Madison Avenue in Lakewood, OH - Exploring from Riverside to W. 117th (October 12, 2022)

On a cool October day, we explored Madison Avenue in Lakewood, Ohio from Riverside Drive to W. 117th Street. Madison has always had fun window displays and a variety of stores, and with it being Halloween season, many of them were in the spooky spirit 🎃👻
But we also got to show off all of the new dining options and specialty shops, demonstrating how active Madison is. Tell us about any memories you may have of the area. Filmed on October 12, 2022.

[@sylviarupani-smith5416]

Thanks!

[@pavman1000]

I was born and lived in Lakewood. Had to move due to Job availeaiblity. I miss Lakewood would like to move back some day.

[@Becca4.2]

This is amazingly soothing and I have no freaking idea why. Thank you so much for this. I can't believe I've watched all of this imagining what it would be like to live somewhere like this lol

[@PokoTraveler]

Thanks! Do you have any ties to the Northeast Ohio area? Are you from another state?

[@Becca4.2]

@@PokoTraveler nope lol Just researching areas to see what options I have as a potential climate change ... migrant? :o I dunno ... just doing research basically. And I'm from SE Louisiana.

[@PokoTraveler]

Ah, nice! Well, I have a lot of videos of the Cleveland area (and some from other cities), so feel free to check out more whenever you have time! 😊

[@timpanixx]

@@PokoTravelerif you haven’t done a video on Berea, Ohio you should definetly check it out!

[@PokoTraveler]

@@timpanixx So far, my Berea videos have been limited to the ones surrounding and at Browns training camp.

[@jameschatlos5428]

Thanks for the video down Madison. Went swimming at Madison park every day during the summer. Wish you got a shot of SS. Cyril and Methodius at Alameda. You never looked to your left and walked right past it.

[@pavman1000]

It was the Hillard Square theater that got torn down.

[@user-sc1es4wz4g]

I see you toured Madison and Detroit. Ever think of doing a Clifton tour? I always enjoy these walk videos.

[@PokoTraveler]

I did a Gold Coast video, which included a slight portion of Clifton near W. 117th. I've considered it; although Clifton is mostly just a bunch of houses and a busy street after 117th.

[@zythr9999]

​@@PokoTravelerThere's the church on the corner of Bunts and Clifton.

[@pavman1000]

Oh yes, The Madison Crawl used to be the thing if you turned 21. Back in the 80's I hit every bar and then some was a fun night.

[@VersinKettorix]

Tomori's Pizza (30:50) is pretty damn good. They make a traditionally authentic italian pizza. I spent three years living in Italy and an Italian pizza is very different from an American style pizza. I moved out of Cleveland/Lakewood area and I really miss Tomori's

[@kimberlykoopman8004]

I'm from Oregon. I really enjoyed this video, went right by Bundt, where the Airbnb we stayed at in May 2023 was, when my son graduated from CWRU. So strange and different from the west coast suburbs with the single story ranchers and yards. I'm left pondering, where is the Walmart? Where is the Safeway? Large chain groceries and sundries like Target and Walmart? Thanks for another fun video of life in the Cleveland area!

[@PokoTraveler]

Yeah, the Lakewood area doesn't have any big department stores, although there is a Target pretty close to the Lakewood/Cleveland border. For Walmart, if you're going past Lakewood, you'd have to venture out toward North Olmsted to get to a Walmart.

[@VersinKettorix]

They are in some of the further out 'burbs. The land in West Park and Lakewood were pretty fully developed long before many of the modern big box stores came into existence, so they have a problem acquiring enough space for just the store, not even considering the massive parking lots they require. I actually like it better because it leaves a business environment for all of those small shops you see. You can drive 4 miles and find a big box store if needed.

[@pavman1000]

spin cycle used to be lakewood cycle.

[@pavman1000]

Lakewood is a very unique city. I miss it just can't afford to live there super high taxes if you own property. Possibly some time I can move back my dad was born and raised in Lakewood so was I. Mom had the homestead until dad died. Then sold it. I miss Lakewood. will always be my hometown.

[@PokoTraveler]

My parents had gotten there home in Cleveland 30+ years ago, but my mom always says that in hindsight, she wishes they would've done Lakewood all those years ago. It is always a great city to ride through.

[@brianmurphy2695]

Great video! I loved this! I was a UPS driver and Madison ave was my route from 1978 till 1982. I knew every store, business, apt., or home on Madison from W, 117th to Hilliard. all those little shops used to come and go all the time. I got to know a few of the owners well so it hurt when they went out of business. It was easy delivering Madison ave, being 4 lanes traffic, and 2 lanes for parking.I got to know all the characters who would walk down Madison and talk to themselves, and me.Glad I discovered you, I am looking forward to watching your other videos! Thank you!

[@PokoTraveler]

That's awesome! I love doing these long video walks for reasons like this; people who frequeneted the streets many years ago and remember varying degrees of differences from then to now.

[@zythr9999]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@pavman1000]

Grace Lutheran used to be St Peter and Paul Lutheran church

[@pavman1000]

No it is Harding Field.

[@lisamargaret6751]

I lived in this neighborhood in 1992, but I lived on Edgewater Drive and I used to walk down the side streets to Detroit Madison and go shopping and out to eat the night clubs with my friends.. do you remember Papa nicks on 116th in Clifton on the Cleveland side? I worked there for a couple years.

[@PokoTraveler]

I'm not too savvy with the places East of W. 117th on Clifton, except for the past couple years maybe. I do plan on including that area in a video at some point.

[@pavman1000]

That outside area is NEW dude at Angelo Pizza.

[@PokoTraveler]

I meant always in a relative context, since they've had it for 14 years at least.

[@pavman1000]

Use to be faith Lutheran Church.

[@PokoTraveler]

Indeed; I was inside there many times.

[@lisamargaret6751]

This was great!!

[@pavman1000]

You need to get your history sright if you are goint to film an area especially Lakewood.

[@PokoTraveler]

We each have our own history, especially if we grew up in different periods. I explain my history, but that's why I always encourage people to leave comments, because I love hearing more about the history of an area too.

[@pavman1000]

You need to stick to what you said you want to film, you don't go 1/4 up madison then go up franklin.

[@PokoTraveler]

It was basically for just one block, and I explained it was because I'm familiar with that intersection, and to get to the side of Madison I wanted to walk on, it was much easier to go that way. I also added the benefit of getting to pass by two churches in the area I am familiar with (Faith Lutheran & Calvary).

[@pavman1000]

Faith lutheran and Gethsemane are way far from each other.

[@PokoTraveler]

Yes, I've been to both many time, but it's only about 3 minutes down the road in a car.

[@indicator27]

awesome