New Life for Shuttered Catholic Church in Lakewood

When Lou McClung purchased the 103-year old St. Hedwig parish on Madison Avenue in July 2010, he knew right away it was the perfect fit.

He needed more space to expand his thriving makeup business, Lusso Cosmetics, and he wanted to take his passion for restoring historic statues to the next level.

Fast-forward a few months.

McClung has poured thousands of dollars into renovating the property at 12905 Madison Ave. and his cosmetics operation in the old St. Hedwig schoolhouse is flourishing. And the church is set to reopen April 10 as the Museum of Divine Statues.

The nonprofit portion of McClung’s interest, the museum is a collection of more than 100 refinished statues from dozens of closed parishes across Northeast Ohio — there are also beautiful stained glass windows, paintings and photographs.

“Not only are we repurposing the church, but we’re also repurposing the school. And the rectory is my residence,” he said. “I want this area to be as successful as it once was.” 

He’d love to rename the property — situated at the west entrance to Birdtown — St. Hedwig’s Square.

The parish, named for a beloved Polish queen, closed its doors in November 2009. 

“Churches are dying all over the country,” he said. “The question becomes ‘What do we do with these properties next?’”

McClung has found a way to reinvent the property by combining his passions.

THE MAKEUP ARTIST

McClung first found success in Lakewood 13 years ago, when he founded Lusso Cosmetics. He acts as CEO, head of product development and chief visionary for the company, which carries a good portion of its business online. 

A manufacturer of high-end makeup, McClung is something of a Cleveland personality. He’s appeared on television programs and been featured on magazine covers.

Before setting up shop at St. Hedwig, was housed for eight years in an old storefront across from . Before that, he operated out of a space on W. 117th Street for five years.

He needed more space.

“I knew that I had to have a church, but also a place to have Lusso,” McClung said. 

His customers include TV news anchors and undercover FBI agents — as well as people getting married or hosting important events.

“Women are concerned with looking their best,” he said. “Instead of standing around at a cosmetic counter, my customers come here and learn about their cosmetics. The prices are the same, but I have worked a lifetime on my products.”

McClung said he hopes to obtain some of the city’s façade funding to erect a sign and cleanup the exterior of the property.

After having toured the facility, city officials are just as excited.

“He’s just been doing everything right,” said Dru Siley, the city’s assistant director of planning and development. “It’s a great boost for the east of end of Madison Avenue in Birdtown.”

THE MUSEUM

McClung’s second interest started a few years ago when he bought an old statue at a second-hand thrift store. He put the purchase on his credit card.

Making people look their best is what he does for a living, McClung said, so it wasn’t too much of a stretch to refinish a statue.

Then, somewhere along the way, he realized his hobby had become his calling.

“This is my second passion,” he said. “This strengthens what I do at Lusso and what I do there helps me here.”

Saints, martyrs and Mother Mary are just a few of the statues on display at the Museum of Divine Statues. There’s a large crucifix on the wall, under which McClung’s parents were married.

To McClung, every detail matters.

A student of history — and faces — he knows exactly how the statues are meant to look. For example, a statue made in Spain has brown eyes, while statues made in Eastern Europe were meant to have blue eyes.

A lot of these statues are the result of decades of neglect. Even the slightest bump in a church basement could do lots of damage to a piece that’s more than 100 years old.

He’s also maintained the historic integrity of St. Hedwig, but given it new life with fresh paint, polish and a little tender loving care.

The museum looks as if it’s ready to open. McClung has restored and installed antique stained-glass panels, beautified a couple ceiling murals and planted St. Hedwig’s statue at the front of the building.

The hardwood floors shine like the day the church opened to Polish immigrants more than 100 years ago.

There are plans in the works for a gift shop and cafeteria downstairs — which McClung says will come in handy when busloads of students and tour groups flock to the museum.

McClung is reaching out to the community for help. While the museum is about ready to open its doors to the public, he says there is still work to be done. He’s asking for donations and people to volunteer as docents.

“Lakewood is the perfect place for this," he said. "I am really hoping Lakewood will step up and support us.”