On the outside, the building at 10665 Kinsman Road in Newbury Township hasn’t changed much.
The familiar tan siding, rustic front deck and blacktop parking lot appear as they did during the decades the restaurant was known as Sutter’s Schnitzel-haus.
But recently-opened Paradise Pub and Eatery’s mien within is all about fresh.
From the new floors to the new ceiling and the new furniture, owners Cynthia Hart Wicks and her husband, Charles “Chuck” Wicks, have given the area landmark a fresh and welcoming appearance in the four months since they bought it.
Many faces will greet customers. Leah Larson, 31, a Kent State University (Geauga campus) education major, will be hostessing, and Thomas Jirousek will tend the bar. Overall, Cynthia said she will have nine full- and part-time employees, including her children.
Even her son in North Carolina, Matthew Jirousek, got into the act by providing Internet expertise.
Buying the well-known restaurant seemed like a good transition for the Wicks since Cynthia retired as a manager of a Panera Bread restaurant in February.
While she was looking for a fresh start, Sutter’s appeared on her radar.
“I thought this would be a nice place,” she said, adding, however, there was renovation work to be done by the couple and a friend, equipment to replace and a fresh persona to develop.
The theme Cynthia chose brings parts of tropical Hawaii into the heart of Geauga County.
Entry through the bar area takes customers past the newly-installed margarita machine where the staff will create layered margaritas given a Polynesian flavor by adding a shot of Captain Morgan rum and topping the drink with fresh fruit.
“It’s very tropical,” Wicks said, adding Brie cheese and fruit or calamari are included in the appetizer menu.
Three fish hailing from the South Pacific — spear fish, blue marlin and mahi mahi — are offered as well as split king crab legs and coconut shrimp.
Borrowing again from the Southwest, but with a fresh fruit twist, the Wicks plan to serve pitchers of handcrafted sangria. The bar also offers more than 20 kinds of beer and the basic wines.
The entree menu includes prime rib, T-bone steak, St. Louis ribs, chicken parmesan, $5 meals for children, bratwurst, salads, vegetables and Cynthia’s personal favorite, veggie-burgers, to name a few.
A vegetarian for 36 years, she caters to others who want some selection in their non-meat choices.
Overall, Cynthia feels she is offering a different selection for the area.
“There is no pizza on my menu,” she said.
Cynthia has a lifetime of experience in the food-service industry and is putting it all to good use at Paradise.
“I’ve been in it since I was in fourth grade, making subs at the local Convenient store,” she said.
Paradise Pub and Eatery had its soft opening July 30 and will be open from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays, 3 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and closed on Sundays. Call for reservations for large parties Friday and Saturday evenings 440-564-9656.
