The Root Cafe, a Lakewood institution since 2009 on Detroit Avenue, is a staple for vegetarian and vegan food as well as great coffee. It is a cafe with deep roots and a name that perfectly encapsulates that.
As soon as you step into this quaint cafe, you feel immediately welcomed and accepted. The coffee shop itself has many great eye-catching artworks and architectural elements. One of the first things you may notice is the world map hanging on the wall. However, this is not your typical map; it has no political boundaries and distinguishes no countries. The only thing that is featured is the coffee belt.
It is not just the map that makes this coffee shop so special; it’s the small details that do not immediately catch your attention that add so much character—like tree roots and leaves on the front bar, the Cleveland skyline on the wall, or the pillar by the counter, a mosaic by owner Julie Ramirez herself.
The walls are also adorned with the works of local artists. The Root Cafe allows local artists to showcase and sell their work for a month at a time and hosts a reception. This is an excellent opportunity for artists to get into the coffee shop scene and display their work. The cafe is booked almost through the end of next year, so make sure to drop in and see all the artworks displayed throughout the coffee shop.
The Root Cafe has a history that goes back further than most coffee shops in the area. The cafe opened on Cleveland’s west side in 1991 but started under a different name, The Phoenix Coffee Shop. That is where owner Ramirez got her start with the business.
Ramirez began as a manager and loved every second of it. She then took over ownership in 1999. “I just took it over because I had been working there for so many years, and I loved it so much, and I loved the community aspect,” Ramirez said.
It was not until 2009, though, that they moved into the location we all know and love today. The store was originally a vacuum cleaner store that took a lot of renovating, but Ramirez called it a “labor of love.” The Root will celebrate 16 years in that location in December.
The menu is exclusively vegan and vegetarian, and mostly gluten-free. This sets the cafe apart from others in the area, a distinction it has maintained since 2009, when it was much more difficult to find food or places that catered to the plant-based lifestyle. Offering coffee, sandwiches, bowls, pastries, salads, pizzas, and so much more, there is definitely something for everyone. Junior Evie Drew said, “My friend and I always go there after the gym and get a coffee. It’s just a great spot to be.”
The name The Root has a deeper meaning as well. It was deliberately chosen as a word with many different meanings, including in math, music, biology, and other contexts. At its core, it was chosen because it serves as the basis and foundation for so many things. This definition definitely rings true to The Root cafe’s role in the Lakewood community. It was one of the first, a cornerstone of the Lakewood coffee scene. Cheryl Jacobs said, “The Root Cafe has been in Lakewood as long as I have been. I go there for meetings with clients and just good coffee!”
If you’re looking for a cozy, comfortable space to work, meet with friends, or hang out—especially as the weather cools—the Root Cafe is the place for you. The food is absolutely delicious, and the bonus is that it’s gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan. It is a place with strong community connections and has acted as a pillar to the people of Lakewood for many years. Although the Root is not going away anytime soon, do not wait to stop by and experience this community cornerstone cafe.
