Pete Harris, owner of Pete’s Tavern at 1318 Pete Harris, owner of Pete’s Tavern at 1318 Warrensville Center Road, lost his battle with cancer on Dec. 6. Peter G. Harris was born in South Euclid, grew up in Cleveland Heights and attended Noble Elementary School and Monticello Junior High School. He graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in 1975 and The Ohio State University in 1979.

He patronized the Cleveland Orchestra and was a member of the Cleveland Museum of Art. He had a tender spot for animals, and supported the Animal Protective League and adopted rescued dogs.

Harris worked at the former Turkey Ridge Tavern on Coventry Road and at Bob’s on Mayfield Road before he bought his bar, the former Faragher’s, with his father in 1997. The deal included his father’s requirement that his son stop drinking. Harris was sober for 15 years, which drew comparisons between him and Sam Malone, the sobered bar owner of the TV show "Cheers."

Tom Owens, a longtime friend and patron, recalled, “I met him in ninth grade when several of us were playing King of the Hill on a snow pile. He was relentless and a lot of fun. That’s how he was later in life, too. When I was in the hospital he came all the way to Southwest General to visit me a few times. He visited me again when I was in rehab at McGregor. He was the perfect bar owner.”

Allen Moore reminisced, “The first time I walked into Pete’s it had a very relaxing atmosphere. It’s a great place to bring people if you just want to see people and have a beer."

Stephanie Combes, bartender and cook for six years, will continue the business as Pete’s Tavern. “People call us Cheers all the time,” she said, referring to the neighborhood bar feel as well as Harris’ sobriety. “This year, the annual Christmas party on Dec. 19 will also double as Pete’s wake. Musicians who performed live at the tavern in the past are promising to come back to jam that evening. Patrons are invited to bring a potluck dish to share.”

Pete’s Tavern is known for its half-pound Black Angus burgers and its garlic wings. Occasionally, Combes serves casserole specials and other comfort food selections. Pete’s patrons are a diverse crowd who enjoy a low key, “clean” bar. Harris didn’t tolerate disruptive or illegal behaviors. He just enjoyed people.

“The bar is nice, easy—a neighborhood bar,” said Owen. “He would do anything for anybody.”

“The toy train on the corner of the bar was the last thing he bought for the bar,” said Moore. “Yeah, Pete was Pete.”

Harris leaves behind his sister, Polly Harris (Michael Tracy), of Westerville, Ohio; his nephew, Alexander Harris Tracy (Kristen) of Columbus, Ohio; his two dogs, Red and Mitch; and many devoted friends and patrons of Pete's Tavern. Services will be private. Donations in his memory may be directed to the American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org) or the Cleveland Animal Protective League (https://clevelandapl.org).


This article was published in the Heights Observer on-line edition on December 10, 2014

Noble Neighbors is pleased to partner with Case Western Reserve University’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences (MSASS) Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development to complete a community assessment during the 2015 Spring semester. The survey area comprises the five United States census tracts in Cleveland Heights that abut Noble Road. These are in the northeast quadrant of the city, north of Mayfield Road and east of Taylor Road. For the property survey portion of the assessment, graduate students in Dr. Mark Chupp’s MSASS course will partner with residents in the Noble area to view each property, record its use and condition, and note special features of more than 4000 lots in the district.  When the data is recorded into GIS format, residents, city planners and investors will easily be able to determine Noble area assets and development opportunities.

The community assessment in-depth studies will surround four themes: Housing, Retail, Safety and Children/Youth. Focus groups from Noble Neighbors and other community stakeholders will offer MSASS students the “people” story to complement their statistical research on each of these issues.

Noble Neighbors met Dr. Chupp, project designer Brenda Mathias (CWRU 2014), and project leader, graduate student Nina Holzer at our November meeting. These three introduced the project to us and described the community assessment they completed in 2014 for the North Coventry district. Dr. Chupp explained the importance of community assessment for social workers. Although most social workers engage clients in individual or small group settings apart from their homes, it is critical to understand the environmental context that impacts each life. This project gives future social workers tools to understand their clients’ neighborhood context.

At our February 3, 2015 Noble Neighbors meeting, 18 students will join Dr. Chupp and Ms. Holzer as they kick off the Noble Neighborhood Community Assessment project. We will be trained for the survey, sign up for tasks, and join focus groups. In April, the results will be presented at a Noble Neighbors meeting. Log on often to NobleNeighbors.com to follow our progress and learn how to participate.

Noble Neighbors is grateful to the City of Cleveland Heights for support with maps, historical data, and technical assistance. The City will use data generated in this report for planning and development.

FutureHeights is providing crucial support to the Noble neighborhood. Dr. Chupp, a board member, is leading the project. Staff and FutureHeights volunteers will participate in the survey planning and focus groups. Results will be published in the Heights Observer. FutureHeights will also include the Noble neighborhood in their newly funded Community Capacity Building Program. We look forward to joining with other neighborhood leaders to further strengthen all the neighborhoods of Cleveland Heights.