Nothing takes the bite out of a chilly winter day like a warm beverage.
By Nate Paige
MOTIV @ 3427 Lee Road. Photography by Jason Miller.
For many, the day can’t begin without that morning cup of coffee to get in gear, or maybe during the mid-afternoon to fight that dreaded 2:30 feeling. Or maybe cocoa, chai, or tea is your heated beverage of choice. While there are any number of places around town to grab a cuppa joe, here’s a look at four venues in Shaker’s commercial districts.
Coffee …
BIGGBY COFFEE
20609 Fairmount Boulevard
Biggby Coffee on Fairmount Boulevard, across from John Carroll University, is one of the company’s newest franchises, opening in February 2020.
Located in a building formerly occupied by longtime tenant, the Peter Danford, Inc. jewelry company, Biggby undertook a major renovation that included installing additional bay windows on the north side. The décor alone – vivid orange, white, and turquoise walls – is enough to boost one’s spirits.
Opening a coffee shop a stone’s throw from a college campus should have been an instant win-win, but no one could have predicted the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“John Carroll was closed for three semesters, so most of the last two years have been a huge challenge,” says franchisee Michael Ren.
Having lived in the Shaker Square area for many years, Ren was interested in opening a location in Shaker Heights. “I always loved the sense of community in Shaker. The neighborhood is great, there’s lots of traffic, and it’s very kid-friendly.”
He currently owns three Biggby franchises – one of which is located on Shaker Square.
College students and commuters make up a large part of Ren’s Shaker clientele. The Sweet Foam Cold brews and the Avalanche (white mocha and mint), from the specialty beverage menu, are among the most popular. The Biggby breakfast bagels, better known as Bragels and served all day, are also a favorite. Biggby Coffee Shaker is open Mondays from 6 am – 7 pm and Tuesdays through Sundays from 7 am – 7 pm. Catch the daily happy hour from 4 – 7 pm for 2-for-1 specialty beverages.
RISING STAR COFFEE ROASTERS
Van Aken District Market Hall
3441 Tuttle Road
Rising Star Coffee Roasters, which opened in the Van Aken District Market Hall early in 2019, is a key player in the ongoing bustle of the hall. It’s a local chain, founded in 2012 in Ohio City. Bruno Green, who grew up in Shaker Heights, is one of four co-owners who bought the chain in 2020. These also include Dawn Fox, Cristo Kallas, and Brandon Riggs.
“Along with Dawn, I focus on managing our retail operations across our six cafes. That includes everything from staffing and procedures, to drink specials and ingredients,” he says.
Green views coffee as a key to building community and conversation.
“At the end of the day, it’s the aspect of hospitality and community. For every coffee shop, the favorite part is viewing coffee as a gathering tool; we can figure out how to share an interaction over a cup of coffee. Coffee shops are a place where everyone can go.”
The decision to open a location in Shaker was made by the previous owner. But Green offered advice, based on his years growing up here.
“I told the previous owner that the location of the Van Aken District is at a huge crossroads of travelers – there are so many different types of people passing through the Warrensville/Chagrin intersection. We’d have the opportunity to reach a lot of people and be at the center of a huge community.”
While Rising Star’s menu includes a number of options – coffee, lattes, chai, tea, espresso, Americano, and hot chocolate – its most popular item is the Promised Land Latte, consisting of espresso, steamed milk, honey, and cinnamon. Green says the Vanilla Bean Latte is a close second.
Rising Star’s hours are 7 am – 7 pm daily.
… And More
MOTIV
3427 Lee Road
It’s been all systems go for Brittany Wiley, president of Magna Family of Brands Hospitality Group, and husband, Dre, who hit the ground running in 2020 with their business plan and haven’t looked back.
The most recent addition to their umbrella company – which includes Magna Wine Boutique and Mocha Coffee Company – is Motiv, which opened in May 2022 and is located at the corner of Lee Road and Van Aken Boulevard.
“Motiv is a fusion concept offering craft coffee, wine, cocktails, and small plates,” says Brittany Wiley.
On the coffee front, the Signature Honey Bee Latte, a brown sugar and cinnamon latte with honey and a cinnamon stick garnish, is the most popular item among patrons. A close second is the Signature Mocha. Both beverages contain a secret ingredient.
“Of our small plates, the most popular item during the day is the Breakfast Sammy: turkey sausage and egg, with a choice of cheddar, mozzarella, or provolone cheese. We serve it on bagels, croissants, toast, or pita. During the evening, it’s the chicken quesadilla and the crab cakes.”
Although Motiv is the only business Wiley and her husband operate in Shaker, there is an emotional attachment to the City.
“My husband grew up in Shaker, and he knows it’s such an amazing and supportive community. Most of our business comes from foot traffic.”
Motiv’s hours are Mondays and Tuesdays from 7 am – 3 pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7 am – 9 pm, Fridays from 7 am – 10 pm, Saturdays from 8 am-10 pm, Sundays from 8 am – 3 pm. Social Hour is Wednesdays – Saturdays 3 – 6 pm. Friday is Ladies Night, with extended happy hour drink specials until 9 pm.
BARNONE WINE CAFÉ
20106 Chagrin Boulevard
Necessity is the mother of invention and in Michael Resnick’s case, reinvention.
Part of that reinvention includes coffee. Resnick has been in the wine business for 30 years. He moved BarNone from University Heights to Shaker Heights in 2020, to the space previously occupied by Juma.
“Our lease wasn’t renewed in the old spot, and we came across this location. We thought it would be a fabulous place to move to, so we did.”
Resnick enhanced the kitchen to accommodate his menu, which includes breakfast sandwiches, pizza, paninis, quesadillas, salads, sandwiches,
and barbecue.
“Our big thing is barbecue. The young lady who runs the kitchen, Wendy, along with her husband, has been in the barbecue business for a long time. They’re some of the best ribs you’ll ever have.”
Resnick attributes his longevity in the business to being able to reinvent when necessary. “I needed to work,” he says, laughing. “You really have to change your business. All the time. We changed from a full-service cheese and wine store, to doing away with the cheese. We changed our philosophy and focused solely on wine, and eventually closeout wines. My motto is ‘Why buy cheap wine when you can buy good wine cheap’?
He says that over the last 30 years, “we’ve probably changed our establishment four or five times. In moving to Shaker, we added coffee to our lineup. Otherwise, if we had stuck with selling wine and cheese, and not being creative, we would be long gone.”
His most popular coffee item is lattes. The coffee is provided by Six Shooter Coffee, located in Cleveland’s Collinwood neighborhood. “We do very European style coffee, so we only offer a traditional cup size for lattes; there’s no large or small.”
BarNone Wine Café is open Mondays from 9 am – 2 pm; Tuesdays – Fridays from 9 am – 8 pm and Saturdays from 11 am – 8 pm. Closed Sunday. Happy Hour is Tuesday – Saturday in the Café from 4 – 6:30 pm, offering a variety of wines for $5 a glass, select craft beers, and food options including pizza, a rib sampler, totchos (Tater Tot nachos), spinach and artichoke dip, and a cheese board.
