Ohio
Ohio City market faces closure amid rent hike controversy
![Ohio City market faces closure amid rent hike controversy](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/eb51259/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1280x672+0+24/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx-default-stgec.uplynk.com%2Fausw%2Fslices%2Fdd2%2Fb2c1c5c2af374f52af57ddcae54c6663%2Fdd25e6644dec4d709492a95cca5b1fc0%2Fposter_45cfa34661b9404f89f06d52fe4eefdc.jpg)
CLEVELAND — Pearl Street Wine Market & Cafe, nestled in the heart of Ohio City, is preparing to say goodbye at the end of March.
The market and cafe, which opened less than two years ago, quickly became a cherished spot for locals and visitors alike.
Offering a curated selection of cheeses, wines, charcuterie, and small plates, Pearl Street prides itself on its commitment to showcasing local producers and artisans.
Karen Small and Jill Davis, the owners of Pearl Street Wine Market and Cafe worked on creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for guests.
Despite their efforts, however, the restaurant faced a significant challenge in the form of a rent increase at the end of their lease.
Small revealed that the monthly rent skyrocketed from $4,000 to $11,000.
This hike posed a formidable obstacle to the viability of the business.
“It’s insane, and it’s just a move to get us out. That’s all I can think,” Small said.
The property, owned by Harsax Management since 2001, has become embroiled in controversy following the announcement of the closure. Randy Sacks, the owner of the building, cited a market survey indicating an average rent of $25 per square foot for similar establishments in Ohio City.
He shared the following statement with News 5:
“We have the utmost respect for Karen Small, were proud to host the renowned Flying Fig and were supportive when she decided to close it to open Pearl Street Wine Market and Café. We are regretful that we have failed to find a solution that is tenable to both her business and our ability to make our mortgage payments. However, her previous landlord, Ohio City Inc., is a non-profit whose mission is to nurture valued local businesses. To that end, they leased Karen the space at less than 50% of the going market rent, in effect subsidizing her restaurant. That is not possible for us, as the building is currently losing money and we would be forced to sell it.
Our survey of the market determined that $25 per square foot is the average rent that restaurants are paying for space in the heart of Ohio City. Most seem to be thriving. We discounted that rate by 10% in the hopes we could continue our partnership with Karen. We would still love to find a solution that would help Pearl Street remain in this location. We are recommending Karen reach out to Ohio City Inc. We would be willing to sell the building back to them for what we have in it if they would be able to come to agreeable terms with her.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Pearl Street’s future, Small is working to secure employment opportunities for her dedicated staff at her other restaurants.
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Ohio
VASJ sophomore D’Angelo White picks up an offer from Ohio State football
![VASJ sophomore D’Angelo White picks up an offer from Ohio State football](https://www.news-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/TNH-L-DangeloWhite-01.jpg?w=273&h=403)
It’s not often that an athlete gets a full-ride football scholarship from his dream school before playing his first down of varsity football.
D’Angelo White is one of the rare exceptions.
A 6-foot-5, 221-pound rising sophomore at Villa Angela-St. Joseph, White picked up an offer from Ohio State recently. In two months, he said he will earn his first varsity playing time, yet he has already gained an offer from the school he’s grown up watching.
Coach Ryan Day’s Buckeyes.
“This has always been my dream school,” White said. “This one means a lot.”
White used the words “this one” regarding his college offers because Ohio State isn’t the first to offer him a scholarship. In fact, 11 others offered White a scholarship before Ohio State did.
Not bad for a kid who has yet to play his first varsity down.
“I was Ohio State for a camp and I got a chance to talk with (tight ends) coach Keenan Bailey, and he offered me a chance to come play at Ohio State,” White said. “Coach Day said he was going to do it, but Coach Bailey said he wanted to get to me first. … I was shocked. I couldn’t believe it. I had a goal to someday get an offer from Ohio State, so when I did, it felt so good.”
Other schools that have offered include Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Kent State, Kentucky, Miami (Ohio), Michigan, Purdue and West Virginia. Kentucky was the first school to offer White a scholarship back when he was in eighth grade.
“D’Angelo earned an SEC offer as an eighth-grader. That says it all,” said VASJ coach Jeff Rotsky of the Kentucky offer. “The greatest thing about D’Angelo is the WANTS to be great. He works so hard. When he’s at his peak and playing fast. there’s no stopping him.”
White is the latest VASJ football player to get headlines with college news. All-Ohio running back Bo Jackson has committed to Ohio State, receiver/tight end Brian Kortovich has committed to Purdue, and offensive lineman Robert Smith has committed to Boston College.
Rotsky said White’s emergence this season will benefit VASJ’s offense greatly. With he and Kortovich at tight end and/or receiver, Jackson in the backfield and others — such as speedy Christian Chase — on the field, VASJ could be difficult to defend.
“In our one-back sets, (Kortovich and White) will be playing in 12-personnel,” Rotsky said of the two-tight end sets. “With Bo in the backfield and other talented backs we have, we’ve got a chance.
“We’re blessed with the group we have here at VASJ. The kids work so hard. Nobody takes anything for granted. They genuinely like playing football with each other.”
White said he has no plans on resting on the laurels of having so many college offers. He’s been a mainstay in the VASJ weight room, with personal bests of 280 pounds in the bench press and 435 pounds in the squat rack while running a 4.7 in the 40.
“I think my strengths are I can do both, catch passes or block,” he said.
He is in no hurry to make a choice on his college future. After all, he has three years of varsity ball yet in front of him. For that matter, he has his first varsity down yet in front of him.
“This Ohio State offer has given me even more energy,” White said. “I can’t wait for this season. I’ve got our playbook down. I’m ready for everything this year.”
Ohio
Struthers hopes to temporarily reduce thoroughfare traffic
![Struthers hopes to temporarily reduce thoroughfare traffic](https://www.wkbn.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2020/03/struthers-city-sign-struthers-ohio.jpg?w=1280)
STRUTHERS, Ohio (WKBN) – City officials are asking drivers who don’t have business or destinations downtown to avoid driving through it.
For the next week or so, Aqua and Team Fishel will be working on ongoing projects, and reducing traffic will help expedite the work.
Patrons of restaurants, offices, businesses and other downtown destinations are encouraged to come downtown, it’s the thoroughfare traffic that city leaders hope to reduce.
While these total projects will take a few months, it’s only the next week or so when the work being done will be expedited by reducing traffic.
Ohio
Ohio has abortion rights in the constitution. Yet as abortions are on the rise, hospitals have not increased services.
![Ohio has abortion rights in the constitution. Yet as abortions are on the rise, hospitals have not increased services.](https://www.cleveland.com/resizer/v2/L525AL3IPBB4ZIVAZJQNG34ZRA.jpg?auth=60601151d13a7648cbb2c3def6afe102424e96b0b001016bebecbd8742e0dbad&width=1280&quality=90)
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio voters enshrined reproductive rights in the state constitution last year, but smaller clinics continue to provide most of the abortions in the state as Ohio’s hospitals are not increasing services or wading into the abortion debate.
Abortion clinics report seeing increasing numbers of patients, including many from states outside Ohio, where women no longer have abortion rights, according to estimates, though state data won’t be available until later this year. When out-of-state patients arrive in Ohio, they’re often too far along for a medication abortion and need more involved surgical abortions. Clinics say they’re hiring doctors and staff, challenging laws they believe are unconstitutional with the new amendment, and looking for other ways to expand to accommodate the need.
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