Brennan's wins Best CH Business in 2014 Best of the Heights Awards

Brennan's Colony representatives (from left) Aran Keenan, Kathy Murphy and Richard Wise. Photo by Greg Bonanno.
Following a summer marked by both tragedy and resilience, Brennan’s Colony received the title of Best Cleveland Heights Business in the 10th annual Best of the Heights Awards, held Sept. 23. Voters also honored the Lee Road restaurant and bar in naming it the Heights’s Best Bar, Pub or Tavern.
“It’s an overwhelming testament to the amount of support the community has provided us, but most importantly it’s a testament to what Jim Brennan was able to do in his lifetime and in his years of service at the corner of Lee and Silsby, and I would be remiss to think that this award wasn’t directly for him,” said Aran Keenan, Brennan’s Colony manager.
The Best of the Heights Awards is an annual recognition of outstanding Cleveland Heights and University Heights businesses.
Each year, FutureHeights—a nonprofit dedicated to promoting civic engagement in the Heights through information, education, and advocacy, and the publisher of the Heights Observer community news—conducts the Best of the Heights survey to recognize the unique attributes of locally owned businesses here in the Heights, and their contributions to the local economy.
From May through August, Heights residents voted for their favorite Heights businesses in 21 categories, and the winners were announced on Sept. 23.
This year’s Best of the Heights Awards program provided a change from past ceremonies and featured more of a celebration and party-like atmosphere. Instead of a stage and acceptance speeches, finalists and guests enjoyed food, drinks, conversation and music, and the winners were announced with a flourish as banners were unfurled from a balcony.
The Best University Heights Business award went to Whole Foods Market. Gigi’s on Fairmount took home the title of Best New Business, edging out fellow newcomers Four and Twenty Mercantile, Sweet Melissa and Yoga Roots.
Quintana’s Barber and Dream Spa won the award for Best Customer Experience, and Theo Challouf bested shop-mate and Quintana’s owner Alex Quintana for the title of Best Barber.
A new category this year, Best Enduring Business—which recognized longevity in the Heights business community—featured finalists Nighttown, Brennan’s Colony and Tommy’s Restaurant, which won the award.
Mama Joyce’s Soul Food Café won the award for Best African-American-Owned Business, and the prize for Best Home-Based Business went to Loving Hands Yoga and Reiki. Judith Eugene, founder of the Loving Hands Group, was grateful for the support she has found in the Heights community. “I grew up here and went through the school system, so just to know that I’m giving back something that people find valuable and helpful really fills up my heart,” said Eugene. “Being able to connect with people and to find what it is that people need and what they find valuable, and to hopefully be able to fill that need, is tremendously rewarding to me.”
This year’s Best of the Heights Awards had even more of a special meaning, as it was the 10th annual presentation of a program in which FutureHeights finds great importance.
“Recognizing and celebrating our local businesses through the Best of the Heights Awards is one way that FutureHeights acts to support and promote a vibrant local economy. These businesses are, for many of us, like home. We know the proprietors and they know their customers. It's this connection to the community that we all value and that keeps us rooted here in the Heights,” said Clare Taft, president of the FutureHeights Board of Directors.
The following is a complete list of winners and finalists in the 2014 Best of the Heights Awards:
Best New Business
WINNER:
Gigi’s on Fairmount
FINALISTS:
Four and Twenty Mercantile
Sweet Melissa
Yoga Roots
Best Place for Sweet Treats
WINNER:
Sweetie Fry
FINALISTS:
Luna Bakery Café
Mitchell’s Fine Chocolates
Best Live Entertainment/Music Venue
WINNER:
Nighttown
FINALISTS:
Cain Park
The Grog Shop
Best Customer Experience
WINNER:
Quintana’s Barber & Dream Spa
FINALISTS:
Simply Charming
Phoenix Coffee
Best Pizza
WINNER:
Dewey’s Pizza
FINALISTS:
Marotta’s
Geraci’s Restaurant
Best Bar, Pub or Tavern
WINNER:
Brennan’s Colony
FINALISTS:
The BottleHouse Brewery
The Tavern Company
Best Healthy Eats
WINNER:
Tommy’s Restaurant
FINALISTS:
Aladdin’s Eatery
Stone Oven
Best Automotive Business
WINNER:
Washington & Lee Service
FINALISTS:
Bryan’s Marathon
Motorcars
Simon’s Automotive
Best Home-Based Business
WINNER:
Loving Hands Yoga & Reiki
FINALISTS:
Simple Hands Studio
Best Carryout Only
WINNER:
Pizza Bogo
FINALISTS:
On the Rise Artisan Breads
Mama Joyce’s Soul Food Café
Richie Chan’s Chinese Restaurant
Best Hairstylist
WINNER:
Shawn Paul Gustafson, Shawn Paul Salon
FINALISTS:
Ryan Simmons, Abstract - A Hair Salon
Chanelle Truitt, Studio Taylor
Best Barber
WINNER:
Theo Challouf, Quintana’s Barber & Dream Spa
FINALISTS:
Alex Quintana, Quintana’s Barber & Dream Spa
Adam DiDomenico, Adam’s Barber Shop
Best Family-Friendly Business
WINNER:
Tommy’s Restaurant
FINALISTS:
Brennan’s Colony
Dewey’s Pizza
Best Curb Appeal
WINNER:
Anatolia Cafe
FINALISTS:
Bremec’s Garden Center
Gigi’s on Fairmount
Loving Hands Yoga & Reiki
Best Clothing-Related Business
WINNER:
Revive
FINALISTS:
Avalon Exchange
Blush Boutique
Best African-American-Owned Business
WINNER:
Mama Joyce’s Soul Food Café
FINALISTS:
Angie’s Soul Café
Digizoom Media
S.O.F.E. Whole Foods Grill
Soles In Sync
Best Pet-Related Business
WINNER:
Coventry Cats
FINALISTS:
Dogtopia
Mandel Veterinary Hospital
Rainbow Veterinary Clinic
Best Enduring CH or UH Business
WINNER:
Tommy’s Restaurant
FINALISTS:
Brennan’s Colony
Nighttown
Best Food
WINNER:
Anatolia Cafe
FINALISTS:
Lopez Southwest Kitchen & Tequila Saloon
Pacific East Japanese Restaurant
Tommy’s Restaurant
Best University Heights Business
WINNER:
Whole Foods Market
FINALISTS:
Bialy’s Bagels
Geraci’s Restaurant
Pizzazz On the Circle
Best Cleveland Heights Business
WINNER:
Brennan’s Colony
FINALISTS:
Loving Hands Yoga & Reiki
The Wine Spot
Tommy’s Restaurant
Daniel Budin
Daniel Budin is a lifelong Cleveland Heights resident and member of the FutureHeights Board of Directors.