Small-business owners who don't know how or why to use online marketing – especially social media – have a chance to learn the basics in a fast, easy workshop hosted by the new Heights Independent Business Alliance (HIBA).
For the fourth consecutive year, a national survey has found that independent businesses in communities with active Buy Independent / Buy Local (BIBL) campaigns experienced markedly stronger sales growth compared to those without similar campaigns.
That information is relevant here: the Heights Independent Business Alliance (HIBA) was founded to initiate such a campaign in Cleveland Heights and University Heights.
On Feb. 19, Big Dog Theater officially opened its doors in the Historic Centrum Theater, located at 2781 Euclid Heights Boulevard. This new theatrical performance and training facility is the creation of Cleveland actor Don Mitri.
Mint Café is back, reincarnated as High Thai’d. Around the first of the year, owner Matt Kanegkasikorn shut the doors of his popular Coventry Road Thai restaurant. The business was sold to longtime employee Tony Chaichana, a Thai native who recently earned an MBA from Baldwin-Wallace college.
Club Sober Juice Bar & Grille, 2214 Lee Road, is a new, alcohol-free and family-oriented restaurant. Owner Mike Waddy opened the Lee Road spot three months ago on the former site of Chuck’s Diner. “I’m glad for the opportunity to be located in Cleveland Heights,” said Waddy. “My favorite part of doing business here is the friendly people I get to meet every day.”
Waddy and members of his family developed Club Sober's style menu. Along with breakfast, which is served all day, the reasonably priced menu features a variety of hearty items such as the “Waddy World” burger, Philly steak sandwiches and fried chicken. Several types of juices and real fruit “Waddy-Style Smoothies” also complement the menu.
Luna Bakery & Cafe
John Emerman and Tatyana Rehn, of The Stone Oven Bakery & Cafe, along with local pastry chef Bridget Cavanaugh Thibeault of Flour Girl, are joining to bring specialty bakery and café-style dining to the Cedar-Fairmount district.
Isabella & Company, CPAs
Raymond Isabella announced that Isabella & Co., an accounting firm, is opening its third location, in the Heights Center Building on Cedar Road.
North Star Acupuncture
North Star Acupuncture is opening an office in Suite 324 of the Heights Medical Building at 2460 Fairmount Boulevard.
Long time Heights resident Michael Adams is opening Rockefeller’s, an upscale lounge and fine dining establishment, in the former banking hall of the historic Heights Rockefeller Building on Feb. 1. The space had most recently been operated as a party center by building owner Jim Barle.
Adams, an attorney, is new to the restaurant business. “I was downsized from a law firm during the recession,” he said. “My wife Mazie and I love to entertain and I was fascinated with how restaurants work growing up in New Jersey.”
“The other places I looked at were cookie-cutter storefronts that I would have to build from scratch. When I saw this space, it fit my vision exactly and Jim is flexible and business-friendly.”
Heights Floral Shoppe, which has been in the Fairmount-Taylor shopping district for 44 years, is the place to go for artistic, personalized floral arrangements. "I don’t design by formula. Each arrangement is a response to a particular customer and the flowers available that day," said Tammy L. Currier, who has owned the business since 2007. An appreciative customer once remarked to Currier, "Everything that leaves this store has a little bit of you in it."
Two years ago, when Currier was looking for ways to cut costs, she decided to stay in the neighborhood. Recently, she moved a few doors down Fairmount Boulevard to a light, airy space inside Paysage, an interior design store on the corner of Fairmount and South Taylor Road. She says, "This shop provides solace—the beautiful colors and wonderful smell when you walk in. I didn’t want to take that away from my customers and from people who like this shopping district," said Currier.
Big Dog Theater is set to officially opens its door in February in the historic Centrum Theater, at 2781 Euclid Heights Blvd in Coventry Village. This new theatrical performance and training facility is the creation of Cleveland actor Don Mitri. Each weekend, Big Dog Theater will host different shows and various forms of comedy, including national stand-up acts, sketch groups and improv. In addition, Big Dog Theater will house a training center offering a challenging selection of classes and workshops. Taught by locally and nationally known instructors, these classes will be offered to everyone from novice to the professional performer.
