In the Sept. 30 episode of Jabbering with Julie, I recap changes at Macedonia Commons, local water main breaks, a zoning denial at Highland Road and Route 8, and first steps toward demolishing the Key Inn Hotel. I also announce the Best of Northeast Ohio voting launch, share upcoming fall events and new community websites, and mark 11 years of Nordonia Hills News.
What in the podcast episode?
Macedonia Commons keeps changing
Famous Footwear is closing its Macedonia Commons store. It may already be closed by the time you read this. The company still has locations in Aurora, and I believe the one at Aurora Farms is larger than the Macedonia store.
The closing adds to the open spaces at the shopping center. A dental implant business and a martial arts studio left spots that have not been filled. Businesses looking for space in the Commons now have several options.
There is also newer activity. Miniso opened a couple of months ago in the former Maurice’s space and sells toys, candy and other items. Buffalo Wild Wings Go should open soon as a smaller takeout location, and I love their sauces. Power Up Studio took over the former Yoga Six space, so yoga fans were without a studio for only a few months. Sloan’s Ice Cream opened last year near the Buffalo Wild Wings Go location, which means ice cream year round.
Water main breaks and Highland Road
Several water main breaks have hit town lately. One happened behind Macedonia Commons, and another occurred near the school after a football game. Many people did not know about the one behind the Commons until they saw my report and photo. The crew patched it quickly. We published an article explaining why the breaks happened and why more could follow. Old pipes are part of the answer, but there is more to it. Read article here.
Two abandoned properties sit at Highland Road and Route 8, and residents have asked about them for a long time. 7 Eleven owns the old BP station site. The company went to a recent Macedonia planning meeting seeking approval for a training center, which is basically a conference room. The request was denied because the area is not zoned for that type of building. I understand the company is looking for something like a gas station or fast food restaurant that would serve drivers coming off the freeway.
Residents also learned the first steps needed to demolish the Key Inn Hotel. The building has become an eyesore, and people have been breaking in. The problem grows bigger every day, so this news is welcome. Read article here.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Rob Eckenrode presented Jim Vroost with the Nordonia Lifetime Achievement Award before last Friday’s football game. Vroost has spent hundreds of hours spotting for football games and announcing soccer games. He was also the voice of the Nordonia band for more than 20 years. View article here.
Upcoming events and launches
Oct. 5: Best of Northeast Ohio launches. Readers can vote for their favorite local businesses. I want Nordonia area businesses on the map, so they will be part of the contest. Details on how to vote go out Monday.
Oct. 7: The Macedonia Fire and Police Departments host their Safety Forces event at the Police and Fire Building in Macedonia. It runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23: Ghouls Night Out takes place at SoSoArtsy in Solon, off Cochran Road near Glenwillow. Guests receive a pumpkin to carve or paint and take home. Northeast Ohio News and Solon Ohio News are the official hosts. Nordonia Hills News is the unofficial presenter, and I think it will be a lot of fun. Sign up here!
Nov. 27: River Run Tree Farm opens for three weekends, starting on Black Friday, which I believe falls on Nov. 27. The seasonal shop needs crafters for consignment, and crafters would receive a good percentage of sales. I can share the details in the podcast description.
New tools for readers and makers
Northeast Ohio Market Junction is a new website I am starting for crafters, artists and makers across the region. Shoppers cannot buy through the site. They can find makers, see their work and contact them directly. Crafters pay a fee to be listed, and the pricing page will go live with the site. Anyone can submit a craft fair for the site’s event listings without signing up.
We also have a new app called Party Line for news tips. More info here. It lets you upload a photo, speak or type what happened, and it creates a short AI summary. Submissions go into the back end of this website. If you have trouble submitting, email me at julie@spidercatmarketing.com.
The Nordonia Hills News newsletter goes out every Friday. A signup link is here.
Eleven years and still growing
Oct. 1 marks 11 years since I started Nordonia Hills News. Thank you to the readers, commenters, advertisers and friends who have helped along the way. Our news network now draws almost 4 million views a month. I am still working on a way to print the news, and I would need support from the business community to make it happen.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is Jabbering with Julie?
It is the Nordonia Hills News podcast hosted by Julie D’Aloiso. Each episode recaps local news, events and community updates.
2. What is closing at Macedonia Commons?
Famous Footwear is closing its Macedonia Commons store. The company has locations in Aurora.
3. Why was the 7 Eleven training center denied?
The planning meeting denied it because the area is not zoned for that type of building.
4. When is the Safety Forces event in Macedonia?
It takes place Oct. 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Police and Fire Building in Macedonia.
5. How can I send a news tip to Nordonia Hills News?
Use the Party Line app to upload a photo or describe what happened. You can also email julie@spidercatmarketing.com.
