Willoughby’s history is very unique. It’s the only town in America that has belonged to six counties (Washington, Jefferson, Trumbull, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Lake). It was originally settled by the French in the 1750’s and called Charlton. The British followed and renamed the town Chagrin River. When the first industries sprang up it was renamed Chagrin Mills and shortened to Chagrin in 1815. Finally, in 1834 John Henderson and Dr. Westel Willoughby established the Willoughby Medical College and in 1835 the town was renamed for the last time to the City of Willoughby.
Willoughby is approximately 20 miles east of Cleveland along the Lake Erie shoreline. The people living in Willoughby have a lot of pride in the city’s history and connections to the past. Willoughby’s downtown area is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and worth visiting. You can start your walking tour at the Civil War memorial located at Public Square at the intersection of Euclid Ave. and River St. The Civil War memorial was dedicated in 1885. It lists the names of all the soldiers from Willoughby who have died in combat. More information and pictures of this memorial can be found at www.sculpturecenter.org.
Public Square features a beautiful, landscaped park area all four seasons of the year. Spring, summer and fall transform the area into a lush garden landscape filled with roses and flowers of the season. There is a large gazebo where you’re bound to see weddings being performed on most of the summer weekends by Mayor Dave Anderson. On December 1st, the park is transformed by thousands and thousands of twinkle lights and Christmas displays that are left up until mid January. Right across River St. is City Hall at 1 Public Square. An outdoor Farmer’s Market is held in the parking lot every Saturday morning from 8am to noon all summer long. Gardeners and farmers from the area come rain or shine to sell their fresh fruit and vegetables and people drive from neighboring communities to take advantage of the great bargains.
Historic Downtown Willoughby continues just a few short steps north of Public Square on Erie St. Both sides of the street are filled with quaint little shops and restaurants. Be prepared to spend several hours investigating the art gallery, antique shops, one-of-a kind stores, coffee and tea houses, unique restaurants and bars. There’s even a tattoo parlor named G&G; Tattooing, Inc., which has been at the same location for over 30 years.
One restaurant worth a visit is the Willoughby Brewing Company located at 4057 Erie St. Nestled in the heart of historic Downtown Willoughby this restaurant and award-winning brewery is in a 100-year-old building that was originally a rail-car repair depot for the Cleveland to Ashtabula Interurban Rail Line. It was renovated and opened for business in 1998. The full service bar carries fresh brewed beers, wine and liquor and has a stage. On weekends they book some the finest rock and blues acts in the Cleveland area. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner and features salads, cheeseburgers, fresh fish, pizza and pasta. I’ve been there on many occasions and found the service and food to be excellent. Menu items, hours of operation and more information about the Willoughby Brewing Company can be found at www.willoughbybrewing.com.
Make sure you stop in at The Art Gallery located at 4099 Erie St. The gallery features art such as: watercolors, drawings, ceramics, mixed media and sculptures. For sale and viewing are some of the finest watercolors and original works of art from around the region.
While you’re downtown there are two other places I’d suggest going. They are: Gavi’s Restaurant and Corks Wine Bar. Gavi’s is an Italian themed, 5 star restaurant located at 38257 Glenn Ave. Gavi’s is in a building that was originally built in 1896 as a power plant. It used to generate electricity for the electric street cars that linked Painesville and Willoughby with Cleveland in the early 1900’s. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The dining area is quiet, so you can enjoy a nice conversation without loud music. Best of all the food is very, very good and the service is top notch. Menu, prices and other information about Gavi’s can be found at www.gavisrestaurantandcatering.com. Corks Wine Bar features hundreds of wines and a small menu consisting of hors d’oeuvre and desserts. It’s located in a restored building at 4084 Erie St. and has a casual, relaxed atmosphere. They open most days at 4:00pm. Information on special wine tastings, hours of business, pictures and a menu can be found at www.corkswinebar.com.
There are 4 major hotels within Willoughby’s city limits, but if you’re looking for overnight lodgings I’d suggest the Homestead House Bed and Breakfast located at 38111 W. Spaulding. It’s within walking distance of Erie St. and all the shops and restaurants. They have special packages that can include a massage or tickets to local attractions. You can find more information on their website at: www.homesteadhousebb.com.
Just a 3 minute drive east from the north end of Erie St. you’ll find The Willoughby Fine Arts Association located at 38660 Mentor Ave. The Fine Arts Association always has something going on if you enjoy theater and performing arts. Their website is: www.fineartsassociation.org where you can find information on plays, prices and ordering tickets.
Willoughby has all the amenities of a big town but managed to keep it’s small town feel. You need to see it to believe it. So whether you live in the area or are planning on visiting northern Ohio, take some time to see historic Downtown Willoughby.