If you are looking for a finer fine dining experience, look no further than A Phiner Bistro. Named for its owner, Nigerian-born Phiner Dike-Jelden (pronounced Fena Deekay), this upscale white linen eatery, with a vibrant yellow interior, offers a fresh, organic and eclectic menu of world cuisine, as well as merchandise and classes.
After five years on the other side of the Cuyahoga, Dike-Jelden opened on Lee Road (between Jimmy O’Neill’s and Golden Dragon) on Jan. 11.
Heights Guitars, the instrument shop at 2128 Lee Rd., is now operating under new ownership, but it still exudes a welcoming atmosphere to accommodate regulars and newcomers. Customers amble in to chat and try out new merchandise store, which offers a wide range of instruments and accessories, and specializes in hard-to-find vintage items and instrument repair.
Former Heights Guitars owner Gregory Stiles died last February. John Carden and Jim Ross, who operate the Vintage City shop in Toledo, took ownership of the Heights store in October, which employs salespeople and repair techs.
Phyllis Sage moved to University Heights from Huntington Beach, California early in 2009 to be near her daughter’s family, Dr. Sherilyn Sage-Ponitz, an OB/Gyn at Beachwood OB/Gyn, her husband, Dr. Keith Ponitz, a pediatrition at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, and their three daughters, Diana, Mindle and Emma.
Most people move to warmer climes when they retire. Sage had other ideas when she retired from being a legal secretary. She started Phyl’s Frills, a “made to order” hand knitting and embroidery business where she creates and knits special orders. Phyl’s Frills also has a selection of scarfs, handbags, shawls and ready to wear already knitted and embroidered.
Judith Eugene has returned to Cleveland Heights, where she grew up, to open two businesses: The Loving Hands Group and Loving Hands Yoga and Reiki Studio.
The Loving Hands Group provides a unique variety of enrichment activities for seniors and others with limited mobility. It works by pairing clients with professionals, skilled hobbyists and alternative health care practitioners who visit the clients in their homes or group living facilities, such as assisted-living and nursing homes.
Members of The Loving Hands Group use their skills and talents to provide clients with an extensive list of activities to help keep their minds engaged and their bodies active, and to help keep them connected with friends and family.
Freezing temperatures and lake effect snow have not only kept children home from school, they have also kept many holiday shoppers away from local business districts.
The Cedar Fairmount Special Improvement District postponed its concert of holiday carols that was to be held at the Alcazar on Dec. 14. The SID will reschedule the Roxboro Middle School Chorus for a date to be determined in January.
The hottest website in town, www.clevelandpeople.com, spreads the word about more than 100 different ethnic groups in the Cleveland area. What makes the Heights so interesting and fun to live in is the diversity of the region's ethnic groups, along with their customs, music and food.
Want to learn more about your own ethinic heritage, gain exposure to new cultures or see what’s happening in the various communities? That’s one of the goals of the site.
Local children's book authors and illustrators, Tiffany Ann Laufer (Right) and Pam Spremulli (Left), signed their books at Sunbeam A Shop for Children on Dec 11. Laufer, a Cleveland Heights resident, is the author of The Porch Dream (www.bellaboobooks.com) and Spremulli's wrote and illustrated Letter Birds (www.pamspremulli.com). Both books are available online at www.bellaboobooks.com and at Mac's Backs in Coventry Village.
Northeastern Ohio chocolate lovers who grew up visiting Mitchell’s candy store in Cleveland Heights now have even more places to indulge their favorite passion. Through the holiday season, all 17 neighborhood Heinen’s grocery stores will have available a select assortment of hand-dipped artisan chocolates manufactured in Cleveland Heights by Mitchell’s Fine Chocolates.
Local, independent Heights merchants have a wide variety of offerings for even the most extensive gift list. And many merchants will gift wrap and ship your items! Here are some of our favorites:
Foodies
The Deck: 52 cards, each representing a local, independently-owned restaurant. Each card gives a $10 discount off a food purchase of $30 or more. Good through December 30, 2011.There are many Cleveland Independents members in the Heights area ($29.95, www.clevelandindependents.com).
American Vegan Kitchen by Geauga County resident Tamasin Noyes delivers delicious recipes to ambitious cooks. She also writes a terrific foodie blog ($18.95, Mac’s Backs).
Anything by Heights author Michael Ruhlman, such as Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking ($16, Mac’s Backs).
