College Hill business district welcomes Shhhhh Restaurant

The College Hill neighborhood business district (NBD) is one of Cincinnati’s lesser known NBDs that ranks up there with some of the best.  There is a diverse collection of local businesses, relatively well-maintained urban fabric and an interesting streetscape that encourages pedestrian activity.

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

One of the important parts of the College Hill focus was the former Woolworths store that has long sat vacant.  On Friday, May 15th at 10am that part of the focus was addressed as Mayor Mallory participated in a ribbon cutting and grand opening event for Shhhhh Restaurant that will become the NBDs newest local business.

The transformation of the vacant building has been witnessed by a community anxious to see the restaurant open up for business.  “It’s a great boost to College Hill’s redevelopment efforts in our business district.  Shhhhh has transformed a vacant building into an exciting venue and promises a great dining experience,” says Elizabeth Sherwood, president of the College Hill Forum.

Shhhhh Restaurant will include a home-style Cajun menu that features a variety of Louisiana staples like red beans and rice, jambalaya, gumbo and seafood.  The Louisianan menu combined with a contemporary interior design aim to create an ambiance of elegant ease and comfort.

The restaurant also has two sections, a deli for standard breakfast and lunch fare during the day and a full-menu restaurant/bar for dinner and after-hours pub grub.  Also in the restaurant/bar area is a stage for music performances that is planned to feature live jazz on the weekends.

Spencer McKinney, College Hill native and Aiken graduate, is the owner and vision behind the new restaurant.  Originally the concept for a Creole restaurant and Jazz club combination was a dream for McKinney and his mother who passed away earlier this year.  McKinney has since continued on with the plans in honor of his mother and her wishes.

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

As the restaurant settles in McKinney hopes that it can eventually be a place where people from all walks of life can feel comfortable and enjoy a hearty meal.  As a small local business, McKinney also intends to do his part by contributing to the economic vitality of the neighborhood.

Shhhhh Restaurant
5915 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45224
P: (513) 834-8433
Open daily from 10am to 10pm*
*Deli open immediately, restaurant/bar will open in a couple of weeks

Writer: Randy Simes
Source: Spencer McKinney, owner, Shhhhh Restaurant
Photography by Amber Kersley