The Greater Buckeye neighborhood is an amazing tapestry of passionate, former and current residents. These leaders and creative individuals have joined together to knit a larger neighborhood with unique architecture, arts, entertainment, shopping and dining opportunities. The Cleveland neighborhood includes Buckeye, Larchmere, Shaker Square and Woodland Hills. The area is adjacent to Luke Easter Park, the largest urban park in Ohio and originally part of Cleveland’s master park plan in the 1890s.
Separately named neighborhoods identified the area in the past. But civic and community leaders, including Cleveland Neighborhood Progress CEO Tania Menesse, say a new bond and outlook has been formed. Less economic competition and more cooperation. Less vying for new residents and better realization that an increase in population, revitalized housing, streets and businesses is good for everyone who calls this vibrant section of Cleveland home.
Menesse identifies Larchmere, one of the most fascinating areas in Ohio with one-of-a-kind galleries, shops and public art, as being “strong.” She also points to Buckeye for its increased re-investment. Currently, Shaker Square is taking center stage.
Shaker Square, the oldest planned shopping area in Ohio, was constructed in 1927. It has enjoyed incredible highs and prestige as well as sad lows throughout its history. Shaker Square went into foreclosure December 2020.
“In April 2022, Cleveland City Council approved financing for Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and Burten, Bell, Carr Development to purchase Shaker Square. Cleveland is our first mortgage holder; they are the bank. We took ownership that year,” says Menesse.
The new owners wasted no time stabilizing Shaker Square. Now comes the future, with plans dubbed “A New Era for a Cleveland Classic.” Menesse says exciting programming will be regularly scheduled so visitors and residents will say, “Let’s walk to the Square to see what’s going on today.”
What Greater Buckeye residents don’t want, according to Menesse, is to destroy the historical architecture or overbuild the Square’s green spaces.
“You couldn’t create a neighborhood in a densely populated area like this today,” observes Menesse. “The magic of the Square is also what makes it challenging with a lot of different constituencies. But it can be all things to all people, just not all at the same time.”
La Pecora
Chances are if you order a pizza from La Pecora in Larchmere, it will be lovingly made by the owner. Juan Vergara calls his wood-fired, Napoletana pizza pies his “personal enjoyment.” Vergara wanted authenticity of his pizzas so he studied the art of pie making in Italy.
La Pecora, described as a pizzabar because patrons can sit at a counter and watch the pies be formed and baked, opened October 2024. The 50-seat dining room is accessed through another of Vergara’s restaurants, Barroco, on Larchmere Blvd.
“We have a set menu with pies that are all popular, like our pear and pistachio or white anchovy with pomegranates. But we do things backwards here. Many places won’t let you substitute toppings. But we encourage you to decide for yourself and if we have an ingredient you want, we will use it,” says Vergara. “We have had requests for pork rinds and also sweet plantains.”
Cafe Indigo
Entrepreneur Melissa Garrett-Hirsch says significant names for her business ventures are imperative. Garrett-Hirsch opened her newest coffee shop/ice cream parlor on Shaker Square this past February and calls it Cafe Indigo.
“Indigo means harmony and peace,” explains Garrett-Hirsch, a Shaker Heights resident most of her life. “Sometimes Shaker Square has been the place to be, sometimes not. It’s gone through upheavals, a long journey. I have always valued the community’s history and diversity. I feel it’s on the right path now.”
Cafe Indigo is really two enterprises with an open floor plan. One half is the ice cream shop with 24 Hershey ice cream flavors and treats that include banana splits and sundaes. Top sellers include butter pecan, Bourbon salted caramel and cookies and cream.
“I remember walking to an ice cream shop when I was growing up. I wanted one that was walkable for the neighborhood here, too,” says Garrett-Hirsch.
Atlas Cinemas at Shaker Square
Cleveland continues to grow its reputation for supporting and cultivating innovative and cutting-edge films. Atlas Cinemas at Shaker Square is a significant venue for showing those creations.
Rental opportunities are available for “a couple or a couple hundred people,” according to Director of Operations Christopher Baxter, who welcomes birthday and anniversary celebrations and other events. And with six screens, the theater always has something on its marquee to entice you away from your tablet and into a “real” theater. Atlas Cinemas’ classic movies are meant to be larger than life.
“A movie is a shared event. We get scared together, we laugh together,” says Baxter, whose favorite movie is the original Godzilla with Japanese subtitles.
