Lakewood, Ohio --

Lakewood welcomes Urban Bulk Foods

A trip to Middlefield, Ohio, or just about anywhere in southern Ohio, puts one in contact with the rural Amish stores and their well-known bulk foods. Clevelanders Dennis and Jen Paszkowski dreamed for years about bringing the tradition to northern Ohio.

When Dennis, a former construction worker, retired last year the timing coincided with a store front "for rent" sign he and Jen spotted one day on Madison Avenue in Lakewood. The couple knew immediately they had found the location they dreamed about.

"We wanted to bring to Lakewood what we shopped for over the past 20 years," said Paszkowski. The couple opened Urban Bulk Foods in October 2015.

An important distinction about Urban Bulk Foods versus Amish stores is that they carry pre-packaged foods, not barrels full of food with scoopers for filling plastic bags. The Paszkowskis studied the Amish store model carefully before deciding to concentrate on several areas of inventory.

The candy selection will have any child jumping for joy just to look over the huge selection. The shelves of fresh spices will delight the most elementary cook as well as the experienced chef. Don't miss the steak rubs or the three different types of paprika.

Looking for a nice gift of a special food item? How about elderberry or bumble berry jelly or pickled eggs and beets?

Rounding out the shelves are dried fruits and many organic snack items like roasted green peas.

Paszkowski's long time friend, Dan Banyard, visits frequently and holds court on a folding chair near the door. He proudly pointed out the re-purposed items that have prominent places in the store. "Dan built that counter top with a plank from the tree at St. Paul's Lutheran Church on Detroit Avenue," he said. The countertop still has bark attached to the edge. Many of the store items are featured in re-purposed crates from the Cleveland Museum of Art's last expansion.

Customers Noelle and Craig Huddleston came in the store for the first time. "We drove past several times," said Noelle, "and decided we just had to stop in." She was especially impressed by the overall variety and the selection of spices while their two year old daughter was more interested in a big bag of puffed corn snacks.

But it's the cage free Amish eggs and the rolls of country butter, as well as the well-known Amish cheese, that people love best, according to Paszkowski. Just in case, though, he features a good supply of organic potatoes and onions in one of the crates.

New wood floors and artistic lighting give Urban Bulk Foods more of an upscale chic look than a down home type of store. The inventory in the 1,000 square foot store is arranged beautifully and everything is sparkling clean. It is a pleasure to take the time to browse here.

Urban Bulk Foods is located at 14021 Madison Avenue and is open six days a week.