Copley/Fairlawn Akron, OH

Copley Township was the last portion of the Western Reserve to be organized. The center of Copley served for many years as a trading post for farmers to sell their produce. As years progressed, the original town square had the corners rounded off as a result of horses and wagons cutting across it, and so it became known as “Copley Circle."

Once the railroad was built in 1891, Fairlawn grew until it officially became a city in 1971. It may be a relatively young city, but through careful planning, this area has had tremendous growth in both residential and business communities.

With no art scene, museums or art galleries in the immediate area, locals travel a few miles east to several located in Akron. Annual events focus on the very popular Annual Golf Outing and Holiday Auction, events run by the Chamber of Commerce to raise funds for charity.

If you’re hungry, you’ll never run out of options here. Sample various steak houses, Italian, Asian, seafood, sushi, health food and plenty of fast food places. One of the best locally run options is Yellow Tail. Indulge yourself along the amazing 160-foot long buffet with over 30 kinds of sushi. But don’t stop there; this is no ordinary Japanese buffet. Satisfy yourself at the salad bar, hot entrée section or dessert bar. Cocktail prices are reasonable, too.

If you’re hungry for pizza, Leonardo’s may make you wonder why you’ve eaten pizza anywhere else. There’s no surprise it was voted the number one pizza in the county. At rock-bottom prices, you get generous cheese, amazing sauce, crispy crust, fresh salads and fried chicken that’s to die for.

Mustard Seed Market and Cafe serves up everything fresh from vegan and vegetarian options to gluten-free and regular fare. It’s a perfect option for healthy eating. You can even grab something from the vast wine selection to have with your meal.

The limited nightlife of Copley and Fairlawn includes a few chain pubs along with a movie theater. For local flavor, David B’s Grille and Pub carries a full menu and their friendly staff gives you a warm welcome. Brubaker’s remains popular and occasionally has live music during warmer months. Locals often skip further over to nearby Highland Square or Akron for DJs, dancing and clubbing.

Interstate 77 and State Routes 21 and 18 provide excellent access throughout the Fairlawn area. Traffic generally flows pretty well, but becomes predictably congested during rush hour. You’ll find public parking plentiful, easy to find and free.

Most locals drive their own cars, but the Akron Metro bus system remains an easy and inexpensive way to get around. Bus stops are conveniently located up and down the major shopping and restaurant areas. You might see an occasional taxi, but you should be prepared to call when you need one. Uber can offer another option to get around Fairlawn.

Although you can walk or bike around the area, you’ll find it fairly difficult and somewhat dangerous to do. Avoid both in the high-traffic shopping district. There are no bike lanes until the far eastern portion of Fairlawn, although many locals ride on the sidewalks or in traffic lanes. Most traffic lights do not accommodate either pedestrians or bikers. Stick to residential neighborhoods or take the specially developed bike trails.

Visit any of the five parks in the Fairlawn area, each one with its own theme. Wood Park is a small, simple natural area great for picnics. Popular with locals, Fairlawn Park maintains both a community garden and a busy soccer field. Bicentennial Park hosts many community events such as the Summer Concert Series and 4th of July Fireworks. Known for its basketball, tennis, and handball courts, Croghan Park also has a playground for kids. Visitors can even stroll along a short, paved walking path.

Griffith’s Park also has basketball and tennis courts, but may be best known for its natural beauty. Take a rare opportunity to walk above the wetlands on an elevated platform, allowing you to view a bog forest where the soft soils are up to 40 feet deep. You can also view great blue herons and other marsh-loving birds in their natural habitat. To top it all off, take a gander at the ancient glacial formations – definitely not something you see ever yday. All parks are free to enjoy and are kid-friendly. Dogs are welcome, too. Just be sure that they’re leashed, and pick up after them.

The cost of living in the Fairlawn neighborhood nudges up about 13 percent higher than that of the Cleveland area in general. For public transportation, the Akron metro bus offers cheap fares and day passes: only $1.25 for a single ride or 2.50 for a day pass.

The median rent in the Fairlawn area runs you $827 for a one-bedroom apartment. Filling up your car’s tank costs about 9 percent less than the national average. A mug of domestic brew costs $3.00, but get one during happy hour for a buck less at most places.

Fairlawn continues to provide a shopping hub for the greater tri-county area. Most stores and businesses are centralized along Market Street. You can find nearly every kind of department and big box store, along with the Summit Mall which houses typical mall selections.

Dimitroff’s calls the area home and serves as the areas mid to high-end furniture store. Only highly qualified interior decorators are on staff to ensure your positive experience. Glide through Glitzy Finds, an upscale consignment shop for women that carries heavy hitting designer names such as Prada, Chanel, and Gucci at bargain prices.

For groceries, you can peruse the likes of Acme, Giant Eagle, Marc’s and Aldi’s. If you’re hankering for something a little more out of the ordinary, try Mustard Seed Market or Earth Fare which have a terrific assortment of hard-to-find and ethnic foods along with lots of organic produce. Copley offers a small seasonal farmers market that runs on Thursdays from May through October, rain or shine. Enjoy the small town hospitality and fresh food the Copley Creekside Farmer’s Market has to offer.