Coventry Village facts for kids
Coventry Village is a lively area in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. You can find it on Coventry Road, between Mayfield Road and Euclid Heights Boulevard. This neighborhood is known for its artistic and musical vibe. It's a place where creative people gather, often compared to famous artsy spots like Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco or Greenwich Village in New York City, but on a smaller scale.
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History of Coventry Village
Early Days and Development
The road that became Coventry Village first appeared on maps in 1874. Back then, it was just an unnamed path through farmland. This land belonged to Worthy S. Streator. By 1890, people called it Streator Road.
In 1890, a lawyer named Patrick Calhoun bought Streator's land. He paid $30,000 for it. Calhoun wanted to build a fancy community called "Euclid Heights." He imagined it as a New England-style neighborhood for wealthy families. By 1892, the road was officially named Coventry Road. The area around it became a village in 1903.
Growth and Change
Over time, the demand for very large houses changed. Calhoun's company faced problems in the 1910s. Many empty lots near Coventry Road were sold. Developers then built apartment buildings on these lots.
The area became a busy spot for people traveling to work. This was because streetcar lines met at the Coventry–Mayfield intersection after 1907. Most buildings on Coventry Road were built between 1913 and 1933. The biggest growth happened from 1921 to 1925. During this time, 18 new businesses opened. Many buildings had apartments on the second floor. This helped serve the growing population.
By the early 1920s, many Jewish families moved into the new apartment buildings. This brought new businesses to the area. For example, there was a kosher poultry shop. In 1921, Cleveland Heights became a city.
A Hub for Counterculture
In the late 1960s, Coventry Village became a popular place for Cleveland's "counterculture." This means it attracted people with new ideas and lifestyles. The C-Saw Café was popular with bikers. Also, several universities were nearby.
Record Revolution opened in 1968. It became a famous music store. Many rock stars visited and signed the store walls. These included members of Led Zeppelin, Genesis, and The Who. Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith also visited. A rock critic called Record Revolution "the coolest place to buy records" in Ohio. The store helped new artists get noticed on local radio stations. To stay popular, Record Revolution also started selling clothes.
Over the years, Coventry Village changed. It went from a Jewish neighborhood to a diverse marketplace. Early businesses included Kaufman's, Irv's Deli, and the Heights Art Theatre.
Current Attractions
Coventry Village today has many interesting places. Heights Hardware is the oldest business, open since 1911. The area also has a lively music scene. You can find the rock club The Grog Shop and its lounge, the B-Side. Record Revolution still sells classic vinyl records. The Exchange is another music store.
There are three bookstores: Attenson's Antiques/Vintage & Books, Mac's Backs, and Revolution Books. When you get hungry, you can choose from many restaurants. These include The Inn on Coventry, Hunan Coventry, and Tommy's. Other options are Grums Sub Shop, High Thai'd, and Pacific East. You can also find BD's Mongolian Barbecue, Bodega, and Dave's Cosmic Subs. For drinks, there's La Cave Du Vin and Phoenix Coffee. Sports fans can visit places like Winking Lizard Tavern.
Other fun spots include Big Fun, a toy store with retro items. Sunshine sells clothing. The Blueprint is a sneaker and clothing shop. You can also find Passport to Peru and Avalon Exchange, a vintage clothing store. There's a comedy club called Big Dog Theater. In recent years, many new local shops have opened. Most of these are trendy boutiques.
