CLE Urban Winery is Best New Business

Destiny Burns, owner of CLE Urban Winery, in front of her newest wine tank. CLE Urban Winery won Best New Business in the FutureHeights 2017 Best of the Heights Awards. Photo by Deanna Bremer Fisher.

In the 2017 Best of the Heights Awards contest, readers of the Heights Observer honored outstanding businesses in Cleveland Heights and University Heights by voting, Jan. 15 through Feb. 15, for their favorites in 12 categories. In all, 195 businesses were nominated.

CLE Urban Winery (2180B Lee Road), producer and retailer of handcrafted wines, edged out finalists Greedy Girl and Zoma Ethiopian Restaurant to win Best New Business.

Owner Destiny Burns said that winning the award was exciting, humbling and validating. “I feel like we are connecting with the community. My vision for this place was a community space, and that is really what it is becoming and it’s wonderful to see,” she said.

CLE Urban Winery hosts a variety of events, such as yoga and tango classes, and features local musicians and the work of local artists. The space also attracts groups, both formal and informal. “The other day one of our Wine Club members, who is a teacher in the Heights, asked if we could stay open a little later one night so that she and a few of her friends could stop over after a movie to discuss it. I said, ‘Sure, I’d be happy to do that for a Wine Club member,’ and about 70 people came—all ages, races. It was awesome.”

Burns said her secrets to success are her mottos, “good wine made fun” and “drink wine, do good.” She said she strives to produce a quality product, has a fantastic staff, celebrates Cleveland—not just with the wine labels and names, but by featuring local music and art, and partnering with local businesses—and she emphasizes community by giving back to local causes.

The business opened in summer 2016, and is already planning an expansion into the storefront immediately north of its current footprint. “In March, we are holding an open house for restaurants, venues and catering companies to bring them here to taste the wine. We have a license to self-distribute, and we are also getting into the bridal market with custom labels and half-bottles for favors. We needed more space for administration and wine storage, and the beauty of this space is that it is so flexible.”

Heights residents find the exterior of Big Fun (1814 Coventry Road) enticing—the store won awards for both Best Storefront Signage and Best Window Display.

“That’s exciting, that’s good news,” said Steve Presser, owner of the vintage toy store, “because that means people like what is on the outside so hopefully they like what is on the inside, too.” Presser explained how he worked with several local artists to design the signage, which includes both recycled neon letters and sculptural elements that communicate the store’s quirky, vintage character, and how he often works with his “creatively inclined” employees to create the window displays.

Presser said that he used to change his window displays monthly, but that he doesn’t always find that necessary. “Dr. Who has been up for about a year and half because people like it,” he said. He did hint that he was working with a local collectors club to create a new design that will debut soon.

The award for Best Interior Appearance went to Gigi’s on Fairmount (3477 Fairmount Blvd.) The restaurant is chic and comfortable, with large mirrors, fresh flowers and gorgeous chandeliers. "It is an honor and pleasure serving the Heights community,” said Jim Patsch, who owns the restaurant with his wife, Gia.

Tommy’s restaurant (1824 Coventry Road) was recognized twice, winning awards for Best Place to Take an Out-Of-Towner and Best Bang For Your Buck. Owner Tommy Fello said he was humbled to receive the award and thanked his customers. “It’s great that people who live in the area treasure [this business] so much that they want to bring in their friends.”

He said the Best Bang for Your Buck award made him sleep a bit easier. “It is heartwarming,” he said. “I remember when we had 8 seats up the street and a little Betty Crocker oven that I would make the food in. A milkshake was $0.35 and a pizza $0.50. Now everything is so expensive. I’ve always kept the quality, but I’m always worried about having to raise prices. But if you are going to stay in business and pay people what they need to be paid, you have to do it. I’m glad people realize it.”

The Wine Spot (2271 Lee Road), a purveyor of wine and microbrew beers, won the award for Best Online Presence. “We haven’t won before,” said Susan Fleischer, who opened the store with her husband Adam in 2012. “We’ve always been a runner-up, so it’s nice to know that people still consider us even after all this time. We feel like we are competing against friends so we are happy for everyone who wins.”

Quintana's Barber & Dream Spa (2190–2000 S. Taylor Road), was awarded Best (Friendliest) Customer Service. Owners Dawn and Alex Quintana said they were thrilled to be recognized and proud of their staff.

Zagara’s Marketplace (1940 Lee Road), Cleveland Heights’ neighborhood grocery store, was named Best Neighborhood Partner. Third-generation owner John Zagara said he was humbled to be recognized for the role the store plays in the community. “We partner with a lot of community groups,” he said, "and we try to give generously." Zagara said he had received four requests that same day.

The awards for Best Cleveland Heights Business and Best University Heights Business went to Mister Brisket and Geraci’s Restaurant, respectively.

Geraci’s (2266 Warrensville Center Road), features a variety of pizzas and pasta dishes. Marti Spoth, along with her husband Greg, is the second-generation owner of Geraci’s, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2016.

Mister Brisket (2156 S. Taylor Road) was also named Best Hidden Gem. “How’d I win? I only voted twice!” exclaimed Hank Kornblut, who owns the high-end butcher shop and deli with his stepfather Sanford Herskovitz, as he grappled with the news. The shop may have a small storefront, but it has continued to be a Heights favorite since it opened in 1973.

Winners and Finalists in the FutureHeights 2017 Best of the Heights Awards contest are:

Best New Business
Winner
CLE Urban Winery
Finalists
Greedy Girl
Zoma Ethiopian Restaurant

Best (Friendliest) Customer Service
Winner
Quintana’s Barber & Dream Spa
Finalists
Mister Brisket
The Wine Spot

Best Neighborhood Partner
Winner
Zagara’s Marketplace
Finalists
The BottleHouse Brewery
The Wine Spot
Tommy’s

Best Place-to Take an Out-of-Towner
Winner
Tommy’s
Finalists
Gigi’s on Fairmount
Nighttown

Best Bang for Your Buck
Winner
Tommy’s
Finalists
Aladdin’s
Mister Brisket
Tavern Company

Best Interior Appearance
Winner
Gigi’s on Fairmount
Finalists
Appletree Books
Shawn Paul Salon
Taste

Best Window Display
Winner
Big Fun
Finalists
Appletree Books
Heights Arts

Best Storefront Signage
Winner
Big Fun
Finalists
Luna Bakery Café
Melt Bar & Grilled
The Wine Spot

Best Online Presence
Winner
The Wine Spot
Finalists
Atma Center
Mister Brisket

Best Hidden Gem
Winner
Mister Brisket
Finalists
Gigi’s on Fairmount
Greedy Girl

Best University Heights Business
Winner
Geraci’s Restaurant
Finalists
Sweet Melissa
Whole Foods

Best Cleveland Heights Business
Winner
Mister Brisket
Finalists
Tommy’s
Zagara’s Marketplace

Since 2005, FutureHeights—a nonprofit that inspires and facilitates collaboration and empowerment in our community—has conducted the Best of the Heights awards to recognize the unique attributes of locally owned Heights businesses, and their contributions to the local economy. A complete list of 2017 Best of the Heights winners and finalists, as well as a list of businesses that voters said they would like to see in the Heights, is online at www.futureheights.org.

Deanna Bremer Fisher

Deanna Bremer Fisher is executive director of FutureHeights and publisher of the Heights Observer.

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Volume 10, Issue 3, Posted 10:30 AM, 02.28.2017