Plant-Based Since 2012
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CV Family Polaroid

Plant Based Sticker
Owners Polaroid

Laura & Simone

Vegan Leaf Sticker
Staff Polaroid

Staff

Family Crew Photo
Company Event Polaroid

New Friendships

Vegan Family Print

Our Family

Cleveland Vegan Company Retreat

2017 Retreat

Our Story The Cleveland Vegan

Cleveland Vegan Feature

Founded in 2012, Laura Ross & Justin Gorski started a little vegan catering company. In early 2012, not only were they pregnant with the idea for this company, but Laura was pregnant w/ their first baby. Eli came into their life at the same time Cleveland Vegan was forming. It was a wild time to say the least! They never imagined or even planned for their little catering company to grow into what it is today.

They rented a small commissary kitchen for those first couple of years until they were bursting and in need of their own kitchen. They moved into the Detroit Ave location that they are still in today the week before Thanksgiving in 2014. This was also 3 months after their 2nd baby (Simone) entered the scene. And then in 2016..baby Hugo entered the scene. You can now find their 3 children bustling around the cafe helping out on big holiday catering days or during their summer breaks. In more recent years, they have continued to grow and expand their offerings. Cleveland Vegan went from being a daytime cafe to being open into the evening for dinner. They moved into the storefront next to them to expand their bakery & add seating capacity. They are now the preferred caterers at Stan Hywet and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park wedding venues. They also now have a little plant-based charcuterie shop with hand crafted vegan cheeses from around the country.

People ask them all the time when they plan to open another location but the answer from Laura & Justin always is “We want to be a part of our children’s lives as they grow up!” Organically grown and following the demand from their incredible customers has allowed them to grow into what they are today. With over 40 staff and growing, what makes their food, service & experience exceptional is the incredible team behind it all. Cleveland Vegan is still a full-service catering company along with the cafe and bakery.

Thank you for all of your support!

Mission Polaroid Earth Day Pin
Mission Polaroid Earth Day Pin

Our Mission

Our purpose is to better this planet by reducing harm to animals, preserving our planet’s resources. To promote healthy eating & prove that a vegan diet can be fulfilling, flavorful & delicious.

Our Core Values: Integrity, Humor, Compassion

Meet Some of Our
 Incredible and Talented Team!

Laura Ross

Laura Ross

OWNER

Laura Ross brings a diverse background to her work with Cleveland Vegan. She has been sharing the beautiful practice of yoga/meditation since 2005 and currently teaches at Inner Bliss Yoga Studio. Her work before taking over the management and operations of Cleveland Vegan was in the social work field where she coordinated the Volunteer program at a local domestic violence organization.

Outside of working closely with the management team at Cleveland Vegan, Laura is joyfully involved with Eli, Simone & Hugo, her 3 beautiful children. She loves to read, travel and eat vegan food. She meditates daily and attributes her spiritual practice and plant-based diet to the reason she is able to manage the demands of her schedule. She is a strong advocate for veganism and is thrilled to offer an accessible way of eating for so many.

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Justin Gorski

Justin Gorski

OWNER

Justin has been cooking his whole life, although it took him about 35 years to get it right! 🙂

Besides cooking, cleaning, managing, leading the culinary catering team, picking up orders and washing random things at the shop, Justin hangs out with his amazing wife, Laura (bless her soul) and three crazy & amazing children…Eli, Simone & Hugo. Justin has been playing music almost as long as he has been cooking, he loves milkshakes, pizza and anybody that will cook food for him. He meditates every day, or at least tries to, and wants to continue to travel the world, record more albums, own an old 50’s pick-up truck! I guess we will see what happens…

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Julian Coley

Julian Coley

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Julian began his culinary career in 2009. After exploring different styles of cooking and working with numerous restaurants throughout Cleveland, he landed a position creating vegan food! Ultimately being able to please all sorts of people is the final goal and that’s made possible with Cleveland Vegan.

In his spare time, he loves getting together with his friends to watch sports, tossing darts or just listening to music with them.

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Martin David Tapia

Martin David Tapia

KITCHEN MANAGER

Martin David Tapia works by day as a dedicated assistant kitchen manager at the Cleveland Vegan and has been a committed team member since 2018. By night he dreams away, imagining worlds of wonder and cultivating the sparkle in his heart.

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Carmela Ferry

Carmela Ferry

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Carmela started with Cleveland Vegan a few months after the doors opened. She loves seeing the continued growth of not only the restaurant, but also the bakery and the catering department through the years. Not only is she a FOH Shift Manager, but she also is an Administrative Assistant.

Carmela is passionate for all things Italian, especially food and culture as her parents were immigrants from Italy. She grew up in Wickliffe, but has called Lakewood her home for the past 26 years. She has been vegan since 2011 and loves hearing about everyone’s vegan journey. In her free time she enjoys knitting, the outdoors , traveling, reading, and spending time with her two sons, her husband, and dog.

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Emily Tarulli

Emily Tarulli

EVENT & MARKETING

Emily has a marketing degree and a love of vegan food which lead her to starting a plant based blog emilyhappyhealthy.com. After working for a food gift retailer in Chicago, Emily moved back home to Cleveland in the hopes of working for a vegan company. In her free time you can find Emily practicing photography, going for walks in the park and reading. She has 2 cats Sanderson & Kiwi.

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Michaela Killik

Michaela Killik

BAKERY MANAGER

Michaela was born and raised in Cleveland, ran away to California, and found her way back home to the Great Lakes. She has been specializing in vegan baking and cooking since 2012 along many adventures, both culinary and otherwise. There’s nothing she loves more than good food and loud music. Catch her playing in bands around town or in front of the oven at Cleveland Vegan.

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Sadie Dohar

Sadie Dohar

FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER

Sadie has grown up in the Cleveland Area her whole life and worked making vegan ice cream just before coming to Cleveland Vegan. Being able to offer cruelty free, sustainable dining in her hometown is very rewarding to Sadie.

When she is not at work, you can find her listening to records, painting, enjoying nature, or spending time with my dog Layla.

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Kaleb Kenel

Kaleb Kenel

FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER

Originally from Akron, OH Kaleb has been Vegan since 2018, and has loved his experience working in plant-based restaurants. Outside of work, Kaleb loves reading, hiking, playing video games, and traveling. He’s even seen all four corners of the United States in one year! He hopes to travel the world throughout his life and dreams of one day finding the “One Piece”.

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Justin Stepp

Justin Stepp

FRONT OF HOUSE SHIFT MANAGER

Justin was born and raised in the Cleveland area. He has a passion for veganism and the environment, graduating from Cleveland State University with a degree in environmental study. Working at Cleveland Vegan has allowed him the opportunity to deepen his passion for veganism through serving and being part of a plant based community. In his free time you can find him hanging with his wife, Julia, and two cats, Hazel and Lucy. His interest include bird watching, reading, cooking, and endurance cycling.

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