College Hill business district welcomes Shhhhh Restaurant

Published May 19, 2009 at 12:00 a.m.
The College Hillneighborhood business district (NBD) is one of Cincinnati’s lesserknown NBDs that ranks up there with some of the best.  Here in theNorthern ring of the city sits a diverse collection of local businessesamong a well-maintained urban fabric and an interesting streetscapethat encourages pedestrian activity.

The neighborhood is currently the focus of the City’s Neighborhood Enhancement Program– a 90-day focused effort that integrates community redevelopment andservices that include concentrated building code enforcement,identifying and ‘cooling down’ crime hot spots, cleaning up streets andvacant lots, beautifying landscapes and streetscapes and engagingresidents to create a more livable neighborhood.

One of theimportant components of the College Hill focus was the formerWoolworth's store that has long sat vacant. That changed this pastFriday as Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory helped cut the ribbon thatmarked the grand opening event for Shhhhh Restaurant, the area's newest local business.

Thetransformation of the abandoned building was a welcomed event from acommunity anxious to see the restaurant open up for business.  “It’s agreat boost to College Hill’s redevelopment efforts in our businessdistrict.  Shhhhh has transformed a vacant building into an excitingvenue and promises a great dining experience,” says Elizabeth Sherwood,president of the College Hill Forum.

ShhhhhRestaurant will include a home-style Cajun menu that features a varietyof Louisiana staples like red beans and rice, jambalaya, gumbo andseafood.  The Creole menu, combined with a contemporary interiordesign, work to create an ambiance of elegant ease and comfort.

Therestaurant features a deli for standard breakfast and lunch fare duringthe day, and a full-menu restaurant/bar for dinner and after-hours pubgrub.  There is also a stage for musical performances that will featurelive jazz on the weekends.

SpencerMcKinney, a College Hill native and Aiken graduate, is the owner andvisionary behind the new restaurant.  Originally, the concept for theCreole restaurant and Jazz club was a dream for McKinney and his motherwho passed away earlier this year.  McKinney has since carried out theplans in honor of his mother and .

“I was born and raised inCincinnati, here in the heart of College Hill.  My career took me allover the United States and abroad, and I have seen many places – butthis is where I call home,” says McKinney.

As the restaurantsettles in, McKinney's hope is that it will grow into a place wherepeople from all walks of life can feel comfortable while enjoying ahearty meal. As a small local business, McKinney  intends to do hispart by contributing to the economic vitality of the neighborhood.

ShhhhhRestaurant is open daily from 10am to 10pm.  The deli portion of therestaurant is open immediately which will be followed in a couple ofweeks by the opening of the restaurant/bar portion.

Writer: Randy Simes
Source: Spencer McKinney, owner, Shhhhh Restaurant

Photography by Amber Kersley
Spencer McKinneyMayor Mark Mallory partaking in the ribbon cutting ceremony



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