Food at Irie Jamaican Kitchen. Credit: Courtesy Irie Jamaican Kitchen

Since opening his first Irie Jamaican Kitchen (621 East 185th St., 216-350-6112), the chef from Trelawny Parish has been keen on expansion. Owner Omar McKay built upon the success of that first location by adding a second shop (4162 Pearl Rd., 216-291-7488) near the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

Next up for the popular brand is Akron’s Highland Square neighborhood (837 W. Market St.). The 2,600-square-foot store has 40 dine-in seats and 30 outdoor seats. There also are dedicated takeout service stations for delivery and online orders. The plan is to open in late May.

“This new location is everything I could have asked for,” says owner McKay. “The space was a blank canvas so we were able to create the functionality for production in our fast-casual business model and make it visually appealing for guests. The vibe is relaxed and full of island character.”

This article appears in May 5-18, 2021.

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.