When You Earned $.10 an Hour!

We recently had the pleasure of hosting a guest who returned to Chagrin Falls for her high school reunion. A proud alumna of Chagrin Falls High School (CFHS), she shared some delightful memories with us that truly highlight the rich history of our town.

One story that stood out was about her father, James Woodward, who worked at 87 West restaurant back in the day, earning just 10 cents an hour. Despite the modest wages, the restaurant was a beloved spot in the community, famous for its salad bar on the back patio. It was so popular that legendary newscaster Dorothy Fuldheim was a frequent visitor, drawn by her love for the salad bar. She also shared with me that she also worked at the restaurant when it became Gamekeepers, and she was proud to share that she was the “salad girl’. She would work all day in the basement making the salads. She earned a little more than $.10 an hour.

I have lived in Chagrin Falls a long time, but was not familiar with the restaurant 87 West. I knew that 87 West St. is the address of the Inn of Chagrin, but I wasn’t familiar with the restaurant, so I did what I always do when I need to know about anything Chagrin Falls… I reached out to the Chagrin Falls History Center. They shared that 87 West was well-known for its "Courtyard dining." Which kind of made me giggle a little, because we are in Ohio after all and might get 2-3 months of “courtyard dining” in one season. They continued to share that the restaurant advertised its unique dining experience and operated from around 1972-73 until Gamekeepers Tavern took over in 1979. The building also housed an artificial plant company, which is where the Inn of Chagrin stands today and a gentleman named Chester Giltz rented space there too.

You truly to feel he admiration to the property and her happiness while sharing the stories with us. It's incredible to hear such vivid stories and to see how these memories have shaped our community. We are honored to be a part of preserving these cherished moments for our guests and visitors.

If you have any nostalgic stories about Chagrin Falls, we'd love to hear them. Have you ever enjoyed “court-yard dining” at 87 West in the 1970s? Any photos? Sharing these memories helps keep the spirit of our beloved town alive for generations to come.