Just in time for the snow, Martini Skate and Snow, a store that offers the latest skateboarding and snowboarding equipment, apparel and footwear, will open soon in the Cedar Taylor commercial district, just north of Melt Bar & Grilled. The shop blends a boutique atmosphere with the expertise and selection of a board shop.
With all the news of businesses leaving the Cleveland Heights area, it’s refreshing to learn that Edward Jones Investments is staying. After starting the Cleveland Heights branch office 15 years ago in the Heights Medical Building, David Lavelle is relocating to a site across the street from the Heights Center Building. After a long search, David Lavelle determined that the Cedar Fairmount District was the best place to do business. When asked what influenced his decision to stay, Lavelle stated, “The central location of Cedar Fairmount, combined with the diversity and artistic culture of the Heights area, provided the best place to deliver the advice and services that we make available to our clients”.
A young boy’s dream became a reality for David Lavelle, when he graduated from college, joined the Edward Jones Investments firm, and opened its Cleveland Heights branch office in 1993.
Since peddling papers on his Plain Dealer route in fourth grade, Lavelle had an interest in money: how to make it, spend it, and invest it to have more.
Edward Jones offered one of the best intern programs for college graduates. Six months into the program, Lavelle knew that being an investment advisor was his calling. Edward Jones is a full-service investment firm helping clients with all their financial needs, big and small. The company's philosophy of investing and client care demonstrated that it was the firm for him.
Since working in the Cedar Fairmount Business District, I have come to know Karen Allgire as she taught Iyengar Yoga at her studio in the Heights Medical Building. Her quiet demeanor and pleasant personality led me to want to know more about her and how she came to be a teacher of yoga and owner of her own studio. Here is what said:
Sam Bell, the owner and founder of the Lusty Wrench garage on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights, has just been named the Delmar/Cengage Learning ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year.
Known as the dean of local mechanics, Bell routinely fields calls from his fellow professionals when they need advice on a difficult problem. "I think we all use him as our ‘guru’ when we get stuck," says Kenny Block, co-owner of Mac’s Marathon on Taylor Road.
The newly formed Heights Independent Business Alliance [HIBA] is seeking members. Business owners, nonprofits, community organizations and concerned citizens are invited to join us in the effort to strengthen our local economy.
Nearly 700 ballots have been cast. More than 250 businesses have been nominated. The “polls” are closed. Now it’s time to reveal who you chose as the “Best of the Heights.”
The annual Best of the Heights awards will be presented Monday, Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m., at Motorcars Toyota, 2950 Mayfield Road. The awards recognize the most popular Cleveland Heights and University Heights businesses.
Presented by FutureHeights, the Best of the Heights awards began in 2005. Some community favorites from previous years include Nighttown’s outdoor dining and Whole Foods for its green efforts. Among this year’s 20 categories are Best New Business, Friendliest Staff and Best Place to Take the Kids.
If a documentary’s story is not worth telling, flashy cinematography and dramatic music won’t overcome an audience’s lack of interest, according to Tim Gaydos, a videographer for a new documentary by local filmmaking group Educo Films.
In this case, Gaydos said, the subject matter speaks for itself.
The 30-minute documentary, a concept developed by the company’s producer, Stephon J. Davis, aims to educate viewers about how to support and create successful African American-owned businesses in the Cleveland Heights area.
The recently formed Heights Independent Business Alliance (HIBA) is collaborating with FutureHeights to build a vital Heights economy based on independent, locally owned businesses. Together the organizations seek to prevent proliferation of retail chains and other trends from displacing local entrepreneurs, by uniting area independent businesses, citizens and community organizations.
The annals of Cleveland music are littered with the remains of defunct clubs, DIY spaces and even big concert halls, so it’s encouraging to see that Coventry fixture the Grog Shop has clung to life so tenaciously for nearly two decades.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prefers that you use a professional car wash.
According to the EPA, dirty water runoff from driveway washing flows down the street, enters the storm drain, and directly pollutes our lakes and streams. Commercial car washes, on the other hand, are required to route wastewater to treatment plants, where contaminants, such as oil, grease and detergents, are removed. Yet, not all professional car washes are alike.
