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The
shopping-dining area
around the
intersection of
Cedar and
Warrensville Center
Roads in Cleveland
Heights and
University Heights
is known as Cedar
Center. In the 1950s
and 1960s it
may have been the center of
Cleveland's Jewish
population.
For 38 years (1956 -
1994) one of
the most popular
places at Cedar
Center was Corky and Lenny's
Delicatessen.
In 1994 Corky
and Lenny's (no one
said "delicatessen")
closed. WKYC and
WEWS television
covered the end of
what had become a
community
institution.
See
these telecasts in
a five minute
video by Ray
Glasser. For a
nine minute video
taken in September
1984 and posted to
YouTube
click here.
Corky and
Lenny's continues in
a location
on Chagrin Road,
east of I-271, that
was opened in 1973.
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This
acrylic on canvas
painting
by David Kutchko, depicting owners Sanford (Corky)
Kurland (left),
Leonard (Lenny) Kaden and plenty
of food, was
commissioned by the
restaurant and deli
in the late 1950s.
Leonard Kaden gave it to the
Western Reserve
Historical Society
in 2003.
On
June 30, 2011 the
WRHS had an
event to announce
an
endowment from the
Jewish Federation of
Cleveland that would secure
the future of the
Jewish Archives.
Planners of the
celebration hung the
Corky and Lenny painting in
the Research
Library. It was so
liked
that it was on
display until 2021.
Sanford Kurland died
at age 81 on October
22, 2011.
Leonard Kaden died
at age 92 on
February 5, 2023.
(update 12/12/23
Beachwood location
closes after 50
years.) |
