Ohio Bought a Record 437,507 Gallons of Liquor the Week Gov. DeWine Ordered Bars and Restaurants Closed Due to Coronavirus

by Vince Grzegorek on April 3, 2020 at 1:22PM

On the afternoon of Sunday, March 15, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that all bars and restaurants in the state would have to close by 9 p.m. that evening. It was among the first in a string of stunning orders given to help slow the spread of coronavirus that have altered daily life.

LJ Shanghai Has Reopened for Takeout, Thank the Soup Dumpling Gods

by Vince Grzegorek on April 3, 2020 at 1:00PM

Here's Bill Withers' Incredible Rock Hall Induction Speech in 2015

by Vince Grzegorek on April 3, 2020 at 10:48AM

Take 20 minutes of your Friday or weekend and listen to Bill Withers' acceptance speech at the 2015 Rock Hall ceremony, largely considered to be one of the best speeches in Rock Hall induction history. Joyous, funny, moving, honest — it's got everything we need today, plus Stevie Wonder performing "Ain't No Sunshine."

Buckeye Vodka Hosting Virtual Bartending Contest with Cash Prizes for Ohio Mixologists Laid-Off Because of COVID-19

by Seth Robinson on April 2, 2020 at 11:44AM

Among other establishments facing temporary closure, the country’s restaurants and bars — and their bartenders and waitstaff — have taken one of the hardest hits due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No longer able to work, many people in the service industry are facing reduced hours and layoffs.

Ohio Restaurants Lost $700 Million in Sales in March Due to Coronavirus, 10% Foresee Closing Permanently in April

by Vince Grzegorek on April 1, 2020 at 2:05PM

The numbers are somehow even more grisly than one might expect. In just the first three weeks of March, Ohio restaurants lost $698 million in sales and laid off more than 100,000 employees, according to a report from the Ohio Restaurant Association in conjunction with the National Restaurant Association.

Dave's Markets Buys Cleveland and Columbus Lucky's Market Locations

by Vince Grzegorek on March 27, 2020 at 2:28PM

While Lucky's Markets filed for bankruptcy and the majority of its stores earlier this year, the Cleveland location remained open. This week, it got a new owner.

Meijer to Install Plexiglass Shields to Combat Coronavirus

by Jerilyn Jordan on March 27, 2020 at 9:22AM

Michigan-based retailer Meijer announced Wednesday that it would be taking extra safety measures across its 248 supercenters as the coronavirus continues to sweep through the state. As an essential business, Meijer and other grocery stores are among those allowed to operate during Ohio's stay at home order issued by Gov. Mike DeWine.

Trader Joe's Confidential: Employee Worries the Company Isn't Taking Coronavirus Safety Seriously

by Anonymous on March 27, 2020 at 9:19AM

In the spirit of Kaizen… A Seattle store has already been shut down due to an employee testing positive for COVID-19, and reports are coming out that an employee has tested positive in New York as well.

Ohio Beer Sales Were Up 38% in the Week Before Coronavirus Shutdown

by Vince Grzegorek on March 26, 2020 at 1:37PM

The Buckeye State saw the coronavirus pandemic coming and took, for the most part, necessary steps to provide for each other's safety as Ohioans worked to flatten the curve. We worked from home.

This Shit's No Joke: Waffle House Closes 418 Locations Due to Coronavirus, Including Some in Ohio

by Daniel Hill on March 25, 2020 at 5:08PM

In other words, if you absolutely must get your Cheesesteak Melt Hashbrown Bowl fix, you have options. But considering the Waffle House Index is currently flashing red, you might also consider taking caution — and taking this COVID-19 stuff very seriously.

Ushabu Offering Japanese-Style Fried Chicken Starting Tomorrow

by Vince Grzegorek on March 25, 2020 at 1:09PM

Matt Spinner, like most other chefs in town, is trying just about anything he can to get Ushabu through this rough period, and starting tomorrow that means Japanese-style fried chicken, which is usually something he offers only around the holidays. The details:

Condado Tacos Offering $10 'Bud Boxes' for Carry-Out

by Hailey Bollinger on March 24, 2020 at 10:12AM

Cleveland Virtual Tip Jar Created to Help Local Service Industry Workers During COVID-19 Shutdown

by Brett Zelman on March 23, 2020 at 10:56AM

The restaurant industry was on the front wave of the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, with cutbacks, closures and layoffs for our friends and family in the service industry coming fast and furious since last week. One of the many creative ways people have come up with to help is the idea of a virtual tip jar, where you can tip a service industry worker every time you have a takeout meal or drink at home, just like you'd do at the bar or restaurant.

Here Are the Cleveland Grocery Stores With Special Hours Set Aside for Seniors to Shop

by Vince Grzegorek on March 20, 2020 at 12:39PM

Lakewood's Western Reserve Distillers Now Making Hand Sanitizer Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

by Vince Grzegorek on March 20, 2020 at 11:06AM

Here's a List of Ohio Craft Brewers Offering Beer for Carry-Out and Delivery

by Maija Zummo on March 19, 2020 at 4:42PM

After the Ohio Department of Health issued an order on March 15 to close all bars and restaurants to the public, many have been using alternative means like carry-out, pick-up and delivery to serve their customers. That includes breweries.

West Side Market Vendors Now Offering Call-Ahead Ordering, Curbside Pickup

by Vince Grzegorek on March 19, 2020 at 3:30PM

Geraci's Owner: "We Need to Stick Together, Support Local Business When We Can, Because We Don't Know Who's Coming Out of This"

by Brett Zelman on March 19, 2020 at 9:28AM

Bucky Spoth is part of a third generation of family members who have been owners of Geraci's Restaurant, the University Heights Italian institution that expanded to Pepper Pike and Mayfield Village in the last few years. His maternal grandparents opened the restaurant in 1956, and since then it's been a family affair.

Cleveland Chef Michael Symon Wants to Help You Cook Good Food at Home During the Coronavirus Shutdown

by Laura Morrison on March 17, 2020 at 5:02PM

Of course, for the meals you don't feel like cooking, there are plenty of great Cleveland restaurants offering take-out and delivery too. Sign up for Scene's weekly newsletters to get the latest on Cleveland news, things to do and places to eat delivered right to your inbox.

Cleveland Restaurants and Bars May Have Closed, But These Places Still Offer Take-Out and Delivery

by Laura Morrison on March 16, 2020 at 1:58PM

=68.ARC4coCQqsbEJwBsX2Z039jFQDZJFSik1msEkujxTmF5lk8UX3rxlfea5dEzRj_NaSbTbDkM2Yism4dHY_ooTMZfgKj8CdFENeVx6NytH7byCHUwNc0qTCssUdw0UwTbcNT5KtOAZFioULGnI6tEnAKK0iE0VeWiUhWE69DMyrNS78XGgqy8cLpiiUCENLSrsQ-3ucYmj4ELN27bX47leSzcrEn6BYf5UPt7Yuhv3PbiUYj-mW4iq_2JLQcWe6ZmImZNHBnZNNRzfIZLmLWlFH5j0qdiDdkVwNaQNIr8iCzQ-fvBpo-3D1WLsNJnA5Lt0sPf_yCqAyySneBj62Qvcbk" target="_blank">Washington Street Diner: Offering take-out. -The Waterbury: Offering take-out.