Nestled among the businesses on Lee Road is a store as unique as the surrounding community-and as the needs of the historical homes that line its streets. It wasn’t long after moving into our more than 90-year-old house that I first met Joel Borwick, owner of Seitz Agin Hardware. “I have to replace the grate thingy on one of my radiator covers,” I told him, bracing myself for the same “don’t carry that” I had heard at the bigger stores I visited. “They’re at the end of this aisle,” he responded, smiling at the look of relief on my face. Over the years, my encounters with Borwick and his staff would be many.
Cedar Lee business owners aren’t letting the economy get them down. Instead, they are focusing on summer activities and customer appreciation.
Recognizing that consumers have many options when it comes to shopping, dining or essential services, the Cedar Lee Special Improvement District wants to thank customers for continuing to support local businesses.
Dawn Ward and her daughter-in-law, Lauren, have opened a new store in the petite storefront that formerly housed Simply Charming. Funky Hippy is located at 2265 Lee Road and is open 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Mark R. Reich owns the Brew-n-Bistro, located at 20630 North Park Blvd., near the eastern entrance to John Carroll University. His wife plays in an Irish band, the Terriers, and she loves to partake in jam sessions with her bandmates and friends. Naturally, she thought the Brew-n-Bistro would be a great spot to play.
So every third Monday of the month, from 7 to 9 p.m., the Brew-n-Bistro now hosts an acoustic music jam session for all ages. Reich says that anyone who can play an instrument can come in and jam, and anyone can come to listen to the assembled musicians play swing, oldies, bluegrass, Celtic and other genres.
Debuting a 1,500 square-foot space for manicures, pedicures and keratin relaxer treatments, Studio Taylor owner, Nancy Taylor, said her staff looks forward to pampering clients in the newly expanded Fairmount Boulevard salon.
Tall windows next to manicure stations allow clients to peer out at passersby, while spherical chandeliers, poised above the new area, are reflected in large mirrors. Pops of red accent a new seating area with a couch and director chairs. Shampooing sinks and makeup stations have been shifted to give everyone a little more “elbow room,” Taylor noted.
"The staff is incredibly enthusiastic about the space, especially all the natural light,” she said, “and the clients love it. We’re also seeing a return of clients we haven’t seen in a long time because the space has improved.”
After two years under its current ownership, the Cedar Lee Pub has celebrated the grand opening of its new patio. Shaun Bosko, co-owner and general manager, believes the addition will be the focus of the bar this summer.
The patio, located behind the pub, is about 2,000 square feet with a full-service bar, two flat-screen televisions and a large projection screen off to the side. The patio has bar and table seating, with an awning covering about a third of the area.
Bosko thinks the patio is a great addition to the place, adding a nice feel to eating outside. He hopes the menu, with a summertime $5 burger-and-beer special, will be a hit. The special runs daily from 3-7 p.m. and into the evenings on Monday. It includes a burger, fries and a 16-ounce Labatt Blue.
Remodeling comes with horror stories: maxed credit cards, schedules months behind, fights with contractors. Now, imagine additional complications: remodel a bustling café using sustainable building practices while serving hundreds of people each day—and saving money at the same time. That’s the challenge locally-owned Phoenix Coffee, 2287 Lee Road, gave itself this winter. The results are a case study in sustainable remodeling success.
Construction historically has been one of the largest polluting industries because of everything from toxic building materials to demolition refuse. The U.S. government estimates that 26 percent of nonindustrial waste in our landfills is due to construction and demolition: over 160 million tons per year. Yet "green" building innovations are often more expensive due to the types of materials and processing involved, which presents a dilemma for small business owners who want to do the right thing, but may simply not being able to afford it.
Walking through the door at CUT Hair Studio, I immediately knew something was different. It was more than just the three extra client chairs that had materialized since my last visit. There was an excitement, an energy that seemed to ripple throughout the popular Lee Road hair salon.
"What’s going on?" I asked as I settled into the chair. Laura Griffith, owner and creator of CUT Hair Studio, explained that she was ready to make some changes in her business and career. "I knew that I wanted to take CUT to the next level, but not by myself. I also knew that if I was going to bring in a partner, it had to be the right person at the right time. Then Ken literally walked back into my life."
Gwynby Antiques has a new location and a new name. The shop has moved across the street from the Heights Medical Building to the Heights Center Building, 12427 Cedar road, and is now Cedar Fairmount Antiques.
