For the past two years, Cleveland Vegan has served the growing vegan community in Cleveland through its catering and personal chef services company. Come late fall, the popular catering company will serve an expanded retail customer base from its new Lakewood storefront.
From rented commercial space in Lakewood, husband-and-wife partners Laura Ross and Justin Gorski have been catering large events, cooking for small get-togethers, and preparing meals for health-conscious families.
“We knew there was a need for a vegan caterer when we launched our company two years ago, but even we didn’t realize how much of a need there would be,” explains Ross. “It’s been an explosive beginning.”
That demand led the couple to begin searching for a more permanent home. After scouring Tremont, Ohio City and Detroit Shoreway, they ended up right back where they started.
“We live in Lakewood; I wanted to stay in Lakewood,” she says.
Build-out will begin immediately on the 2,300-square-foot space at 17112 Detroit Avenue, formerly Wings Hobby Shop. When completed in November, the space will feature a 10-table café, retail bakery and catering kitchen. The menu will be constantly in flux, but it will always be 100-percent vegan, including offering the city’s first all-vegan Sunday brunch.
“There will always be something fresh, something local, something plant-based.”
Clearly, the demand for vegan (and vegetarian) food is on the rise in Greater Cleveland, and specifically in Lakewood and the near-west side of town.
“People have been asking us constantly when we are going to open,” adds Ross. “There are so many recent studies that show the health benefits of a plant-based diet. Even those who occasionally eat meat are eating more vegetarian and vegan food.”
Ross, who is eight months pregnant, calls the vegan cuisine: “user friendly, familiar food that doesn’t alienate omnivores.”
This article appears in Jul 2-8, 2014.
This is a wonderful thing for the city and the area in general. Now, I personally wouldn’t be caught dead in this place, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how important this is to a lot of people. The food scene in Cleveland keeps growing and growing, and that’s never a bad thing.
Why wouldn’t you be “caught dead” in this place? Have you never tried vegan food? It’s really good. I eat meat, but I also enjoy vegetarian and vegan food as well. Why not?
I will be first in line once it opens! Yahoo!
Will you have a take out option?
shoulda went to collinwood
Can’t wait!
Its about time…Cleveland, to me has always felt behind when it comes to healthy eating compared to many other major cities. The past few years there has been improvements for sure and im sure this place will be very successful. Can’t wait.
I am so tired of the completely stupid statements about vegan food such as the one above, “Now I wouldn’t personally be caught dead in this place,” that are always made in response to any article about a vegan restaurant in Cleveland. What does that mean? What do you think is going on in there? Do you know that vegan food is and that some of the greatest cuisines in the world, such as Chinese and Indian, have lots of vegan dishes? The parochialism of some Clevelanders is sometimes just plain embarrassing. Grow up and stop acting and sounding like a picky five year-old.
you say you would not be caught dead but you like eating dead things???????
it is not easy even in Indian restaurants and Asian to no what is vegan you must ask to see what is in each meal for dairy? I am not a child, but absolutely can not have anima products. l