The year was 1976 when Loki Chopra opened up the Mad Greek restaurant at the Coventryard Mall in Cleveland Heights. The owner had an idea to combine the foods of his native India with the family recipes of his former wife, who was Greek. The result was a restaurant with a dual personality, a rarity then and still. Mad Greek moved to its current spot at Cedar Road and Fairmount Boulevard (2466 Fairmount Blvd., 216-421-3333, madgreekcleveland.com) a few years later. Since 2002, when Chopra passed away, his son Chris Chopra has been running the show.

All that ends this summer when Mad Greek, after an impressive four-decade run, will close its doors. The popular spot at the top of Cedar Hill has been “on the market” off and on for years, and it finally has been snatched up. This fall, Barrio Tacos will open its fourth full-service location (fifth if you count Progressive Field).

“We’ve been looking to go to the East Side for a long time and just haven’t found the right spot,” says owner Sean Fairbairn. “We’ve looked in Coventry and Lee Road and we just feel like the Cedar-Fairmount area is a great area.”

Today, Fairbairn submitted his plans for the space to the City of Cleveland Heights. Those plans call for expanding the bar, opening up the dining room and adding a rear garage door to better unite the back patio with the interior. The Mad Greek already has two front garage door panels that open up to the sidewalk. The final plans call for approximately 100 indoor seats and another 30 out back. Fairbairn also says that he intends to work with the city on updating the façade.

Mad Greek will continue to operate in the space until the plans are accepted and Barrio gets the keys.

“Once we get in there we can do the work in 30 to 60 days,” he says. “We’re getting pretty good at doing these things.”

Considering that Barrio launched in Tremont only four years ago, the company’s growth trajectory is pretty impressive. In addition to that southside location, Barrio added a spot in Lakewood and Downtown on Prospect. The crew also operates three food trucks.

To help support all that growth and expansion while maintaining quality and consistency, Barrio recently hired veteran chef Pete Joyce to oversee the food. Also, Barrio is wrapping up construction on a central commissary that will deliver fresh food to each store daily.

Fairbairn thinks that Barrio will be a great complement to the neighborhood and he couldn’t be more thrilled to join those already in the area.

“We always look to help build up neighborhoods and feel that the Barrio concept is a great fit for that neighborhood.”

Owner Chris Chopra was reached but declined to comment on the transition.

This article appears in Jul 13-19, 2016.

For 25 years, Douglas Trattner has worked as a full-time freelance writer, editor and author. His work as co-author on Michael Symon's cookbooks have earned him four New York Times Best-Selling Author honors, while his longstanding role as Scene dining editor has garnered awards of its own.

10 replies on “40-Year-Old Mad Greek to Close. Cedar-Fairmount Space Goes to Barrio Tacos”

  1. Love barrio! Just wish they had consistently good service. Sometimes it is great but sometimes it is awful, and mostly it is ok

  3. I’ve been eating at Mad Greek for 30 years and it’s been great. I’m looking forward to Barrio Tacos. It’ll be a nice addition to the Heights restaurant scene.

  4. This piece of news stinks. Barrio in Lakewood is okay, and we didn’t go to the Mad Greek very often because we live on the other side of town, but my wife used to go there a lot, years ago, and now she’s bummed. The Cleveland she knew is disappearing fast. Another landmark gone.

    Chuckles the Clown

  5. Ironically, I’ve been telling my husband that Cedar-Fairmont would be a great site for Barrio since we moved in last year. The local restaurants have the brunch/lunch scene well covered, and we could use some casual fresh dinner options. I am sad for Mad Greek, but it sounds like they had an excellent long run as a successful restaurant. This may be an opportunity for its owners to reinvent themselves just like Cleveland is right now.

  6. So sad – Mad Greek has the best baba in town! Maybe now they’ll give me their recipe!!

  7. Hey Barrio!

    Please show some love to the southeast suburbs! Downtown Bedford would be a perf location!

    A Fan

  8. Ugh, yuck, Barrio is terrible. Weird, cold, disgusting tacos. Also weak margaritas and horrible service. I can’t figure out why this place is so popular.

  9. Mad Greek was probably good at some point. Been there twice in my 8 years in Cleveland. Last time was bad enough that I said never again. I home someday we will get a readl Greek restauran here on the east side, until then bring on he tacos!

  10. Sorry to see the Mad Greek go. I worked there in early 80s. However, anyone who thinks that this Taco Slop joint is gonna last more than 18 months on the east side is delusional. Unless they water down the drinks more than they already do. Chipotle and Moe’s have better slop at half the price with much better parking.

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