The economy has many Heights merchants feeling an urgent need to try something new. “If we don’t do something fast,” said Trevor Gile, owner of Motorcars Honda, “we’re going to keep losing businesses. With fewer businesses, the city will collect fewer taxes and will have to cut services. Property values will decrease and everyone in the community will suffer.”
Heights independent business owners are banding together to bring more people into their shops. They were inspired by independent business expert Jeff Milchen, who came to town in March to discuss how the diversity of independently-owned businesses contribute to a community’s economy.
“There are 20 award categories this year,” said FutureHeights Programs Committee Chair Michael Wellman, “Some are the same as previous years, such as the Best New Business and others are new, such as Best Pub, Bar or Tavern. We try to keep the program fresh and create opportunities for all categories of businesses to be considered for an award.”
Since 2005, FutureHeights, a nonprofit dedicated to civic engagement and innovative ideas, has conducted this public opinion survey to recognize the unique attributes of locally-owned businesses in Cleveland Heights and University Heights and their contributions to the local economy.
Quintana’s is hosting a raffle to support the Officer Jason D. West Memorial Scholarship. Owner Alex Quintana recalls that Jason West was the first police officer to come into his business, Quintana's Barber & Dream Spa, at 2200 South Taylor Road. Quintana got to know West socially and professionally when he became a regular customer.
When West died while responding to a disturbance call on May 26, 2007, the staff at Quintana’s was in shock. “Jason was young and looking forward to the rest of his life,” remembered Quintana. “He had the job he wanted, a house in our community and he was looking for the right person to settle down with. He was dedicated to his work and loved his motorcycle. Sometimes he would come in just to hang out and talk.”
It's been a long time since Brian Okin was a busboy at Nighttown, or since his graduation from Heights High. The chef/owner of Verve restaurant recalls those days fondly, believing they were instrumental in his decision to open a restaurant in Cleveland. "I love Cleveland Heights and the Nighttown experience definitely made an impact."
Following his graduation from Heights High, Okin attended Butler University, but left before graduation. "I worked at a local northern Italian restaurant and became their sous chef. By the time I was 21, I was their executive chef."
The Tavern Company has a new owner and a new menu.
Chris Armington, who worked for 12 years at Brennan’s Colony as a bartender, server and manager, now owns The Tavern Company, also known as TavCo. “It’s always been a dream of mine to own my own business,” he says.
After signing the papers last November, his dream came true, and in January, Armington introduced a new menu for 2010. “If you’re a bar on Lee Road, you have to have wings and burgers, so we do that. But we also wanted to offer things that are a little more high end, and not be like every other bar on Lee Road.”
What should you do if your car won’t start?
Many times a customer will report that the engine cranks but does not turn over. If all of the usual noises occur when the key is turned, the engine is turning over. In this case, get the car to a mechanic because there are many factors that can prevent the car from starting.
Jeff Milchen, cofounder and director of the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA.net), will visit the Heights in late March. He will present the AMIBA model of community organizing to promote locally-owned independent businesses the evening of Wednesday, March 24.
He will hold a morning workshop, on Thursday, March 25, to explore, in more detail, the potential of creating an independent business alliance here.
Buddhaful Spin, a new exercise facility in Coventry Village, featuring spinning classes and a yoga studio, held an open house Jan. 2 and 3, to acquaint the public with its signature offering, Spynga.
Owned and operated by Jill Vinci and Carina Adams, the studio is the first liscensed Spyngna facility in the United States, importing the popular exercise routine from Canada.
"Cleveland? Why would I want to move to Cleveland?" This is a very typical reaction when a local company tries to recruit an executive from out of town -- and that is why Cleveland Heights- based Executive Arrangements has been in business for 30 years.
Negative impressions of Northeast Ohio are prevalent, especially if a candidate's exposure to Cleveland has been limited to what he or she has seen on the national news.
More than 100 times a year, Executive Arrangement staffers spend a day with a family considering a move to the area. They provide the family with a personalized tour of the city designed to match their interests and needs, and work to overcome any objections the family might have to moving here.
Local butcher shop Mister Brisket wants to send 100 salamis to the troops on Jan. 5. The store will pick up the tab for the first 20, then it's up to generous folks to pony up and underwrite the rest of the give.
Check out misterbrisket.com for donation information, or call the shop with your credit card, 216-932-8620. One salami is $20. Mr. Brisket will send your salami along with a personal message to serviceman Cormac Chandler, the son of customer Max Chandler, and his Medivac unit in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Through 12/30: Heights Arts Holiday Store, 2173 Lee Road.
