Editor's Note: Chef-owner Brandon Chrostowski of Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute told cleveland.com recently that he has "no deals anywhere and there are no plan to move."
This article was published through an exclusive partnership with NEO-trans.com.
Shaker Square mainstays Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute and Edwins Too on the other side of the square may not be staying put much longer. In fact, they could be headed for the former Nighttown restaurant location in Cleveland Heights to avoid what Edwins’ owner Brandon Chrostowski says is a worsening safety issue at Cleveland’s Shaker Square.
In a letter shared today with board members of the Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and those of its subsidiaries New Village Corporation and Village Capital Corporation, CNP President and CEO Tania Menesse outlined the factors involving the reported, pending departure of Edwins Restaurant and Edwins Too. The letter, sent to nearly 50 people by Menesse, was shared with NEOtrans by an unidentified source.
“I am writing you all this morning because Brandon Chrostowski, Edwin’s Leadership Institute, has started calling board members and former board members regarding his interest in moving his restaurants out of Shaker Square,” Menesse wrote. “He initially couched this interest in safety concerns, sending a legal letter several weeks ago indicating that we were not in compliance with our lease.”
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A month ago, Chrostowski went to Cleveland media to raise public awareness of what he considered to be crime at its worst in Shaker Square. He didn’t blame police and said the new owners of Shaker Square needed to do more than just “paint the buildings” and add “new overhangs” to attract more tenants and provide more eyes-on-the-street security.
“While there have been some documented incidents in the past, the notion that crime is at a new high or out of control at Shaker Square is not based in fact,” said CNP spokesman Alex Jackson, who provided a fact sheet with more information.
Due to their declining physical condition, the commercial buildings surrounding the historic square were acquired in 2022 by the city for $11 million. Two nonprofits, CNP and Burten Bell Carr, were named as co-owners. In late August, CNP and BBC outlined nearly $5 million in improvements they’ve made while retaining and attracting tenants. Menesse said Shaker Square is on the rebound.
“Our attorney assures us that he (Chrostowski) has no standing in this claim as we have gone above and beyond to secure the Square and safety, along with leasing, capital improvements, etc. are all on the upswing,” she said in the letter.
NEOtrans sent emails to Menesse and to Edwins’ spokesperson Alexis Stoller seeking further comment. Neither has responded prior to publication of this article.
Menesse said Chrostowski called her last week to request a meeting and let her know that he has a “tentative deal” at the former Nighttown location, 12383 Cedar Road, in Cleveland Heights. Edwins Institute offers a unique approach at giving formerly incarcerated adults a foundation in the hospitality industry.
The original Nighttown restaurant and jazz club closed during the pandemic after a nearly 60-year run. Realife Real Estate Group, along with investor Rico Pietro, bought the mixed-use residential-commercial building in 2020 and renovated 16 apartments above the ground-floor retail/restaurant spaces.
Restaurateur Gregg Levy refurbished the restaurant and reopened it earlier this year. But it didn’t offer the same food or music venue as the old Nighttown and it closed after only a few months.
RELATED: Nighttown, a Historic Cleveland Heights Jazz Club and Restaurant, Will Close This Week
Edwins’ new location will allow Chrostowski to consolidate his business and take on more students, Menesse said in the letter. However the Edwins Leadership and Restaurant Institute at 13024 Buckeye Road, with its butcher and bakery shops, will reportedly remain where they are, as will the Edwins Family Center at 13017 Larchmere Blvd.
“While we don’t want to stand in the way of his plans, he has three years left on his lease at Edwins and two years on Edwins Too,” Menesse wrote. “This represents considerable revenue for the Square and I asked that he put an offer in writing for the NVC Board to review.”
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