On the Rise
Just south of downtown is a Cleveland neighborhood that is like nowhere else in Northeast Ohio. Slavic Village defies classification and has two strong personalities fighting for attention.
The industry this area is known for and thrives on came about because of the land’s natural attributes. A waterfall on the Mill Creek that runs through the Southern end of the neighborhood is the largest waterfall in the county. It was diverted for use with an industrial mill by the first European settlers to the area. This was the start of the area’s industry, like the metal and steel companies Cleveland has come to be known for. Of course all this industry needs workers and in the late 1800s and early 1900s an influx of people from Eastern Europe filled that void. Waves of people from places like Poland, Bohemia and Slovenia came to the neighborhood looking for work.
Today Slavic Village is still peppered with cultural relics from these displaced Europeans with destinations like Bohemian National Hall with its Czech Cultural Center, Slovenian National Home which is affectionately known as The Nash, and the Polish-American Cultural Center complete with a two-story museum and library that feature Polish history, culture and politics.
All this Eastern European culture is also reflected in the food you can find in Slavic Village. Sample traditionally prepared meats like Kielbasa and smokies, Eastern European favorites like Pierogis and stuffed cabbage, and even sauerkraut and horseradish for the more adventurous. Whether you want to sit in a cafe and enjoy a home-style meal prepared like your Busha used to make it, have a catered affair with potato pancakes and sausage, or take home fresh bakery and imported Eastern European favorites like jams, pickles and mustards, you can get it all in the charming eateries and quirky shops of Slavic Village.
The urban neighborhood of Slavic Village is criss-crossed with greenways and bike paths that pass through parks and repurposed corridors that industry no longer has a use for. Trails like Morgana Run take cyclists past murals, into oases of nature, along side industry, by a waterfall and golf course and even down the valley to the tow path. A most unique reflection of this bike-centered place is the new Cleveland Velodrome, where serious cyclists can test their skills on the ramped speedway that is truly a one-of-a-kind experience.
Recommended:
CULTURE: Polish Cultural Center
CULTURE: Bohemian National Hall/Sokol Greater Cleveland/Czech Cultural Center
CULTURE: Slovenian National Home (The Nash)
HISTORY: Broadway Historic District
HISTORY: Harvard Jewish Cemetery