Delis, diners, pizza, pancakes and more land on the menu
By Lydia Kacala
With 14 restaurants under its umbrella across Greater Cleveland, including the newly opened Capriccio’s at 28020 Miles Road in Solon, Cleveland Restaurant Management Group may seem as though it can’t get any bigger. However, the restaurant group is planning to continue its growth with restaurants opening throughout 2025.
While dates have not been announced for its upcoming openings, Cleveland Restaurant Management group will open Original Pancake House and Capriccio’s, both in Strongsville, and Rewind Diner in Brooklyn, along with five more yet-to-be- announced restaurants before the year’s end.
Cleveland Restaurant Management Group began acquiring restaurants in October 2021, about one year after Marc Glassman brought Paul Tomko aboard, says Tomko, who works with the restaurant group’s revenue streams.
“I did it because he gave me an opportunity that no one else ever would give me, so I always say if he were to decide that he wanted to build shoe strings or make tennis shoes that I would do that,” Tomko says. “So, mine is not necessarily loyal to the restaurant, but to the man.”
Tomko says he first met Glassman in 1989 when he started working at Marc’s in North Olmsted. The pair picked up their professional relationship in 2020 after Tomko was released from prison.
“I’ve known Marc for pretty much my entire life,” Tomko says. “… After my brief time out, Marc was very, very forthcoming and very righteous and gave me another opportunity. So, that’s how my restaurant career started with Marc. I’ve owned several restaurants in the past. I was a college professor at Tri-C (Cuyahoga Community College) and Cleveland State (University), and so I was just hard on my luck and he just gave me a chance.”
Glassman hired Tomko to build kitchen cabinets when he was released, and as he gained more permissions in his halfway house, Glassman offered him more responsibilities. Tomko began working at The Cleveland Corned Beef Co., which is now closed, and was eventually asked to buy supplies, such as jellies, for Adam’s Place at 681 E. 200th St. in Euclid and to help make the line more efficient at the Italian Village at 16605 Pearl Road in Strongsville, which is currently closed for renovations, Tomko says.
As Tomko gained more responsibility and stepped into more of a consultant role, he learned more about Glassman’s philosophy when it comes to acquiring and operating restaurants – find and embrace restaurants that have “magic,” he says.
“We just bought these magical restaurants that had these stellar reputations, and whether it be Jack’s or Victoria’s or Eat at Joe’s,” Tomko says. “Our goal wasn’t to change anything. It was to embrace what the legacy and the heritage was from all of these different restaurants and tried to preserve them, so the patrons and all the people were able to get exactly what they expect, and in some cases try to make it a little bit better.”
When Tomko was working at Fisher’s American Tavern, which is now occupied by the restaurant group’s Capriccio’s, he learned about the potential closure of Victoria’s Deli & Restaurant at 6779 Ames Road in Parma from Scott Fisher, the owner of then-Fisher’s American Tavern, he says. Tomko asked for the owner’s number, and in his meeting with Glassman the next morning, shared it with him.
Tomko and Glassman approached the owner about buying the restaurant, and after some back and forth, they reached an agreement, he says.
“That was on a Thursday, and she was going to close her restaurant that Monday,” Tomko says. “So, he essentially saved that restaurant from being closed.”
Over time, Tomko began using his academic knowledge in his work with the restaurant group, applying economies of scale, a term used by professionals meaning increasing production while decreasing per-unit production costs can lead to a more efficient production, he says.
Tomko says Cleveland Restaurant Management Group operates on a business model of acquiring restaurants, doing “right” by them and giving “our best effort” to help the business be successful. While the group works to encourage success, it isn’t afraid to try new things, fail and try again.
“The model itself, I think, is ever changing,” Tomko says. “It’s always morphing into something different. It’s constantly moving.”
Employing over 300 people, some employees work at multiple restaurants managed by the group, he says. However, it’s important that no matter which restaurant a customer may be dining at, they should feel welcomed and wanted.
“No matter if you’re at OddFellows eating a five-star dinner or you’re at Eat at Joe’s having an omelet, every customer should feel exactly the same,” he says. “You should feel welcomed, you should feel like you belong there, like you want to be there and you should feel comfortable.”
Tomko says the group tries to “spread the goodwill” and “good human nature” throughout its restaurants, which is, in part, what draws everyone together.
“That’s what really draws us all together because we have all these different concepts, but the common theme is that every one of these employees care so deeply about what they do,” he says.
The shared love for the restaurant business and experience the employees have also lends itself to collaboration among team members. Before opening a new restaurant or acquiring an already-established restaurant, Cleveland Restaurant Management Group will host meetings that sometimes involved 20 people or more, during which Tomko asks each person to share their perspectives on whatever the decision before them may be, he says. A recent example is the development and opening of Capriccio’s, where the restaurant group hosted between 40 and 50 group virtual meetings for “months before” the restaurant was ready to open, he says.
“We have so many different customers and so many different types of people that come into our restaurants, that when we want to build a restaurant or we want to buy a restaurant, I just think we want to know as much as we can before we get into it,” Tomko says. “What is the best way or what do we collectively think is going to be best for the neighborhood, or for the employees, or for whom ever. I firmly believe that a team makes better decisions than any one or two individuals. So, I guess I really strive for that. A lot of people say that I’m too transparent, but I just I really value everyone’s opinion.
In its growth, Cleveland Restaurant Management group has brought on Brad Friedlander and Michael DuBois to aid in creating brands for the restaurant group, Tomko says.
