Erie + Vine and Tony’s Burger Shop to open in Willoughby in June - Cleveland.com
WILLOUGHBY, Ohio -- Erie + Vine and Tony’s Burger Shop are scheduled to open in Willoughby in June.
The burger-joint combined with bar/entertainment concept is the collaboration of friends Katie Palko and Alex Fogle with chef Anthony Zappola. It will take over the space known as Dante Boccuzzi’s Dukes ‘N Boots for a short time. The location at the north end of Erie Street was Burgers-N-Beer for at least a decade before that.
Palko and Fogle have worked at entertainment establishments in Willoughby, while Zappola operates several other restaurant concepts including Tony’s Burger Shop in the Van Aken District in Shaker Heights.
“The realization of this bar was a dream of my best friend and I,” Palko said. “We talked about creating this space for the past few years. It will be an early 2000s bar.”
They are changing the interior from country and western to a new aesthetic.
“There will be neon and retro vibes, things that give a nod to the early 2000s,” she said. “When I think of the early 2000s, I think of Brittney Spears, ”Fast & Furious." We want a space that can range from 21 to our parents’ ages. I feel like that millennial vibe is the nod we need to give to that.
The large exterior patio will be dog friendly.
“Alex and I both have dogs. We plan to give back to dog shelters, the dog community,” Palko said. The patio will have acoustic music and DJs.
Zappola sees Erie + Vine as a good fit for the burger shop. Because the kitchen is larger, the burger shop will be larger than the existing shop at Van Aken.
“We’re going to expand,” he said. “Van Aken is small. For this one we’ll expand upon it and grow.”
In addition to burgers, the menu will have chicken tenders, chicken or fish sandwiches grilled cheese and more. Zappola anticipates expanding to salads and more bar fare.
“We want good neighborhood fare,” he said, that can be ordered for takeout or eating onsite without needing a waitress or requiring a cocktail order. “The classic double burger is the way to to go with homemade pickles, homemade sauce.”
Zappola - a Cleveland native who has worked in Europe, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, among other places - has been back in Northeast Ohio for nearly 10 years. In addition to the Tony’s Burger Shop brand, he owns Tripi Italian Specialties in Ohio City and Lox, Stock and Brisket at Van Aken Market Hall.
“This is a good fit for me,” he said, of working in the Cleveland market. “I’m happy to be on my own and be able to create and keep growing on a good steady pace.”