New Business Gets OK for Strongsville Plaza

An art business has gotten permission to open in the Strongsville Plaza.

Wine and Canvas will operate from a 2,400-square-foot studio, with seating for up to 99 people, at 14773 Pearl Rd.

The Indianapolis-based business brings people together to paint while enjoying food and drink, said Joanne Rhodes, who owns the Cleveland/Akron franchise with Liz Coram.

"It's for anybody," Rhodes said. "It's not for artists -- it's for average people."

The Strongsville Planning Commission last week approved a conditional use permit to allow the business to operate in the plaza.

The franchise has been running here since last August, doing "away" shows -- private events and parties hosted by area businesses where guests are invited to don a smock and dab away at a canvas, trying to reproduce a specific picture.

With the studio, Wine and Canvas can add regular sessions. People can sign up on their own or with friends to spend an evening eating, drinking and painting.

Rhodes said the restaurant will serve simple fare like cheese platters, sandwiches and soups, and plans to have a liquor license for wine and beer. 

She said the Strongsville studio would have two rooms, one of which would be used for a Cookies and Canvas kids' painting studio.

To meet city building and fire codes, the business agreed to cap seating at 99, instead of the 104 originally sought, to not operate as a tavern or nightclub and to limit its cooking appliances.

Also in the plaza are Bilo's, Head Over Heels, Old Carolina Barbecue and Elevated Fitness.