12/6: Fair Trade Holiday Sale, 7 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. FREE. John Carroll University.
12/7-12/9: Open House/Pottery Sale, Cleveland Potter's Co-op, 3175 Kensington Road.
Locally owned Heights merchants have a variety of offerings for even the most extensive gift list. Here are some of the Heights Observer's favorites.
Foodies
Purchase gift certificates to any of your favorite local restaurants. Or go to www.clevelandindependentsdeck.com and purchase The Deck. For $29.95, it looks like a deck of cards and contains 52 $10-off coupons to locally-owned, Northeast Ohio restaurants.
A pan of roasted or barbecued brisket from Mister Brisket. According to the owner, this unique food item is indigenous to our region and in high demand. Each pan feeds 8 to10. (Mister Brisket)
After nearly 27 years in Coventry Village, Vidstar Video – the last independent video store in the Heights area – is closing for good.
Its last day will be Dec. 31, according to owner Les Groynom. Until then he’s liquidating inventory while continuing to rent videos, and he’s thanking long-time customers for going out of their way to support local merchants. The last new release, according to Vidstar’s Facebook fan page, will be The Hangover.
“I’ve rehearsed this answer,” Groynom said, when asked why he decided it was time to close.
Lisa Lansing, the owner of GYROTONIC® Cleveland and Inspiral Motion.
Lansing, a former professional dancer and athlete, opened Inspiral Motion studio at Fairmount Circle in January 2007.
Lansing had been exposed to pre- and post-natal Pilates and yoga while living in Europe. She began teaching out of her home when she moved to Cleveland Heights and had built a following while teaching at the Heights Parent Center and Cleveland Heights Recreation Center.
Cleveland Heights is full of best-kept secrets and Mister Brisket--a purveyor of custom meat, poultry, and seafood on South Taylor Road--pretty much tops the list.
Combine a national cult following for succulent, baked corned beef, with a fairly new retail outlet for some of the best deli sandwiches around, and you’ve got the makings of a local independent business that does more than its fair share to keep the Heights unique and sustainable.
You’ve got to feel for Denise Newman, owner of the Isle of Beads in the historic Heights Rockefeller Building.
“The bad news is, I have to move. The good news is, I only have to move four doors down. The bad news is, I have to move a million beads!” she says.
Denise never considered moving her store out of Cleveland Heights. She grew up here and bought her home here with her husband after getting her BFA from Ohio University. She is a supporter of the movement to buy locally, I BUY NEO.
Denise Newman opened Isle of Beads in July of 1991 to celebrate her love for beads. For nineteen years she has collected and offered for sale extremely beautiful and extraordinary beads and
Liquid Planet, a restaurant known for its smoothies and specialty pitas, opened last month at 12413 Cedar Road in the former Vixseboxse space in the Heights Center Building at Cedar Fairmount. Liquid Planet is open seven days a week, Monday through Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Heights location is the resturaunt's third in Northeast Ohio. Others are at 11002 Clifton Blvd. in Cleveland and 224 Crocker Park Blvd. in Westlake.
Visit www.liquid-planet.com for more information.
FutureHeights has formed a partnership with the Council for Smaller Enterprises (COSE) to encourage consumers and business owners to support locally-owned businesses and keep dollars within the Heights community. FutureHeights has promoted shopping at local businesses through its Heights Shops program since 2003.
“One-of-a-kind independent businesses are what give the Heights its unique character," says Deanna Bremer Fisher, executive director of FutureHeights. “Research shows that for every $100 spent at a locally-owned business, $45 goes back into the community, strengthening the tax base. For every $100 spent at a chain store, only $14 comes back. And, nonprofits receive an average of 350 percent more support from local business owners than they do from nonlocally- owned businesses.”
"I come to you with empty hands, I have not weapons, but should I be forced to defend myself, my principles or my honor, should it be a matter of life or death or right or wrong, then here are my weapons, karate, my empty hands."
These words appear on one of the many Hall of Fame plaques earned by Grandmaster Joel Dvorin, owner of Unified Martial Arts Academy on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights.
Unified Martial Arts teaches a combination of tae kwon do, kempo, and judo, with students ranging in