The much anticipated Melt Bar & Grilled in the Montrose area will open July 6.
That’s the word from Matt Fish, the owner of the Cleveland-headquartered Melt chain, who certainly knows how to build anticipation.
Fish told me a few weeks ago that he was looking at a June opening, but now says it makes more sense to open after the July 4 holiday. He’s revealing the opening date in Melt’s newsletter that goes out Wednesday.
“We’ve been working on this project for so long … We wanted to give it a little bit more time and give it the final touches and make sure everything is perfect,” Fish said, instead of rushing to open, only to close for the holiday.
Melt fans have been wondering about what is taking so long with the remodeling of the former Friendly’s at 3921 Medina Road (state Route 18) in Bath Township. The buzz about the new Melt — the first in Summit County — began last August.
Fish initially said he was aiming to open in March, but the remodeling was more involved than initially planned.
Melt, known for its variety of grilled cheese sandwiches served on thick bread, began with a single restaurant in Lakewood in 2006. Over the years, it’s developed a cult following. The Bath restaurant will be the chain’s seventh full-fledged location.
Visiting 35º Brix
I finally made it to 35° Brix, the new locally owned restaurant in Green, and discovered why one of the owners had touted the interior, along with its menu.
The place abounds with stained glass pieces and other work, some of which was made at Studio Arts & Glass in Jackson Township, owned by Wendy and Robert Joliet.
The glass is both architectural and artistic in the contemporary space. For example, stained glass panels featuring blue waves separate the bar from the dining area, and one wall is decorated with glass bowls that look like large abstract blooms. The colorfully lit back bar lends a fun vibe.
You can check all this out at a six-course food and wine pairing event at 5:30 p.m. June 26. The restaurant is teaming up with the Merryvale family of wines of Napa, Calif., for the dinner, which will feature Phil Corrente, Merrryvale “brand ambassador.” Corrente is certified in the Wines & Spirit Education Trust and the Court of Master Sommeliers.
Cost is $85, including tax and tip. For tickets, call 330-899-9200 or stop by the restaurant.
Brix owners Kerry and Amy Janke opened the restaurant in Heritage Crossing off Massillon Road in Green earlier this year. The plaza features independently owned ventures such as Brix, as well as chains.
The unusual name, 35° Brix, is a reference to the sugar content in ice wine. The Jankes are big fans of the dessert wine made from grapes that have been frozen before being picked. (The restaurant offers a lot more than ice wine, as well as beer and liquor.)
The menu features a few adventurous appetizers (loved the spicy twice-fried chicken wings tossed in honey lime sriracha sauce), soups, entree and side salads (Yay! White French dressing is one of the options), steak, seafood and other items.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Friday and Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday for brunch and 4 to 8 p.m. in the pub. To see the menu, go to www.35brix.com. The address is 3875 Massillon Road. Phone is 330-899-9200.
West Point shapes up
West Point Market has been showing off a rendering of its new store at 33 Shiawassee Ave. in Fairlawn.
The rendering shows a sleek gray building with a large portico, featuring the West Point Market name in the familiar golden-yellow letters. West Point posted the image on its Facebook page and in a newsletter.
West Point Market, which dates to 1936, went public with the Shiawassee location earlier this spring. The site just off West Market Street is where the iconic Akron specialty grocery plans to reinvent itself, after selling its old site to make way for a 365 by Whole Foods grocery. The Shiawassee location is about two miles west of the old store, which closed at the end of last year.
The plan is to open this store and then develop other locations as satellite stores, with a common commissary.
The stores will be smaller versions of the original, featuring the “best of West Point,” including prepared foods, baked goods, a healthy wine and cheese selection and cafe. Possible locations for satellites include Medina, Brecksville and Shaker Heights, West Point Market CEO Rick Vernon has said.
No opening date has been set for the Shiawassee store, behind a Summa Health System urgent care facility that faces West Market. Vernon said the renovation process could take several months. He is planning to add a kitchen onto the existing building.
The old West Point building in Akron’s Wallhaven neighborhood was demolished earlier this year. The 365 by Whole Foods is scheduled to open in spring 2017, anchoring the new West Market Street Station development.
Pavona’s Pizza
I stopped by the not-yet-open Pavona’s Pizza Joint at 32 Sand Run Road, nestled in a small building behind the Starbucks on West Market Street in Akron.
