Cordelia Owners Andrew Watts and Vinnie Cimino to Open New Restaurant in Former Alea Space in Ohio City This Fall

Vinnie Cimino (left) and Andrew Watts outside former Alea in Ohio City. Credit: Courtesy photo

Since opening on East 4th Street three summers ago, Cordelia has won over local diners, attracted national attention, and garnered multiple James Beard Award nominations for chef-partner Vinnie Cimino. It seems that the “Midwest Nice” quality of hospitality paired with the “Modern Grandma” style of cuisine is a winning formula for co-owners Cimino and Andrew Watts.

So it was only a matter time until those two indefatigable operators would be in search of another project. And today they are announcing that they will indeed be expanding their restaurant portfolio. Cimino and Watts will be taking over the former Alea space (2912 Church Ave.) in the Hingetown neighborhood of Ohio City. That restaurant officially has been on hiatus since winter but obviously will not be reopening. The plan is to open the new eatery sometime this fall.

While the two did not share many details about the as-yet-unnamed eatery’s concept or cuisine, we can assume that live-fire cooking will be central to the theme. Alea, which opened in late 2019, is an intimate 33-seat space that boasts a wood-burning cooking suite directly behind the bar.

“This new restaurant will be an extension of who we are as culinary professionals,” says Cimino. “We’re excited to build on the success of Cordelia, but in a hyper-intentional way, focusing on what we love most – the sourcing, the storytelling, the purpose behind every dish. With a smaller, more intimate space, we can be more methodical and adventurous at the same time. It’s a chance to continue and celebrate everything that drives our passion for hospitality, but in a way that lets us dive even deeper into our craft.”

As the grand opening grows nearer, we can expect to learn more about the project. Until then, we can keep enjoying ourselves at Cordelia.

“Our mission has always been to give back to this incredible community while creating meaningful opportunities for our exceptional team,” says Watts. “This new location offers the perfect combination of space, scale, and neighborhood character to further our commitment to fostering community connections and providing pathways for growth. We’re thrilled to introduce another restaurant that will exemplify both outstanding hospitality and chef-driven culinary excellence. I couldn’t be more excited to show Cleveland what we have in store as the follow-up to Cordelia.”

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