Cleveland Restaurant Management Group (CRMG) and Brad Friedlander have announced that they will be taking over two spots recently vacated at Legacy Village in Lyndhurst. Those spots are Bar Louie and California Pizza Kitchen and the new concepts are The Legacy and EVOO, respectively.
Once again, longtime operator Friedlander is looking to the past for culinary inspiration. Over the past couple years, he has revived both Lopez and Moxie, two restaurants that enjoyed much success in previous years. Lopez is now Lopez 44 and Moxie ultimately reopened as Odd Fellows, both are in Chagrin Falls.
For The Legacy, Friedlander says that he is taking cues from other erstwhile restaurants including Café Brio, Moxie, RED, and Cut 151 – as seen through the eyes of happy customers.
“The Legacy is a love letter to the diners who’ve shared their lives with us,” Friedlander says. “I’ve always been touched by how we’ve become part of people’s most meaningful celebrations. With this new concept, we hope to share in the next generation’s milestones, too.”
Fueling this latest expansion from CRMG, the ever-expanding restaurant group operated by a contingent of area entrepreneurs, is partner Michael Dubois and executive chef Julian Kuczma.
The former Bar Louie space (24337 Cedar Rd.) will be fully renovated and offer seating for roughly 120 guests in multiple dining rooms and on the patio. Cocktail fans will have a new place to sip spirits and gather when the onsite speakeasy opens. Both are shooting for a Thanksgiving opening.
EVOO, which is described as a “modern Greek-Mediterranean concept," is expected to open in the former CPK space early next year. EVOO, as any Rachael Ray fan will tell you, is short for extra-virgin olive oil. That star ingredient will be the backbone of a menu that blends traditional dishes with modern tweaks.
The two new concepts are a big win for Legacy after those two prominent, long-term restaurant tenants departed.
“We are excited to welcome The Legacy and EVOO as new anchors in our Restaurant District,” says Susan Windle, Legacy Village General Manager. “Brad and his team’s long history of culinary excellence in Northeast Ohio, combined with their local, chef driven approach is sure to create a dining experience that our Legacy Village guest will enjoy for years to come.”
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