CLEVELAND — If you live on the East Side or are a member of the Jewish community, there is a good chance you've been to Corky and Lenny's in Woodmere. According to the restaurant's ownership, they have been searching for a partner to help take them into the future for years but have been unable to find one. Which is why they are now closed.
"We are so thankful to our staff, many of whom have worked their entire career with us. We are also very grateful for our loyal customers, it is not a lack of business that is causing this closure," a statement released by the restaurant said.
This Cleveland staple, known for its overstuffed corn beef sandwiches, matzo ball soup, salads and jumbo pickles, opened its doors in 1956 before moving to its current location in 1973.
The owners say the problem isn't a lack of loyal customers but a lack of help to serve them since COVID.
"It is sad that we can't be there for the people, we'd love to be, it's just that we don't have the staff to take care of them and it's just gotten too stressful," said co-owner Amanda Kurland.
A burden that she said had fallen on her husband, owner Kenny Kurland, impacting his health. They had been looking at all other options.
"We were willing to take on a partner, we were willing to have someone buy us out, we were willing to do anything to keep the name going that was reasonable and that correct opportunity hasn't come up."
The decision is tough on their customers but tougher still on their long-time employees like Adam Siegel, who'd been there 26 years.
"We fed the masses and we fed them pretty good I think," he said.
No worker has served longer though than 91-year-old Gloria Kurland, whose husband, Sanford "Corky" Kurland, opened it nearly 70 years ago. Their son, Kenny Kurland, now runs it.
"My husband started this business 68 years ago, and I've always helped and worked in the business, and, unfortunately, it is very sad that it came to this," she said. "It's too bad that we couldn't find a working partner or somebody that would come in here.
"Sixty-eight years. My husband started this 68 years ago and I've always helped and I've always worked in the business. If my husband was here, he wouldn't believe this."
But she understands the burden that's been placed on her son to keep the business going.
She'll miss her co-workers and the customers who have been like family to her, with the hopes of seeing them again someday.
Something Amanda Kurland doesn't close the door entirely on, continuing the tradition someday but in a smaller space.
"I won't say that we are closed for good we are closed for the foreseeable future."
Kurland said her son is burnt out, and running the business has taken its toll.
"I hope that somewhere in the near future, maybe somebody will come along and want to go into this type of business," Kurland said.
When the former Horseshoe Casino opened its doors more than a decade ago, Corky and Lenny's was the first food court offered at the casino. That location has since closed.
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