The 7,900-square-foot restaurant, scheduled to open Spring 2000, will feature seafood specialties, including sushi, prepared to reflect multicultural culinary influences, under the guidance of Chef Claude Rodier, internationally-renowned chef. 

“Century at The Ritz-Carlton will be an upscale, sophisticated, yet sociable, restaurant/bar that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a warm, vibrant atmosphere,” said Mr. Bruns. 
Entertainment will be featured daily. It replaces The Riverview Room, which becomes a banquet facility. 

Significance of “Century” 

“We think the name is appropriate and fitting on many levels,” said Mr. Bruns, stating that Century was selected to blend the city’s future and past. “On the most immediate level, it implies the excitement of the future millennium. 

At the same time, it harks back to the last hundred years in Cleveland’s illustrious, industrial history, so typified by the Terminal Tower,” he explained. 

“The name Century recalls the legendary Twentieth Century Limited, the deluxe New York Central train providing the fastest and most elegant Chicago to New York rail service in the United States during the first part of the 20th century,” said Mr. Bruns. Like the restaurant, the train made its maiden run during the infancy of a new century, and like the train’s reputation, Century at The Ritz-Carlton will feature the same signature service and traditional sophistication for which both the hotel and the historic train have been known 
worldwide. 

The decor of Century at The Ritz-Carlton combines the promise of a new millennium with the ambiance of the renowned train’s dining experience, while at the same time remaining true to the historic roots of the Terminal Tower as a railroad hub in Cleveland’s industrial heyday. Drawing upon Tower City’s archival treasure chest of railroad memorabilia, Century will feature railroad grill work, rich wood paneling, metallic finishes, luxurious seating, and historic 
railroad art reminiscent of the halcyon days of rail transportation. The restaurant also incorporates historic Tower City paraphernalia, such as brass rails, light fixtures, and the old brass train directory into its design. 

“The history of what many call The World’s Greatest Train is replete with anecdotes of the celebrities of the day, who regularly rode the train from New York to Chicago in a record 20 hours—and would take no other form of transportation,” said Mr. Bruns. “The wealthy were known to board the train for lunch only, prior to its departure, then disembark before the train left the station, so excellent were the service and the food. 

“We are interested in people who experienced the luxury of The Twentieth Century Limited any time during its extended life, especially those who dined on board,” said Mr. Bruns. “We would like to talk with them about a reunion celebration in June of 2000.” 
 
 

The first new Cleveland restaurant to open in the new millennium will be called Century at The Ritz-Carlton, it was announced today by John Bruns, general manager for The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland.

Location and Strategy 

Cleveland joins Atlanta and Phoenix as the third city in The Ritz-Carlton family with a “stand-alone” restaurant presence. Accessible from The Avenue at Tower City Center, Century at The Ritz-Carlton will seat 150 in the bar area and dining room combined. It will be located on the street level of the hotel extending from the lobby to Prospect Avenue. “Currently, the Ritz-Carlton’s restaurant is located on the 6th floor adjacent to the registration area. We want the restaurant to be more accessible to local shoppers and area workers as well as to our guests,” said Mr. Bruns. “Therefore we are enlarging the restaurant and relocating to prime space on The Avenue. Now, hotel guests can more conveniently access our premier shopping plaza as we expand our Ritz-Carlton universe to embrace a full Cleveland experience for tourists and business travelers.” 

Century at the Ritz-Carlton replaces The Riverview Room, located on the 6th floor, which becomes a ballroom accommodating approximately 130 for a reception. “We have been unable to handle all our requests for parties, weddings, and meetings because we didn’t have enough 
space,” Mr. Bruns commented. “Conversion of The Riverview Room is our solution and adds the space we need to meet the demands of our social market. 

Chef Claude Rodier 

“The addition of Claude Rodier is a great coup for The Ritz-Carlton,” Mr. Bruns said. “He brings his own world-renowned culinary skill and personality to food preparation and menu creation that will distinguish the restaurant as Cleveland’s premier seafood dining experience.” 

With 23 years in the restaurant and hotel industry at four and five star hotels in France as well as Michelin star restaurants, Rodier left the Sans Souci to join the new Ritz-Carlton dining 
experience. “It was time for a change. I needed to become fully involved in cuisine preparation once again,” Rodier said. “Century at The Ritz-Carlton presents the opportunity to get back to my culinary roots and oversee food preparation for guests.” 

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company manages 36 hotels and resorts in Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Mexico, the Middle East and the United States. It was recently awarded the 1999 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, given by the United States Department of Commerce and is the only service company to receive the award two times. The first award was given to The Ritz-Carlton in 1992. 

The Ritz-Carlton Cleveland, located at 1515 W. 6th Street, is the recipient of many awards of distinction, most recently the 1999 Conde-Nast Traveler’s Gold List, honoring the finest hotels, resorts, spas and cruise lines in the world. The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland, which earned the award in 1998 as well, is the only hotel in Ohio to receive this year’s distinction.