Cincinnati: Home for the Past 9 Years

Nine years ago this week I moved to Cincinnati (from my hometown of Cleveland) with my then girlfriend, soon to be fiancée and now wife. We didn’t know a lot about the city, but visited twice while looking for apartments and interviewing for jobs. I got a great job offer at the University of Cincinnati, so we packed-up and made the move 250 miles south.

Nine years later, we are glad we did.

As I outlined in a previous blog post, I am from Cleveland. I love Cleveland. I root for the Browns, Indians and Cavaliers. It is in my blood. That isn’t going to change, so you can take it or leave it. However, my love for my hometown does not impair my love for my current home, Cincinnati.

To be honest, there was a point when we didn’t think we would be staying in the Queen City very long. I Over a period of two summers, I applied for 6-8 jobs and was a finalist for four of them. We looked at homes in New Mexico, Nevada, Virginia and Georgia. We didn’t move and instead bought a house in Cincinnati. Point, us.

No joke, two days after we closed on our house I was offered a job elsewhere. I was even told “just give your house back.” I didn’t give the house back and again, we are happy with the decision.

The transformation Cincinnati has seen in the past 9 years is remarkable. When we moved here in 2006 very few people were dining in Over-The-Rhine. If you were dining in OTR, you certainly were not waiting hours for a table. Nobody was spending the night watching a light show at Washington Park or encouraging their kids to run through the fountains. The Banks was just a pipe dream.

When I started this business four months ago, I could have moved. We could have open up shop elsewhere. Someone I know suggested a location further south, somewhere we wouldn’t have to worry about shoveling snow. But I didn’t want to leave Cincinnati, my neighborhood or my house.

So nine years later, I am insanely grateful to still be living in Cincinnati and to call in home. Tonight, my wife and I will celebrate nine years here by picking up insanely good food at Gomez Salsa, walking to Washington Park and settling in for Lumenocity. Sounds like a pretty nice night.

#Cincinnati #Luminocity #Tom