There is no shortage of family-friendly businesses in Northeast Ohio. From candy shops galore to retro arcades and outdoor adventure centers, there are so many different experiences for the entire family to enjoy together. While there are so many that we love – so many, in fact, that it would be impossible to list them all – here are two that especially stand out.
The Original Dan's Dogs Diner
This all-American eatery is located in the historic 111 West Liberty St. building. Dating back to 1859, the building has been home to many thriving Medina businesses over the years. The building's first tenant was Tonsing Coffins and Cabinet Ware from 1859-1866. It then became Smith Drugs and Medicines in 1867 until 1897. Throughout the 1900s, the building continued to be a prosperous dwelling for various businesses, including Hatch Dairy Store and Delicatessen from 1930-1945, Jam Bar from 1945-1992 – during which extensive renovations took place to add new fixtures, kitchen equipment and more – and finally, The Original Dan's Dogs Diner.
Since opening in the historic 111 West Liberty St. building, Dan's Dogs has had various owners, beginning with Steve and Kay Chylik. The couple decided to transition the popular bar into an eatery, which proved to be a huge financial success. During their ownership, an average of 7,000 hot dogs would be sold every month!
Now, owners Dana and Jason Graf, Ron and Lisa DeMichael and Joe Inglett, take great pride in operating a successful, family-oriented business. Co-owners, Ron and Lisa, even have all four of their kids working in the diner!
Dan's iconic menu features salads, sandwiches, burgers and, of course, 'Dogs Worth Barking About.' From classics like the Dan's Famous Dog – featuring Chicago style mustard, relish, onions, cucumber, hot peppers, pickles and celery salt – and the Chili Dog to innovative favorites like the Mac Attack – a hot dog smothered in creamy mac and cheese – and the Party Animal – a dog covered with crushed potato chips, smothered in a cheddar cheese sauce and topped with pretzels – Dan's over two dozen hot dog creations to choose from, ranging from traditional to unique.
Learn more about the history of The Original Dan's Dogs Diner and to stay up-to-date with their hours of operations and specials, visit DansDogsMedina.com. The diner is located at 111 W Liberty St, Medina, OH 44256.
Sweets & Geeks
Founded in October 2020, Sweets & Geeks, a local haven for candy, retro gifts and modern memorabilia. As the name suggests, this family-friendly story offers a plethora of ‘Sweet’ candy and 'Geeky' games and collectibles.
The Medina location – just steps from the Historic Medina Square – opened its doors less than one year ago, the owners of Sweets & Geeks owned and operated a card and collectibles stores in the greater Cleveland area for the past 20 years! With Sweets & Geeks, their goal is to continue their long-standing legacy as an excellent local game store but with the added ambiance of a pop-culture candy store!
At the very heart of Sweets & Geeks is the goal to provide a friendly space for individuals from all walks of life to buy and play games while enjoying a little something sweet. With thousands of games to choose from, they do just that. Their board game selection is one of the best in Ohio, featuring everything from family favorites such as Monopoly and Clue, to dense and action-packed multiplayer games like Fallout, Ticket to Ride and Dune. Also noteworthy is their collection of roleplaying games such as Dungeons & Dragons and trading card games like Pokemon, Magic and Yu-Gi-Oh.
The truly astonishing selection of candy and novelties that Sweets & Geeks offers in addition to their games solidifies the shop as a utopia for kids. Carrying everything from PEZ dispensers and lollipops galore to international candies, bacon-flavored candies, old-fashioned candies and more – you name it, they have it! They even have the largest selection of sodas in Ohio that features more than 600 unique flavors! And if you love finding neat memorabilia, they offer a huge selection of Funko Pop! collectibles, gag gifts, life-sized cardboard cutouts, collectible signs and more.
To learn more about Sweets & Geeks, visit SweetsAndGeeks.com. Visit them in-store and browse their thousands of fun and unique products at 342 E Smith Rd, Medina, OH 44256.