Middleburg Heights is the place to be for premier businesses — and several businesses have proven so by bringing home the hardware. Here’s a look at their stories.
Fat Head’s Brewery
Award-Winning IPA, Head Hunter
Boasting more than 200 seats, Fat Head’s Brewery in Middleburg Heights resembles a traditional European-style beer hall, says Bill Wetmore, sales and marketing director for Fat Head’s Brewery.
“It’s a high-energy environment, and from your seating area, you can see the brewers at work,” Wetmore says, adding that the brewery offers self-guided walking tours where people can see the packaging line in action through big glass windows.
With 20 beers on draft and other beverages available, Fat Head’s has something for everyone to enjoy.
“We are insistent on only the best ingredients and only the highest quality standards,” Wetmore says. “Nothing leaves the brewery unless it’s in tiptop shape.”
It’s not surprising then that the company’s flagship beer, Head Hunter IPA, received accolades in 2023 with a gold medal in the American-style India Pale Ale category and later won the gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival. It also won the gold award at the World Beer Cup for American-style India Pale Ale. In addition, it’s been named Best Brewery by Cleveland Magazine’s Best of the West competition.
“That was the first IPA to win both golds in the same year,” Wetmore says. “I always equate the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival to the Oscars and Emmys of craft brewing. To beat out several hundred other breweries to win those recognitions was exciting for everybody. We take a lot of pride in being a Cleveland-based brewery.”
17450 Engle Lake Drive , 216-898-0242, fatheads.com
Oktoberfest
Top rated in the nation
Picture this: You have a full stein of beer from one of Cleveland’s top breweries and a plateful of mouthwatering homemade schnitzel and potato pancakes. The upbeat notes from a polka band fill your ears, and you train your eyes on the Glockenspiel, set to unleash its full menu of entertainment, courtesy of the Toledo Holzhacker Buam. When the hour strikes, the dancers wow with a mix of sing-alongs, skits and traditional German dance before launching a cascade of souvenirs into the waiting crowd. After the show, you plan to check out the famous wiener dog races and heartily debate with your friends on which pup has what it takes to win.
With its offer of full bellies and even fuller experiences, it’s no wonder Cleveland’s Oktoberfest is one of the top rated in the country. In 2023, it was recognized as the third best in the country by USA Today and best overall in 2023.
Be sure to check out the spectacle this fall.
160 Eastland Road, 440-781-5246, clevelandoktoberfest.com
John Grech
Notable in Business and Finance
John Grech, financial adviser and partner at Edward Jones, has been highlighted as a “Notable in Business and Finance in Cleveland” by Crain’s Cleveland Business.
He credits his clients, office personnel and his family for supporting him.
“It’s a combination of people and the support of my family,” Grech says. “It really takes a village.”
Edward Jones, which opened in 1922, touts a unique business model in which advisers can operate as individual advisers within a branch office. Grech opted for this model, opening his business in Middleburg Heights in 2009.
“By doing so, I’m able to provide a personalized service to each of our clients,” Grech says. “I work one-on-one with each of my clients to understand what’s most important to them.”
Grech has served on the Middleburg Heights Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors for 15 years.
7774 W. 130th St., 440-887-1024, edwardjones.com/john-grech
Extreme Pump It Up Fitness
Best of the West Nominee
A nominee of Cleveland Magazine’s Best of the West awards, Extreme Pump It Up Fitness serves as a safe space for anyone to move their body, but it especially targets women and mothers, says Sophia Porter, owner.
“Moms feel guilty if they do something for themselves,” Porter says. “And most women are intimidated with group fitness, but I just wanted to offer something fun.”
Fun is certainly on the docket at Extreme Pump It Up Fitness, with group classes such as strength training, Zumba, drumming, yoga and SilverSneakers classes. Additionally, Porter, who started her fitness business in 2006, educates her clients on lifestyle changes and healthy choices.
She adds that her motto is “CYB 2 CYB,” which stands for “challenge your body” 2 “change your body.”
“Everybody starts somewhere, and it’s baby steps that will get the results,” she says. “Especially as we get older, strength training is very important for your heath.”
Extreme Pump It Up Fitness also welcomes men into the studio and teaches all ages, including seniors.
6876 Pearl Road, 216-410-7637, extremepumpitupfitness.com
Codonics
A Top 100 Health Care Technology Company
An innovator of medical technology for over four decades and a global leader in patient safety and medication management, Codonics has been named one of the Top 100 Health Care Technology Companies for 2024 by the Healthcare Technology Report.
“Codonics was built on the belief that we could solve real-world problems with innovation, persistence and heart,” said Peter Botten, president and CEO.
The company, founded in 1982, has developed and delivered medical imaging systems that are now present in more than 110 countries and now boasts more than 65,000 systems installed worldwide. Codonic’s flagship product, the Safe Label System, is designed to prevent medication errors in high-risk environments like the operating room.
“Being recognized among the top 100 health care technology companies reflects not just the strength of our technology, but the strength of our people,” Botten says. “We’re proud to call Middleburg Heights home and even prouder to be making a difference in health care every single day.”
17991 Englewood Drive, 440-243-1198, codonics.com
Cleveland Metroparks
Named “Best Park or Place to Explore Nature”
by Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards
Encompassing more than 25,000 acres, 325-plus miles of trails, 18 park reservations and five nature centers, the Cleveland Metroparks serves as a haven for kids to explore their wild side.
The winner of the 2024 Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards for “Best Park or Place to Explore Nature,” the Cleveland Metroparks offers thousands of free programs that allow children to connect with nature and learn about the natural world — outside of a traditional classroom setting.
The parks span the blue-green shores of Lake Erie, woodland countryside, winding rivers and creeks and even the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
Discover your next adventure through the Cleveland Metroparks mobile app.
4101 Fulton Parkway, 216-635-3200, clevelandmetroparks.com
Residence Inn
Hotel of the Year Nominee
Opened in April 2019, the Residence Inn in Middleburg Heights specializes in extended stays, says Jessica Sarley, general manager of the Middleburg Heights Residence Inn.
“We have a lot of amenities, and instead of (people) having to find a short-term apartment or Airbnb, it’s all included,” Sarley says.
It’s clear the establishment is doing something right, as it has won “Hotel of the Year” in 2024 through its franchise company Ivy Hospitality. It has also won the second-highest award, called the Diamond Circle Award, the last four years, granted to the top 3% of Residence Inns.
The hotel’s award-winning status is not a fluke — Sarley runs a tight ship and is an award winner herself: She garnered the General Manager of the Year Award from the brand in 2022 and 2024.
“It’s very humbling to win this award,” Sarley says. “We’ve developed a great team, and our main focus is finding individuals who have a passion for caring for our guests.”
19149 Bagley Road, 440-638-5856, marriott.com/clemb
O’Neill Healthcare
Best of the West winner and nominee
Abiding by its mission to provide compassionate care, O’Neill Healthcare offers peace of mind to loved ones of its patients and residents.
This worthy goal has led the organization to be recognized numerous times by Cleveland Magazine’s Best of the West Awards: It won in 2023 and was selected as a finalist in 2024 and 2025.
Founded in 1962, the facility aims to provide a high quality of life to each of its residents by implementing a holistic approach that includes family and community. It provides services in assisted living, outpatient therapy, independent living, palliative care, skilled nursing and much more. It also employs specialists in the following areas: orthopedics, podiatry, audiology, dialysis and cardiology.
In addition to its Middleburg Heights location, the family-owned and operated entity touts more than 900 employees and five other locations on the West Side of Cleveland.
7250 Old Oak Blvd., 440-243-7888, oneillhc.com/locations/middleburg-heights
