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

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