Thornton Park’s popular caterer returns this summer to make another splash
By Nate Paige
Photos by Jason Miller
It’s a Friday night in January during a DJ Skate event. The building is abuzz with energy, as it’s the beginning of a three-day holiday weekend. Young people are everywhere – some skating, some sitting and chatting, and others in line at the concession stand ordering snacks. There’s also a lot of activity in the concession stand kitchen, where Lovey Hunt of Susie’s Q Catering is preparing several orders of soft pretzels. Her daughter, Kaiya, is working the counter, taking orders. She’s assisted by her boyfriend, Brent. Both are seniors at Shaker Heights High School. Lovey’s son, Robert, a freshman at the high school, has the night off.
“It’s nice to have family that you can depend on,” says Lovey.
While her primary focus is the concession stand, her husband, Chris, enjoys handling the catering aspect of Susie’s Q Catering. The business, launched in 2013, focuses on smoked meats and savory sides and is named after his late sister, Susan, a 1989 SHHS grad. Chris and Lovey are also Shaker grads – classes of ’91 and ’92, respectively.
Lovey Hunt
Catering to Shaker
Last summer, the Hunts were brought in to run the Thornton Park concession stand during pool and summer camp season. Their varied and tasty fare was a game changer, but it wasn’t an overnight success.
“When we first started, business was really slow,” says Lovey. “After some discussion with several parents, we found out they were feeding their kids at home before dropping them off.”
Once parents were made aware of the menu options, business picked up immediately and remained consistent throughout the season. Although most of their Thornton Park customers are children, Chris and Lovey made sure the menu contained items for an adult’s more sophisticated palate, such as avocado toast, Caesar salad, cauliflower crust pizza with vegan cheese, zucchini sticks, and a hummus bowl with warm pita.
Oftentimes last summer parents purchased items to take home, even calling in orders on their way home from work, or they brought their kids back in the evening to have dinner.
As the end of summer neared, Lovey and Chris wondered who would handle concessions during the fall and winter when the ice rink becomes the focus. “Initially, we were informed that the Recreation Department would handle concessions for hockey season, but in October I was contacted to see if we were interested. So, it turned from something seasonal into something almost year-round for us,” says Lovey.
Back in the kitchen, orders have come in for cheeseburgers, nachos, hot dogs, and Ring Pops. Lovey swiftly moves around the room, gathering what she needs for each order while still answering a visitor’s questions.
“When this extended opportunity came up, it expanded quickly, due to the City offering us additional events to provide food for. We catered the Senior Lunch, and several police officers stepped in as servers. We also catered an event for the Village Garden Club, and the Ohio High School Competition this past February. There are so many opportunities here, and the City is really utilizing our services. I love it,” says Lovey.
A Match Made in Shaker
During their years at Shaker Heights High School, Chris and Lovey knew of each other, and had several friends in common, but it would be years before they got together. And even then, it was initially a platonic partnership as Lovey helped him promote his business.
“We didn’t run in the same circles in high school,” says Lovey. “I didn’t think anything of him – good or bad. There were many opportunities for us to meet in school, but it never happened.
During all my years of high school, I shared lockers with a good friend – who happened to be Chris’ best friend.”
Chris Hunt
Lovey is an identical twin, and admits to being quite the introvert. “I was a homebody; my sister was the extrovert. I was in the marching band. I also played softball and enjoyed writing. Running this concession stand is probably the most extroverted thing I’ve ever done,” she says with a laugh.
As long as she’s known Chris, he’s been involved with cutting hair and cooking. “I’m the last of the three Hunt siblings to attend Shaker Heights High School. I was the barber and chef within the circle of people I associated with in high school,” says Chris.
“From cutting hair in the social room, to firing up the grill at our cookouts. It was an awesome experience to attend Shaker Schools and be part of the Shaker family, which continues to embrace one another.”
Chris attended the Ohio State Barber College in the mid-90s. He is a self-taught meat smoker and he started his catering business several years later, on a much smaller level.
That’s when he and Lovey initially got together – as business partners. She helped him out with the business aspects of his catering company.
“When we got married, I added my business experience to his efforts, which led to small events including a Van Aken District pop-up, Wade Oval Wednesdays, and other local food festivals. Opportunities began to increase after that,” says Lovey.
What Free Time?
Both Chris and Lovey are multi-taskers. In addition to the catering company, Chris owned and operated the Untouchable Barber Salon in Cleveland Heights for 18 years. On occasion, he still cuts hair. Lovey, a Notre Dame College graduate, owns an IT company and serves dual roles as owner/director of HR and compliance.
Despite other commitments, their hearts keep them in Shaker. “Our passion comes from growing up in this beautiful community,” says Lovey. “We want to help preserve the reputation that Shaker is known for. Even if it is something as simple as a consistent chicken tender, we want to always serve the best to the community that has given us so much.”
While many of the most popular items will remain on the menu this summer, Lovey is mapping out a few new options. What are they? You’ll have to stop by the Thornton concession stand in June to find out. Come hungry!
