Shaker Heights

Shaker Heights is an upscale suburb of Cleveland in Northeast Ohio. The town was one of America's first planned suburban communities and has served as the home of many of the region's corporate, legal and health care leaders. It previously served as an enclave for the North Union Shaker Community.

The Shaker Heights Public library, formerly Moreland Elementary School

Understand

Shaker Heights was originally established in 1822 as the North Union Settlement of the Shaker community, a religious group that established several communities throughout the eastern and midwestern United States. This group was responsible for damming Doan Brook and creating the Shaker Lakes, but the group's strict practice of celibacy eventually led to their demise in the late 1800s.

In 1912 the village of Shaker Heights was incorporated by the Van Sweringen brothers who envisioned a garden community for commuters to Cleveland. The brothers set aside land for churches and schools, laid out curving streets, planted trees, and established a streetcar system (today's RTA) that led directly from the city to downtown Cleveland. The town's strict building codes led to a distinctive architectural identity, and today many of the mansions and other buildings found in the city are featured in architectural texts.

Over the years the town's residents have included a variety of famous business and entertainment personalities including actor Paul Newman, comedian Molly Shannon, and football player Nate Clements.

Books and Guides

• Images of America - Shaker Heights (OH) by Bruce T. Marshall, Arcadia Publishing. Describes the history of Shaker Heights with photographs.

Get in

An RTA station in Shaker Heights

By train

The Blue Line and Green Line provide services to Shaker Heights from Cleveland.

By bus

Also, the bus lines 14, 40 and 41 drive through Shaker Heights.

Get around

By bicycle

If getting around in Shaker Heights by bike, note that bikes must be registered, and wearing a helmet is obligatory.

By car

Cars can be rented at the following companies:

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 3596 Lee Rd, [phone]
• Hertz, 15809 Chagrin Boulevard, [phone]

See

• 🌍 Shaker Historical Society, 16740 South Park Blvd, ☎ [phone]. 2PM-5PM Tu We Th Fr Su. A small museum about the Quaker sect that settled in the area in the 19th century. $2. 
• Shaker Heights Community Rose Garden, Located on Woodbury Road, between Woodbury and Onaway elementary schools. 
• 🌍 Malcolm Brown Gallery, 20100 Chagrin Blvd, ☎ [phone]. Tue-Fri 11AM-6PM, Sat 11AM-4PM. 

Do

Nature Center

• 🌍 Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd, ☎ [phone]. Center 10AM-5PM Mo-Sa 1PM-5PM Su, Trails dawn to dusk. Hiking trails, including one wheel-chair accessible boardwalk trail, as well nature programs and exhibits inside the center.  
• 🌍 Shaker Heights Thornton Park, 3301 Warrensville Center, ☎ [phone]. This park offers an ice skating rink, tennis courts, basketball courts, skateboard park, batting cages, and a large outdoor swimming pool. 
• Shaker Heights Country Club - Pool, 3300 Courtland Blvd. 11AM to 6PM Mo, 11AM to 7PM Tu-Su. 

Buy

• 🌍 Shaker Square (on Shaker Blvd just west of Coventry). While technically located in the city of Cleveland, Shaker Square is a historic shopping district with independent stores and unique restaurants located just north of the city border.  
• 🌍 Shaker Plaza and Van Aken Center, 20119 Van Aken Blvd (Van Aken Blvd and Warrensville Rd). Home to several restaurants and a number of boutique shops. 
• 🌍 Shaker Town Center, 16722 Chagrin Blvd (Chagrin Blvd and Lee Rd). This shopping center offers a range of fast food options, groceries, a book store, and other shopping options. 

Eat

• 🌍 Pearl of the Orient Restaurant, 20121 Van Aken Blvd, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 SASAmatsu Japanese Izakaya Asian Bistro, 13120 Shaker Square, ☎ [phone]. Open until midnight (Su until 10PM). This restaurant is located at the border between Shaker Heights and Cleveland. 
• 🌍 China Star Restaurant, 20166 Van Aken Blvd, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 Los Habaneros Authentic Mexican Restaurant, 20255 Van Aken Blvd, ☎ [phone]. 11AM to 10PM Mo-Th, 11AM to 10:30PM Fr, noon to 10:30PM Sa, noon to 9PM Su. up to $13.99. 
• 🌍 Saffron Patch Authentic Indian cuisine, 20600 Chagrin Blvd, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 The Metropolitan Brownie, 3682 Traynham Rd, ☎ [phone]. 

Drink

• 🌍 Rudy's Pub, 20110 Van Aken Blvd, ☎ [phone]. Offering pub food as well as drinks, with happy hour appetizers starting at $1 (Monday - Saturday from 4PM - 7PM). 

Sleep

Shaker Heights doesn't have any hotels. For hotels near Shaker Heights, see Beachwood.

Connect

• 🌍 Shaker Heights Public Library, 16500 Van Aken Blvd, ☎ [phone]. Housed in a large former school building, the main Shaker library offers books, multimedia, and computers. A second branch is located at 20600 Fayette Road near the Middle School. (updated Dec 2018)

Go next

• Beachwood - A neighboring suburb that is home to Beachwood Place Mall and numerous other shopping and dining options.
• Cleveland - The major city that dominates the region, Cleveland has experienced a revival in recent years and offers numerous food, lodging and entertainment options.
• Cleveland Heights - A neighboring suburb that is home to the Coventry District, a funky neighborhood with shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Routes through Shaker Heights

END ← Cleveland ←	W  E	→ Beachwood → Youngstown
END ← Cleveland ←	N  S	→ Northfield → Akron