“Where’s Cleveland, Tenn.?” Don’t worry it’s not the first time I’ve been asked that. As a Lee University student, Cleveland has been my temporary home and I’ve stumbled upon some pretty great places. It’s a small town, but don’t, even for a second, let that deter you from visiting. Here are a few hot spots that would purely be a shame to overlook.”
1. BonLife Coffee
241 Inman St., 423-464-6160
Start your day off right with a delicious and ethical cup of coffee. Owners Erika and Jeremy Moore founded this hip and cozy coffee shop on a mission to serve the world – and I don’t mean just coffee. The variety of direct-trade beans roasted in-house and multiple brew methods, such as the Siphon or the Chemex (offering the cleanest cup of coffee you’ve ever sipped), make it possible for you to create a deliciously personalized cup of Joe. While you sip on that, you can get your caffeine kick and contribute to non-profit organizations such as People for Care and Learning, The Caring Place, Water Missions International and Coffee Kids. “The more coffee our customers drink, the more change they bring, whether they know it or not; and the more whole bean coffee we sell, the more we can ultimately do,” Erika says. If that’s not a good excuse to splurge on a drink and a tasty muffin or slice of cake, then I don’t know what is.
Stamper’s Furniture
80 N.W. 2nd St., 423-476-4542
As I walked through more than 23 rooms of furniture, home décor and artwork, I saw my future home flash before my eyes. Stamper’s Furniture has 90 years of business under its belt and offers thousands of square footage of unique and elegant items from North Carolina and Tennessee manufacturers. And as you’re perusing the store, says owner Joe Stamper, you might have a chance to meet its resident ghost-a young woman who has been spotted a handful of times walking across the balcony.
3. Gardener’s Market
262 Broad St., 423-478-3906
This convenience store/sandwich shop/neighborhood hangout has been a Cleveland favorite for years. Quirky decorations cover the open wall space and an eclectic mix of tables and chairs adds character to this already unique market. The shelves are stocked with jams, candles, teas, European candies and other items that are either locally made or have become hard to find. At the counter there’s a full cookie tray, a glass case of fresh pastas and salads, and a handwritten list of deli sandwiches, burgers and drinks (a favorite of mine being the blackberry lemonade) made to order. They’re just open for breakfast and lunch so you have to catch ’em when you can, and believe me, the place will be bustling.
Café Roma
220 N Ocoee St., 423-339-1488
A taste of Naples, Italy has come all the way to little ‘ole Cleveland thanks to owner Shannon Ritzhaupt. This restaurant offers more than your average spaghetti plate with dishes like Carne di Maiale-balsamic glazed and braised pork shoulder, caramelized onion mashed potatoes, creamed corn, gremolata and apricot demi glace-or Pollo Café Roma-chicken breast, sun-dried tomatoes, shrimp, pink cream sauce and penne pasta. From the local vegetables from Greenway Community Garden to fresh seafood from Atlanta, exquisite flavors are crafted and served with each plate. So if you’ve wanted your significant other to “surprise” you with somewhere new and delicious, start subtly dropping hints that this is the place to go.
Trailhead Bicycle Co.
225 1st St. NE, 423-472-9899
Faced with the fragrance of rubber and floor to ceiling rows of bikes, Trailhead Bicycle Co. is like Christmas morning for any cyclist. For seven and a half years Charles Nelson has been “maintaining a small shop feel with a big shop delivery” for Cleveland’s solid- and growing-cycling community. Their forte is mountain biking, but they offer anything you would need to hit the trails or the St.s from top brands such as Specialized, Rock Mountain, Salsa and Felt. Trailhead also hosts the Cohutta 100 and Big Frog endurance races annually. “I’ve always been a cyclist, it’s part of my DNA,” Nelson says. “I consider cycling to be a God-given skill as well as my calling to influence the cycling industry.” I can barely ride a bike, but this store could encourage anyone to give it a go.