From humble and hungry beginnings, the city of Cleveland grew over centuries until it boasted a dizzying array of gustatory choices. City dwellers and travelers alike flocked to the eateries at Public Square and Terminal Tower, including the Fred Harvey restaurants with their famous Harvey Girls. A single block-long street, Short Vincent featured the Theatrical Grille, the longest-running jazz joint in the area. The walls of Otto Moser’s were a veritable Hollywood roll call, and the New York Spaghetti House offered a complete dining and aesthetic experience. Fill your cup with the libation of your choice, grab a snack and join author Bette Lou Higgins on a historical tour of the restaurants that kept Clevelanders fed.
Bette Lou Higgins has an M.ED from Cleveland State University and a BA from Baldwin-Wallace College. She is the artistic director and a founder of Eden Valley Enterprises (EVE), where she has been involved in researching, writing, producing and performing more than forty original productions. Specializing in historical programs, EVE’s repertoire covers topics such as the Great Depression, World War II, the Great Lakes and profiles of historic figures often neglected by mainstream media. The company has also done a number of women’s history presentations. Find out more at www.edenvalleyenterprises.org.