Marjorie Building Eyed for Major Overhaul

Building that houses The Exchange and the Root Café is set for some serious changes this spring.

One of the most visible buildings in downtown Lakewood is slated for a major overhaul. The new owner of the Marjorie Building presented plans to the city's architectural board of review that would reshape the property at 15100 Detroit Avenue. The building — housing local favorites including The Exchange, the Root Café, Lion and Blue and Tease Hair and Body Parlor — recently changed ownership. The new owners of the property, Allied Real Estate, bought the building for $600,000 in July. Plans include stripping the T1-11 plywood siding off the building to expose the brick; installing new windows; and installing new hardware.  (See the attached PDF at the right for more details) The apartments upstairs are also set for a massive renovation. If…

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ian king

7:03 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013

hi kris - please call your city councilperson and the mayor's office and DEMAND that this really deteriorating/paint peeling flag mural either be restored or changed. it is NOT the image Lakewood Downtown should have. also call Lakewood Chamber of Commerce. Lets get this flag either restored or out of the picture! And how about restoring the clock to the clock tower in front of Chipolte. Another …   more ›

Editor's Notebook

Thanks For Helping Us Celebrate Our Patchiversary!

We've also drawn a name out of a hat for a gift card to the Root Café.

It’s been one heck of a year. Thanks to everyone who stopped by The Root Café to celebrate our “Patchiversary” on Jan. 28. Dozens braved the cold and snow (who remembers winter?) to help us mark our first year in Lakewood. We couldn't have done it without all of you. A big shout out to the Root Café staff for hosting us. And for putting up with me during the past year. Congratulations to Melanie Boland, who entered in our drawing and won the $25 Root Café gift card.

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Holly Barnes

9:01 am on Monday, February 6, 2012

Go Patch!!!   more ›

Your Review: The Root Café

I fell in love with it the first time I visited. What did you think? And if you haven't visited, join us on Friday there for our Patchiversary celebration.

Behind the Business: Bobby Breitenstein

Two years in, the Root Café has already reached the status of community institution.

Opening a successful business is one thing. Opening a restaurant amidst one of the nation’s worst economic collapses is entirely something else. But that’s exactly the case for the Root Café, celebrating its two-year anniversary this week. Bobby Breitenstein, who co-owns of the Root Café with his wife Julie Hutchison, used his skills in construction to craft the space at the corner of Andrews and Detroit avenues. Every detailed mattered. From the walls, floors to the kitchen, Breitenstein’s fingerprints are all over the place. The entrepreneurial couple took their idea of serving quality coffee and integrating fresh, local food into the menu. The result? The Root quickly became a community institution. “We’re getting pretty close to …

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Coffee College Comes to Lakewood

The Root Café hosts a free, open-to-the-public coffee workshop on Wednesday.

The Root Café turned into a classroom for students of coffee Wendesday for Coffee College. Kim Jenkins, of Rising Star Coffee Roasters, hosted the two-hour long workshop — which was free and open to the public — for about a dozen eager students who wanted to learn more about coffee.

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Being Green in the 'Wood

The Root Café: Waste Not, Want Not

This hotspot is ahead of the curve, diverting more than 75 percent of its waste from the landfill.

Apart from its vegan treats and fair-trade coffee brews that attract a bustling crowd of customers daily, The Root Café is deserving of an emerald nod for its eco-friendly business practices that could rightfully make any establishment green with envy. The Root, as it’s known by customers who imbibe and dine there frequently, embraces all things good for and good to the earth. But even regulars might not know all that’s been going on behind the scenes. And I guarantee it’s not some Wizard-of-Oz, pull-the-curtain-over-on-you type of mission statement that talks of grand gestures and future plans. This is big stuff, happening now. It all starts with co-owner Julie Hutchison, who is a champion of sustainability. “From our cleaning products to…

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Bites Nearby: The Root Café

Thinking globally, buying locally and serving deliciously good vegetarian fare.

Whether you’re just looking for a good bite to eat, managing a vegetarian lifestyle or struggling with dietary restrictions the Root Café is the place to go. Located on Detroit Avenue, smack dab in the center of town, the Root has clever décor, a vegan/vegetarian kitchen and a cast of characters – workers and diners alike. Selling Phoenix, Morning Star and Origins coffees alongside their organic baked goods they also serve Asian teas, tisanes (herbal/plant infusions) and smoothies. The Root Café is a bustling place: in their own words, it is “a community clubhouse with local art, music and events." When struck with the scariness – and then difficulty – of a having a food allergy or stark dietary restrictions it’s a relief to know that …

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Get Out: Make More Of Your Memorial Day Weekend

You have Monday off — get out and have some fun this weekend.

1. GENESIS TRIBUTE BAND  Where/When: The Winchester/ Friday, May 27; 9 p.m. Why Go: After Glow is a Cleveland-based Genesis Tribute band who plays classic and recent Genesis songs complete with costumes. A group of talented musicians, After Glow brings high energy performances and a wide vocal range perfect for Genesis music, from the softer melodic songs to the powerful ones. Price: $8.00 2. WMS-3 JAZZ CONCERT Where/When: The Winchester/ Saturday, May 28; 8 p.m. Why Go: WMS-3 is a smooth jazz and R&B band that features hot electric guitar, sax, keyboards and vocals.  The band also features Raccine Williams on electric violin.  WMS-3 plays originals and classics, both instrumental and with a vocalist.  Make sure to bring your dancin' shoes…

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Five Things You Need to Know About This Week

A Memorial Day event, self-help and good, old-fashioned rock 'n' roll.

Monday: Dr. River Smith, a local psychologist and author of "A Conspiracy to Love: Living a Life of Joy, Generosity & Power," will teach techniques aimed at helping to achieve control, get more love in your life and get what you want at the Lakewood Public Library. Tonight, from 7 to 8:30, he will focus on power healing. Call 216-226-8275 for information. Tuesday: The Lakewood Public Library will name the winner of its Public Art project. Earlier this year, the library announced that it had received 202 submissions from around the country for an "iconic" sculpture to be erected on the library's front lawn this fall.  The Grogs for Dogs fundraiser is set from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at The Screaming Rooster on Madison Avenue for a fun night to …

Sounds Like Lakewood

Follow The Leprechaun To... A Wonderful Weekend

St. Patty's comes early this year, plus all the music you want to hear in Lakewood.

Welcome to February. It's cold; it's snowy and it's hard to find a excuse to leave the house. Good thing I found all of these great reasons to get out this weekend. Everything you need to warm your soul, from upbeat country-rock to a good old-fashioned Irish bar crawl, Lakewood has got you covered.      Tonight Paul Franks is at the Avenue Tap House, giving all of your favorite pop songs an acoustic makeover. Franks and his guitar will be there 8 p.m. to midnight. Bela dubby hosts Stillborn Identity, a hip-hop outfit out of Pittsburgh, as well as Greenlander and Ghostbread, some ghetto-tech noise smiths. Friday Commander Cody stops at The Winchester with his rollicking, southern-fried boogie-woogie. He and his band are known for putting on…

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