Cleveland's First W's of 2025: We're #3, Bronny's Home, and LBJ Turns 40!

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Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop, where we're kicking off 2025 like Mitchell's Ice Cream on a summer day—fresh, sweet, and totally Cleveland! While you're recovering from last night's celebrations (we won't judge), here's what's happening in The Land... 🎉 First time reading? Join over 10,000 local curious readers. Sign up here.

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In today’s 216 Scoop Edition: 

• Cleveland ranked No. 3 city in U.S. in apartment rental growth

• Crazy Marvin: Cleveland’s beloved bluesman has played his last song

• LJ Shanghai named Top 100 Chinese restaurant in U.S.

• Buckeyes hit Rose Bowl to face Ducks. Bring on the watch parties

• Charge sets attendance records with Bronny homecoming… LeBron turns 40

  
  
  by John Petkovic, Mark Espinosa, Victor Takakura

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IN THE NEWS

Welcome to Cleveland, where rents are cheap. A study by Rent Café finds that the city’s apartment market has surged to the No. 3 spot in the country. 

The apartment search Web site attributes the rise to its housing affordability – a 30 percent discount from the national average. It finds that “apartments in Cleveland attract strong interest from renters in New York City and Columbus.”

In October, online traffic for Cleveland listings rose by 16 percent, while available listings fell by 9 percent year-over-year.

In a separate survey, Rent Café found that there were 1,774 new units built in 2024 and estimates almost 7,000 units by 2028. It attributes this growth to the conversion of commercial buildings into apartments.

Real estate firm CBRE ranks Cleveland the top city for converting office buildings into housing and hotels, with 11 percent of its office inventory undergoing or planned for conversion. Since 2016, more than 3.5 million square feet of downtown Cleveland office space has been converted to other use.

Some of the city’s most iconic buildings have undergone the conversions: The Standard, Terminal Tower, the former May Co. department store building and the 55 and 75 Public Square buildings.

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Crazy Marvin: Cleveland’s beloved bluesman has played his last song

He danced on bars. Donned outrageous outfits. And proudly called himself crazy.

“Crazy Marvin” Braxton was a Cleveland treasure and will be remembered for being one of the city’s wildest, most colorful performers. The blues musician whose career spanned 60 years passed away on Dec. 27. He was 80.

Braxton got his start playing harmonica at the legendary Leo’s Casino nightclub in the 1960s. He would go on to perform around the country, in clubs like the Apollo Theater in Harlem, with Ray Charles. He toured with Sly and the Family Stone, jammed with blues legends B.B. King and Robert Lockwood and recorded with Jimi Hendrix.

But Clevelanders will remember the Cleveland Blues Society Hall of Fame inductee for his shows in clubs like Brothers Lounge and the Beachland Ballroom with his band, Crazy Marvin and the Blues Express.

He was colorful, wild and entertaining. Or, as he would probably say, Crazy.

LJ Shanghai named Top 100 Chinese restaurant in country

Since opening in 2017, LJ Shanghai – 3142 Superior Avenue -- has developed a devoted following with its wide array of noodle and dumpling bowls. It’s the go-to place for xiao bao. But you never really hear much about the low-key Asiatown eatery. That is, until now. Yelp has named LJ Shanghai one of the top 100 Chinese restaurants in the U.S. It comes in No. 95 and is the only restaurant from Ohio on the list.

The 216 Digest

Buckeyes hit Rose to face Ducks. Bring on the watch parties

What a turnaround, what a plot twist. The Buckeyes were a disaster against Michigan. Then they rose up like champs to trounce Tennessee.

What will happen when OSU takes on Oregon in the Rose Bowl – 5 p.m. Wednesday? The Buckeyes lost to the Ducks, 32-31, in October. So, yup, time to avenge that nonsense

Bring on the watch parties...

Buffalo Wild Wings, 8465 Pearl Road, Strongsville: It’s the official spot for the Ohio State Alumni Club of Greater Cleveland – which means a lot of energy and cheering (or booing, depending on how the game is going).

Ironwood Café, 688 Dover Center Road, Westlake: It’s always a party when the Buckeyes are on the tube. The popular hangout for OSU fans comes complete with beer and wing deals and a bunch of TVs.

Masthead Brewing, 1261 Superior Avenue, Cleveland: The pizzas are stellar. The beers hit the spot. And the vibe of this spot buzzes when OSU is playing.

Fat Heads Brewery, 17450 Engle Lake Drive, Middleburg Heights: The sprawling home of one of Cleveland’s most beloved beer makers has a row of TVs at the bar – to go with a wide selection of game grub.

Jack Cleveland Casino Sportsbook, 100 Public Square, Cleveland: If you have money on the game, this is your spot. The crowd really gets into the games and will yell at the massive screens in the hopes of motivating the team it’s betting on.

Hooley House, 10310 Cascade Crossing, Brooklyn: Those large-screen TVs are very football-friendly. The nachos and the other munch-fest selections on the menu top most stadium food.

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NOTES ON A COCKTAIL NAPKIN!

SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT, & CULTURE

Charge sets attendance records with Bronny homecoming… LeBron turns 40

This season’s move to Public Auditorium has boosted attendance for the Cleveland Charge. After all, a ticket gets you a game and a look at the 1922 neoclassical jewel that has hosted legendary concerts and political event.

Well, the chance to see Bronny James trumped all that. Last weekend, the Cavs’ G League affiliate set back-to-back attendance records in its two-game sweep of  LeBron’s son and the South Bay Lakers.  The Charge drew 5,153 fans on Friday for its 125-113 victory over the Lakers’ junior team and 5,322 for fans for its 93-90 comeback win.

Bronny James was born in Cleveland in 2004 during LeBron’s second season with the Cavs. He’s been one of the NBA’s biggest curiosities since being selected by the Lakers in the 2024 draft.

Meanwhile, LeBron made news when he turned 40 on Monday.

“I could probably play this game at a high level probably for about another -- it's weird that I might say this -- but probably about another five to seven years, if I wanted to," James said. "But I'm not going to do that."

VINTAGE CLEVELAND

The May Company Building on Euclid Avenue, 1924. For decades, it anchored downtown Cleveland’s shopping district. At its peak, downtown had five major department stores, including Halle’s. Bond, Higbee’s and Sterling Lindner-Davis. May Co. closed in 1993 and has since been converted into an apartment building.

And don’t forget! Tag @The216Scoop to get your photos in the Scoop!

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WEATHER

Wednesday

39°F 🌡️ 30°F | ❄️ | 50% | 💨 W 15 mph (13 knots)

Thursday

34°F 🌡️ 29°F | ❄️ | 60% | 💨 W 12 mph (10 knots)

Friday

36°F 🌡️ 23°F | ❄️ | 62% | 💨 W 19 mph (17 knots)

Live Music in the 216

Wednesday

No live performances scheduled.

Thursday

The Jobs | The Treelawn | 7:30 PM

Friday

Brothers Lounge | Andy Lang + St. Thomas Collective + Wylie Green | 8 PM

Back Stage Bar | Grunge DNA | 8:30 PM

Grog Shop | Liquid Images + Louse + Pizz | 8 PM

For tickets and more information visit: livemusicincleveland.com

The 216 Sports Arena

Upcoming Games

Cavaliers
Away vs. Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 3

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