Rocco Whalen has long said opening the new incarnation of Fahrenheit in Public Square has been a dream.
Soon – Thursday, July 13 – that dream comes true.
His vision is fueled by a montage of elements working in sync: Hard work seen in his resume of restaurant experience in Cleveland and in Charlotte along with the need to create a positive training ground for chefs. And the entire space is accented through the keen design eye of Lexi, his wife.
Rocco Whalen has been a consistent presence and flag bearer in Cleveland’s culinary scene, one of the top chefs in the city for the last two decades. He spent more than 21 years in Tremont before his gastronomic manifest destiny brought him to 55 Public Square.
The 22-story, high-rise building on the northwest corner of Public Square opened in 1958 as the home of the Illuminating Company. It is being restored as an office-residential-retail project by K&D Real Estate.
The Fahrenheit project has been in the works for two years.
The restaurant, located in space that once housed John Q’s Public Bar & Grille, will be able to accommodate 700 people fully booked. That includes a downstairs dining room for 200 with 200 more upstairs. A private room can seat close to 80. A chef’s table is designed for 12 to 14 people. A pair of patios hold 60 on the first floor and 150 on the second.
Source: Marc Bona | Cleveland.com
