CENTRAL
Central plays big roles throughout Cleveland’s history, and its community pride today is well earned. Whether you’re getting a meal or going to class, know that this neighborhood is built on the strength, creativity, and action of its people.
The Crispy Chick: More Than Chicken
The Crispy Chick is more than a spot for top-tier chicken tenders—it’s a neighborhood anchor. Owner Senayt Fekadu built the restaurant not just to serve quality food, but to create jobs, mentor local youth, and invest in the community. Through her dedication and scratch-made recipes, she brings authenticity and heart into the Central neighborhood.
The Neighborhood to Grow Your Education
The Central neighborhood is home to Cuyahoga Community College, or “Tri-C,” where anyone looking to level up can get started. Whether you’re earning a degree, learning a trade, or sharpening your skills, there are affordable and accessible pathways to new opportunities. Tri-C makes Central the perfect place to create lasting success for yourself and your family.
Celebrate Central: Where Legends Are Made
Langston Hughes
Cleveland’s Central neighborhood helped raise a legend. Long before he became a pillar of American poetry, Langston Hughes was a student and dreamer in Central. His legacy is part of the neighborhood’s story—and a reminder that brilliance grows here.
Carl & Louis Stokes
Raised in the heart of Central, Carl and Louis Stokes broke barriers at every turn—Carl as the first Black mayor of a major U.S. city, and Louis as Ohio’s first Black congressman. Their legacy of leadership and advocacy still echoes through Cleveland’s streets.
Jesse Owens
Before he became an Olympic legend, Jesse Owens walked the halls of Fairmount Junior High in Cleveland’s Central neighborhood. It was here that his record-breaking speed first turned heads—long before it made history and made him a leader.
Jane Edna Hunter
A true pioneer rooted in Central, Jane Edna Hunter founded the Phillis Wheatley Association in 1911 to support Black women migrating to Cleveland. Her bold vision brought housing, opportunity and a legacy of empowerment that still inspires the neighborhood.
More Than Steel: The Power of the Sidaway Bridge
The Sidaway Bridge is more than steel and cables—it’s a symbol of connection, history and change. As Cleveland’s only suspension bridge, it once connected neighbors in Central and Broadway-Slavic Village—but it became a flashpoint of Cleveland’s civil rights struggle in the 1960s. Today, it stands as a reminder of our past and bridge (literally!) to a more united future.
A Legacy of Connection in Central
Leo’s Casino was a true game-changer in Cleveland’s Central neighborhood, where music, culture, and community merged in powerful ways. Known for being one of the most racially integrated nightlife spots in the city, it brought people together through legendary performances and a deep sense of unity.
The original Leo’s Casino was in the Central neighborhood, but after a tragic fire in 1962, the nightspot moved to its Euclid Avenue home in the MidTown neighborhood. The spirit of Leo’s still resonates today, inspiring and shaping the neighborhood’s future.
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Get in touch with the CDC
Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc. (BBC) is a nonprofit community development corporation dedicated to revitalizing and empowering Cleveland’s east side neighborhoods, including Mount Pleasant. Since its founding, BBC has worked to improve the quality of life for residents through affordable housing, economic development, and neighborhood revitalization initiatives. The organization partners with local stakeholders to create new housing opportunities, support small businesses, and develop community spaces that foster connection and growth. BBC continues to be a key force in strengthening Mount Pleasant and surrounding communities for future generations.
