History of 87 West St.
In the spring of 1927 Clarence Arthur Crane purchased two cottages on West Street in Chagrin Falls. The south cottage was torn down and an addition was contrasted and joined to the Harvey Frost cottage to the north. This new structure would house a large elegant restaurant and provide Crane with an out-of-town home. Crane’s Canary Cottage opened officially on Labor Day, September 5, 1927.
Duncan Hines praised Crane’s as a delightful place for lunch or dinner with superlative food, served in a refined atmosphere.
Among the interesting visitors to this establishment was C.A. Crane’s son, the poet, Hart Crane, Charles Lindbergh and John D. Rockefeller and his son.
After C.A. Crane’s death in 1931, his wife Bessie continued to operate the restaurant until wartime shortages caused it to close after the 1942 season. She then reopened it as an exclusive antique shop.
Harold Reed purchased the building from Bessie Crane Hise in the mid 1960’s and opened his business, The Artificial Plant Company. In 1975 Carl and Beverly Vessele bought the business and the then the building three years later. Toward the end of the 1980’s the Vesseles began planning a New England style bed-and-breakfast. With the renovations and the completion of a fifteen room inn, the new Inn of Chagrin Falls is a fine blend of past and present.
On September 1, 2021, Chef Art Pour Restaurant Group purchased the business, almost 94 years to the day when Mr. Clarence Crane opened the property as a restaurant. CAPRG is excited to take The Inn of Chagrin Falls to the next level with amenities that are guaranteed to enhance the guests’ experience and update the 15 rooms inn.
In addition to owning 87 West St. Mr. Clarence Crane invented Lifesavers because he wanted a candy that could with stand the hot summer days. The first flavor was Pep-o-mint. The original Lifesavers did not have a hole in the middle of them. Crane registered the trademark and then he sold the rights of the candy, which under the patent was “Pep-O-Mint” peppermint candy for $2,900 to Edward John Noble.