OCTOBER 14, 2024
Tom Lix, founder and CEO of Cleveland Whiskey | GRACE MCCONNELL
Cleveland Whiskey poised for huge growth By Jeremy Nobile
With manufacturing now underway at Cleveland Whiskey’s long-simmering expansion project along the Flats South Bank, founder and CEO Tom Lix’s ambitious vision for the craft distillery is be-
ginning to take shape — though there is still much work to be done. “It feels great,” said Lix, surveying the renovations completed so far just to move into the historic riverfront building once home to The Consolidated Fruit Auction Co. more than 100 years
Emmanuel Clase could be your next hot investment By Joe Scalzo
Anyone who has watched Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase over the last four years has probably had two thoughts: ◗ This guy is amazing. ◗ How long before he’s pitching in New York?
ago. “At the same time, I still feel the weight of what we have yet to do.” This is the start of a big new chapter for Cleveland Whiskey, which relocated to its new campus near Collision Bend at 601 and 501 Stones Levee in July. After lots of building rehabilitation,
the distillery began making new products at 601 — formally known locally as the Malcom Building — in September. Now begins the tasks of scaling up production and preparing for a growth spurt. See WHISKEY on Page 16
WATER
A crowdfunding platform called Finlete is giving Clevelanders a chance to profit off their fatalism, offering investors the chance to earn up to 3% of Clase’s future MLB earnings. Finlete is selling 300,000 shares See CLASE on Page 16
VOL. 45, NO. 38 l COPYRIGHT 2024 CRAIN COMMUNICATIONS INC. l ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
RESCUE
CRAIN’S FORUM: An algal bloom crisis in Toledo pushed Michigan and Ohio officials, scientists and activists into action. Ten years later, progress hasn’t been easy. PAGE 8
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