Oh hi, Ohio!

by Natalie

Did you ever stumble upon a town so charming that it seems to be straight from a dream, or at least a really elaborate movie set? Chagrin Falls, OH is one of those towns. During a recent trip to Ohio, I was lucky enough to spend a Spring afternoon there, strolling its streets of shops, noshing on local fare, and of course, enjoying the view of Chagrin Falls’ official claim to fame, a waterfall that splits the main part of town into two.


There are many reasons to plan your own visit to Chagrin Falls, especially if you want to take your foot off the pedal and enjoy a leisurely afternoon. First and foremost, real estate lovers will bask in the glow of row after row of old - but perfectly restored - houses. Wrap-around porches with wooden swings invite you to stop by for a glass of lemonade, wooden stairs leading down to the river beckon you to take a break from your errands and enjoy an up-close view of the falls, while the main street of shops conjur up images of Bedford Falls from It’s a Wonderful Life. (I could practically see George Bailey run down the street towards the library yelling “Mary, Mary!” But I digress.)


On the surface, the town may seem delightfully old-fashioned, but its people, shops and restaurants are anything but. Be sure to check out Dave’s Cosmic Sub Shop, a hole in the wall restaurant serving up truly mammoth subs. Owned by former rocker Dave, the interior walls of the place are outfitted in hand-painted murals of Dave’s favorite rock-gods. Not to mention the awesome subs that come out of that place – we got four HUGE sandwiches stuffed to the gills with lean turkey, hot peppers, fresh lettuce and tomato, and of course, Dave’s special Italian sauce. I couldn’t stop myself from taking a third helping. (Sorry, gym!) Also be sure to stop by the world-famous popcorn and ice cream shop. That’s right, they pretty much sell only popcorn and ice cream…but who needs anything else?




Continuing the eclectic vibe, many of the town’s merchants have a knack for combining the charms of the olden days with the efficiency of the modern home and garden. My favorite shop at the Falls is StashStyle, a funky combination of an antique shop, bakery/café, and yarn store. Oh hello, place-of-my-dreams. Way to combine all three of my favorite things ever into one awesome, functional spot. Keep up the good work, you.

There are loads more stores, restaurants, and artsy spots to explore, not to mention streets on which to get lost. So, if you ever find yourself passing through Ohio, be sure to take a detour through this awesome town!