Klopper's best friend, Cindy Young. "I'd always heard about breast cancer and I ran the (Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure) for years, but you never think this is going to affect you until it hits somebody you know," Klopper said. But she was just so upbeat during the entire experience." Young, a Cleveland Heights resident and three-year survivor, will also attend the event. Ten percent of …

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