Cordelia, which opened on East Fourth Street three summers ago, has won over local diners, garnered national attention, and earned chef-partner Vinnie Cimino multiple James Beard Award nominations. Co-owners Cimino and Andrew Watts appear to have hit on a winning combination of “Midwest Nice” hospitality and “Modern Grandma” cuisine.
So it was only a matter of time before those two indefatigable operators looked for another project. Today, they announced that they will be expanding their restaurant portfolio. Cimino and Watts will take over the former Alea location at 2912 Church Ave. in Ohio City’s Hingetown neighborhood. That restaurant has been officially closed since the winter and will not be reopening. The new eatery is scheduled to open this fall.
While the two did not reveal much about the yet-unnamed eatery’s concept or cuisine, we can assume that live-fire cooking will be central to the theme. Alea, which opened in late 2019, is a cozy 33-seat establishment with a wood-burning cooking suite directly behind the bar.
“This new restaurant will be an extension of who we are as culinary professionals,” Cimino says. “We’re excited to build on Cordelia’s success, but in a more intentional way, focusing on what we love most: sourcing, storytelling, and the purpose behind each dish. A smaller, more intimate space allows us to be both methodical and adventurous. It’s an opportunity to continue and celebrate everything that fuels our enthusiasm for hospitality, but in a way that allows us to delve even deeper into our craft.”
As the grand opening approaches, we can expect to learn more about the project. Until then, we can continue to enjoy ourselves at Cordelia.
“Our mission has always been to give back to this incredible community while creating meaningful opportunities for our exceptional team,” Watts says. “This new location provides the ideal balance of space, scale, and neighborhood character to support our commitment to fostering community connections and creating opportunities for growth. We are excited to introduce another restaurant that will provide both exceptional hospitality and chef-driven culinary excellence. I couldn’t be more excited to show Cleveland what we have in store for the sequel to Cordelia.”
