It’s been almost four years since a fire shuttered Lolita in Tremont. Initial estimates of a temporary closure quickly became confirmations of a lengthy shuttering after the extent of damage was realized. By spring of 2016 Michael Symon announced that he’d open a new concept, Sherla’s Chicken and Oysters, in the space. It would be about a year before it opened, he told us.
And then he got busy with a bunch of other restaurants around the country, and the sign for Sherla’s hung in the windows on Literary Ave. like a failed promise in the wind as the calendar turned from 2017 to 2018 to 2019.
Eventually it was time for Symon to move on, and he wanted the new owner to be someone committed to the neighborhood. That man was Dave Ferrante, owner of Visible Voice books just down the street, who recently bought the building.
A sign posted in one of the windows now proclaims, cheekily, that a White Castle is coming to the space. That’s not true, though Ferrante does appreciate “a bit of old Tremont subversiveness” from whoever taped it up.
“I’m not sure yet,” Ferrante said when asked about his plans for the space. “I have a lot of ideas in the air and things should focus in more over the next few months. The building has incredible potential.”
Whatever it is, expect Tremont to breathe a sigh of relief when the spot is finally occupied after four years of dormancy.
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This article appears in Oct 9-15, 2019.
Michael Symon is a piece of shit that has been slowly abandoning his hometown for every shiny new object he sees. Just a couple of months ago he said work on the property will start in a matter of weeks, maybe a month. The guy is too much of a pussy to be honest with his community. Remember when he sold his home in Cleveland Heights and said he moved to Tremont…..no one has seen him once in the neighborhood. Good riddance
Can we finally take that stupid sign that says “Iron Chef Michael Symon’s Corner”?
*breathe
Add him to the list of Everyone who gets famous leaves Cleveland
Bob Hope
Halle Berry
Dr. Oz
Steve Harvey
Arsenio Hall
Paul Newman
LeBron left Cleveland TWICE!
Hell… even the Browns left Cleveland
Hey at least we still have the Terminal Tower
i wonder how much insurance money he collected on that fire
@Tairy Greene, Enough to fund opening Mabels…check the timing on the fire and the opening of Mabels….Greek lightning…
Add White Castle to the list of those who abandoned Cleveland, even though they originated in Columbus almost a century ago. I am still pissed off that I have to go down there to get real sliders…the frozen ones at the supermarket just aren’t the same, and they don’t have onions.
I happen to LIKE White Castle, and I’d rather go to one than spend big bucks at Mabel’s or any of those other pretentious and pricey foodie “eateries” and “bistros”. I’ve been sick of hearing and reading about Michael Symon for years now, and I have never really given a flying fig about what that POS does or doesn’t do. Time for Scene to finally stop kissing his ass.
Wow, all the hate because a guy moved and/or moved on. No love for the positive he did for the city in both publicity and food? So he said he was going to reopen the place and then things changed so he sold it. Whup-de-doo. And I love the guy who backs up the “Michael Simon is a POS” premise with a list that includes Bob Hope and Paul Newman. Yeah, fuck those two losers! What’d they ever do for anyone? [eye roll].
Take a deep breath, people, and think about why you care.
Bob Hope
Halle Berry
Dr. Oz
Steve Harvey
Arsenio Hall
Paul Newman
LeBron
Losers? You should be the loser you think they are. What have YOU done, you stupid jamokel?
Every single name on this list accomplished more in their lives than merely feeding people at an “eatery”
Um Abe, the guy has been saying for years he is going to reopen, including a few months ago. If he decided not to fine, then give an interview to Scene explaining why or release a statement on one of his many social media channels he is always updating. It’s been almost a month and the guy has said nothing….shows you want type of person he is
Hey Steve: Why does a business man have to explain his business decisions to you? Who the fuck are you? Does your neighbor check with you before picking out the flowers to put in his beds? Like I said, the dude was going to do something, and then it didn’t work out so he’s moving on. Happens all the time and what’s it to you?
Yeah, I realize this reply is six months late, but you’re still the asshole you were in December, and more than ever. Fuck you, Abe.