Puritas-Longmead - Cleveland, OH

Named after two of its streets, Puritas-Longmead was originally developed by real estate developer George Linn in the 19th Century as part of the Linndale development. In 1923, after the annexation of the Village of West Park, Puritas-Longmead officially became a part of Cleveland. Most of the housing in the area traces its history back to World War II, although some homes go back even further. Over the years, the neighborhood has seen a considerable amount of industrial areas established within its boundaries, and retail development has also taken place to meet the needs of a growing population.

You'll recognize the neighborhood’s appreciation of art and culture in displays of public art and events such as the Puritas Arts Festival in June, which takes place in Jefferson Park, just north of the Puritas-Longmead neighborhood.

Stroll down Puritas Avenue and West 150th Street to pass a number of restaurants that treat customers to high quality dining experiences, whether pizza or Chinese.

Canary’s Family Restaurant provides visitors with good, efficient service as well as low prices and a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. Buzzing in the morning, the restaurant serves the kind of big, fast, no-frills breakfast you can depend on. With its crazily low prices and polite staff as added bonuses, locals keep coming back for more. At other mealtimes, go for a country fried steak or classic burger and fries, but be prepared for a crowd and bring cash with you to pay.

You can also find speedy service at Bylo Gyro Bob's, where popular choices include fried fish, steak sandwiches, stuffed grape leaves and homemade Mediterranean-style dishes. Grilling its namesake gyros to perfection, the fast food restaurant and neighborhood favorite serves big portions for good prices. Take a serving of baklava with you to end your meal on a delectably sweet note.

Later in the day, head to the local Cheers-style bar, Slim & Chubby’s, in Marc’s Plaza Shopping Center. Those eating can order late at night during weekends, and a wide range of options include jumbo wings and sizzling mushrooms as tasty appetizers, and steak, seafood or chicken for a hearty main meal. Afterwards, relax with well-priced drinks served by energetic bartenders.

Don’t underestimate AMP 150 due to its location in the airport Marriott lobby. Not your typical airport restaurant and bar, AMP 150’s fresh, creative food and excellent drinks selection makes for an enjoyable afternoon or evening, and doors don’t close until midnight on weekends.

A number of other sports bars and clubs, featuring entertainment such as karaoke, live music and dancing can be found in surrounding neighborhoods. Head to North Olmsted’s Lorain Avenue for a good place to start.

Interstate 71 forms Puritas-Longmead’s western boundary. Follow it south for Columbus, Cincinnati and beyond, or head the opposite direction to get to Cleveland in under 20 minutes. If you prefer to get to Cleveland with someone else doing the driving, use Uber.

Find another option in public transport. Use one of the bus routes servicing Puritas-Longmead to get around the area and up to Lakewood, where transferring to another route takes you to Cleveland. Lying just north of the neighborhood, Puritas Rapid Station offers the red line, which takes you to downtown Cleveland in about 40 minutes. Other destinations on this line include Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and the Louis Stokes Station at Windermere in East Cleveland. The station provides users with a free car park and 12 spaces for long-term parking, as well as bike racks.

Biking offers another way of getting around the neighborhood. Puritas-Longmead lacks bike infrastructure in some places, but you'll find bike lanes on the neighborhood’s busiest road, Puritas Avenue. Sidewalks and numerous bus stops on main roads further aid walkers and cyclists.

Puritas-Longmead residents enjoy plenty of open, green spaces, both within the neighborhood as well as around its outskirts. With playgrounds and outdoor sporting facilities, the neighborhood’s parks cater to the whole family. Dogs are welcome in all City of Cleveland parks, although they must be kept on a leash unless stated otherwise and out of prohibited areas marked by signs.

Basketball, tennis and baseball players head to Crossburn Park, which also provides visitors with a playground and spray basin. Gilmore Park offers nearly 6 acres of nature where children enjoy amusing themselves on a rubberized playground while the older ones head off for basketball or ball games. Emery Park's larger size of over 11 acres contains facilities including a playground, spray basin, basketball courts, baseball fields and 40 parking spaces.

The awe-inspiring Rocky River Reservation nearby further adds to the natural landscape. This area of great beauty provides a peaceful haven not only to dog walkers, runners and cyclists, but also to hikers, horse riders, boaters, picnickers and every kind of outdoor enthusiast.

Living in Puritas-Longmead costs just over 1 percent more than it does in most Cleveland neighborhoods, but around 12 percent less than Ohio in general. The price of gas in Cleveland runs about 2 percent more than the national average, while the average rent for a one-bedroom residence in the neighborhood averages $522 per month. A one-way ticket on the bus costs $2.25, although you’ll need two to get to the city, so a day pass at $5 may end up more economical. Having a bottle of domestic beer at the pub comes to around $3.

Although a lot of the neighborhood’s space serves industrial purposes, Puritas-Longmead residents visit some retail outlets, such as Marc’s Plaza Shopping Center, Puritas Shopping Center and Puritas Avenue.

Young’s Jewelry on Puritas Avenue dazzles patrons with beautiful gold and silver jewelry, delicate watches and reasonably priced costume jewelry. Lovebirds may be inclined to try the store’s fine engagement rings or treat their loved one, whether male or female, to sophisticated accessories.

Cyclists, skaters and general exercise fanatics find their gear at Pyro Apparel. The shop offers customers over 30 years’ experience in custom-made apparel for high performance sports, and cater to both individuals and groups.

However, if a day’s worth of shopping is what you’re after, explore the Lorain Avenue Corridor, home to antiques, florists, bargain shops, arts and crafts, clothes, gifts, and much more.

Shop for groceries at a number of spots in the neighborhood, including Save-A-Lot and Convenient Food Mart, or visit the nearby Kamm’s Corner Farmers Market just north of the neighborhood, where local residents have been known to sell their home-grown produce.