Souper Market owner Matthew Moore realized that in
order to expand the company, something had to change. Since opening his
flagship soup shop in Ohio City (2528 Lorain Ave., 216.737.7687,
thesoupermarket.com) almost
seven years ago, business in bisques has been brisk. Moore added a
second location in Lakewood (14809 Detroit Ave., 216.712.7292) in 2007
while earning shelf space at area Heinen’s’ for his stellar stocks. But
producing soup at each location, not to mention packaging stocks for
retail sales, became unmanageable. “I decided that the only way to
expand Souper Market while ensuring quality was to centralize
production,” says Moore. So Moore has built a dream kitchen that puts
him in charge of every pot. Located inside a vegetable-processing
facility on Carnegie, the kitchen frees up space at the two existing
stores. The Ohio City location is already undergoing a major overhaul
that will result in a brighter, sharper and bigger room. “It will still
be standing room only,” says Moore. “But there will be more of it.”
Perhaps more significant, the new facility will make possible the
opening of additional Souper Markets, which Moore will sell as
franchises. The first, to possibly be located in PlayhouseSquare or
Cleveland Heights, has already been sold. Also in the works is a retail
location at the Carnegie facility, to open by late October.
Eric Williams, chef-owner of Momocho (1835 Fulton Rd.,
216.694.2122, momocho.com), has
purchased Happy Dog, the lovably old-school tavern at the
junction of West 58th and Detroit. Williams’ plan is to fashion a hot
dog emporium, where all-beef weenies are topped with all matter of
gourmet accoutrements. Options will include blue-cheese coleslaw,
chorizo chili and housemade kim chee. “The focus will be on creating a
cool corner bar that continues to have live music,” says Williams. The
chef promises a light touch when it comes to the historic space. “The
plan is to clean and do a small rearrangement of the space, but keeping
that old bar-diner-hall feel.” Look for a mid-October launch.
It’s been 10 months since fire ravaged the 1830s Olmsted Falls
farmhouse that is home to Bistro du Beaujolais (8134 Columbia
Rd., 440.235.8883, lebistrodubeaujolais.com). If
all goes as planned, the restaurant will reopen October 20. “We can’t
wait,” says owner Georges D’Arras. “We’re ready to get back to work.”
D’Arras wants customers to know that gift certificates purchased before
the closure will be accepted, even if expired.
This article appears in Oct 7-13, 2009.