Friedlander and DuBois, along with other people that work with the restaurant group, develop
new restaurants and “at some point” Cleveland Restaurant Management Group will add them to their management portfolio, allowing the cycle to begin again, he says.
“Now, we have two avenues in which we acquire restaurants,” he says. “So now, because of Brad and Michael, we can build concepts and build brands and build our own magic, and now we have our own magicians. We are still interested in buying restaurants that already have established magic and revenue stream and loyal customers.”
WHO’S ON THE CRMG MENU
Adam’s Place
Address: 681 E. 200th St., Euclid Hours: 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily Contact Info: 216-531-9681, apr@cle-restaurants.com Website: adamsplaceeuclid.com Social Media: Adam’s Place Restaurant on Facebook Price Range: $10-$15 Menu Offerings: Omelets, burgers, soup, salad, sandwiches and more
Angela Mia Express
Address: 683 E. 200th St., Euclid
Hours: Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., closed Sunday
Contact Info: 216-452-7100, amp-e@cle-restaurants.com
Website: angelamiapizzaeuclid.com
Social Media: @angelamiapizza on Instagram
Price Range: $10-$30
Menu Offerings: Pizza, chicken and more
Angela Mia Pizza
Address: 15811 Euclid Ave., East Cleveland Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday Contact Info: 26-851-445, amp-ec@cle-restaurants.com Website: angelamiapizza.com Social Media: Angela Mia Pizza on Facebook, @angelamiapizza on Instagram Price Range: $10-$50 Menu Offerings: Pizza, pasta, sandwiches, wings and more
Capriccio’s
Address: 28020 Miles Road, Solon
Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday,
4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday Contact Info: 440-349-3736, cap@cle-restaurants.com
Website: capricciosofsolon.com
Social Media: Capriccio’s Cleveland on Facebook, @capriccioscleveland on Instagram
Price Range: $10-$40
Menu Offerings: Housemade pasta, soup, salad, pizza and more
Chicago Deli & Grill
Address: 34390 Aurora Road, Solon Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily Contact Info: 440-248-8018, cdg@cle-restaurants.com Website: chicagodelisolon.com Social Media: Chicago Deli & Restaurant Solon on Facebook Price Range: $10-$20 Menu Offerings: Pancakes, omelets, sandwiches, salads, burgers and more
D’Italia Foods
Address: 26285 Detroit Road, Westlake
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday
Contact Info: 440-871-0887, dif-w@cle-restaurants.com
Website: ditaliafoodswestlake.com
Social Media: D’Italia Foods Westlake on Facebook
Price Range: $10-$20
Menu Offerings: Salads, sandwiches, pasta and more
Eat at Joe’s
Address: 1475 S. Green Road, South Euclid Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday Contact Info: 216-381-3101, eaj@cle-restaurants.com Website: eatatjoescleveland.com Social Media: Eat at Joe’s on Facebook Price Range: $10-$20 Menu Offerings: Waffles, pancakes, eggs, burgers, salads and more
Jack’s Deli & Restaurant
Address: 14490 Cedar Road, University Heights
Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday
Contact Info: 216-382-5350, jdr@cle-restaurants.com
Website: jacksdeliandrestaurant.com
Social Media: Jack’s Deli & Restaurant on Facebook
Price Range: $10-$30
Menu Offerings: Soups, salads, sandwiches, corned beef, desserts and more
Lopez 44
Address: 44 N. Main St., Chagrin Falls
Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday,
4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday
Contact Info: 440-468-0310, lpz@cle-restaurants.com
Website: lopez44.com
Social Media: Lopez Chagrin on Facebook, @lopezchagrin on Instagram
Price Range: $20-$40
Menu Offerings: Soup, salads, street tacos, quesadillas and more
Manhattan Deli Bar & Grille
Address: 34601 Ridge Road, Willoughby
Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday
Contact Info: 440-585-1177
Website: mymanhattandeli.com
Social Media: Manhattan Deli Bar & Grille on Facebook, @manhattandelibargrille on Instagram
Price Range: $10-$20
Menu Offerings: Wings, pizza, sandwiches, soups and more
OddFellows
Address: 16 N. Main St., Chagrin Falls
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for lunch, 4:30 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 4:30 to 10 p.m. Friay and Saturday for dinner, and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for brunch
Contact Info: 440-600-7770, odf@cle-restaurants.com
Website: 2oddfellows.com
Social Media: 2Oddfellows on Facebook, @oddfellowsrestaurant on Instagram
Price Range: $15-$60
Menu Offerings: Salads, fish, cocktails and more
The Original Pancake House
Fairview Park
Address: 3000 Westgate Mall Drive, Fairview Park Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily Contact Info: 440-333-5515, oph-fp@cle-restaurants.com Website: originalpancakehousecleveland.com Social Media: Original Pancake House on Facebook Price Range: $10-$20 Menu Offerings: Omelets, pancakes, crepes, waffles, sandwiches and more
The Original Pancake House
Woodmere
Address: 28700 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily Contact Info: 216-292-7777, oph-w@cle-restaurants.com Website: originalpancakehousewoodmere.com Social Media: Original Pancake House on Facebook Price Range: $10-$20 Menu Offerings: Omelets, pancakes, crepes, waffles, sandwiches and more
Victoria’s Deli & Restaurant
Address: 6779 Ames Road, Parma Hours: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily Contact Info: 440-845-8922, vdr@cle-restaurants.com Website: victoriasdeliandrestaurant.com Social Media: Victoria’s Deli and Restaurant on Facebook Price Range: $10-$20 Menu Offerings: Sandwiches, burgers, omelets and more
SOURCE: Race Depenti from CRMG and individual restaurant websites