Husband-and-wife Courtney Pavona Mickey and Mark Mickey were working away, saying they hoped to open in time for July 4.
The couple plan to offer “Old World New York-style brick oven pizza,” with a light crust, a la Neapolitan pizza. This spot housed Vaccaro’s Pizza, then another pizza place before the Mickeys decided to set up shop.
Mark Mickey, who is a contractor, has been laboring for weeks, turning the place into a rustic pizza pub. Old barn siding covers the ceiling, and the old wood floor — dating to its days as a diner in the 1940s and ’50s — has been exposed.
A garage door installed in the restaurant’s front can be opened, letting breezes in and giving the space a bigger feel. A few picnic tables dot the front.
Art and wine in Kent
The 10th annual Art & Wine Festival will run from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday in downtown Kent.
More than 40 artists will sell their works. Participating Ohio wineries include Barrel Run Crossing, Gervasi Vineyard, Grape & Granary Winery, Maize Valley Winery, Troutman Vineyards & Winery, and Winery at Wolf Creek. Food vendors will include Brimfield Bread Oven, Kent Cheesemonger, Premiere Crepes and Scratch.
Live music will begin at noon, with the last act beginning at 8:45 p.m. Proceeds benefit Main Street Kent. Go to www.mainstreetkent.org or call 330-677-8000.
Hattie’s grand opening
The market portion of Hattie’s Food Hub in Akron, a first of its kind for the area, has yet to open.
Those behind the fresh produce market and commercial food processing kitchen off Cedar Street west of downtown are awaiting installation of equipment.
In the meantime, the nonprofit Hattie Larlham, which serves people with disabilities, has sent out postcard reminders for the food hub’s grand opening, 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 23 at the facility at 395 Douglas St. A cookout will be offered for a nominal charge, along with a children’s book giveaway, face-painting and other activities. Parking will be available on Douglas Street or at the Akron Zoo, with trolley pickup and drop-off.
Like the three Hattie’s Gardens sites, the Food Hub serves as a work training program for adults with developmental disabilities.
The market will feature produce from local farms as well as the gardens, which include hoop houses and greenhouses that allow crops to be grown in colder weather. It also will have prepared items. The hub will not have the certification to process meat or dairy, but it will sell a limited selection from other sources.
Prices will be competitive, organizers have said.
Wine dinner
The remodeled Acme No. 1 grocery at 1835 W. Market St. in Akron will host a wine dinner at 6 p.m. June 23 featuring Bryan Del Bondio, president of Markham Vineyards in Napa, Calif. Five wines will be paired with food by Acme Fresh Market catering.
The dinner is new territory for the Acme No. 1, which plans to host such events in a new area that overlooks the lobby, with a wide bridge that leads to a community room accessible by stairs or elevator.
Courses include sauteed shrimp with sweet corn risotto paired with Markham’s 2014 chardonnay, and seared tenderloin tips in balsamic cherry sauce with pecorino romano duchess potato and haricot vert (thin French green beans) with Markham’s 2013 merlot. Cost is $50. Tickets are available at the store’s customer service counter.
Vineyard celebration
Sarah’s Vineyard in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park will again celebrate the summer solstice with a wine, food and music fest June 17-19.
The 14th annual outdoor event will feature Sarah’s wines, food and art vendors and music. It will run from 4 to 10:30 p.m. June 17, noon to 10:30 p.m. June 18 and noon to 6 p.m. June 19.
Cost is $10 and includes a glass and seven tasting tickets. Sarah’s is at 1204 W. Steels Corners Road in Cuyahoga Falls. Phone is 330-929-8057.
For the schedule and list of food vendors, go to www.sarahsvineyardwinery.com/solstice.
German fest is soon
It’s nearly time for a spot in Brimfield Township to be turned into Old Europe, complete with sausage, schnitzel, stuffed cabbage and beer, as well as dancing.
The German Family Society will host its popular Old European Days and Bierfest June 25-26 at the society’s grounds near Kent. The address is 3871 Ranfield Road, east of state Route 43 and County Road 18.
Pastries and cakes galore will be on the menu, along with games and dancing. Children’s games will be offered June 26. Admission is $5, free for children under age 12. Parking is free. Hours are 3 to 11 p.m. June 25 and 1 to 7 p.m. June 26. Go to www.germanfamilysociety.com.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com. Send local food news to Katie Byard at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com. You can follow her @KatieByardABJ on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com.