Coventry Village gets a big shot in the arm through Critical Hit, Mac’s Backs’ move

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Months in the making, it all looked pretty seamless in the transition along both sides of Coventry Road by noon on Sunday (Nov. 8), .That morning, 132 people had formed a human chain from the old Mac’s Backs bookstore, extending across the street to the new space previously occupied by Made Cleveland and City Buddha.In what resembled a firefighters’ “bucket brigade” for books, they passed along the remaining titles from the poetry section on the way to their new home, completing the Mac’s Backs version of a “soft opening.” Meanwhile, Critical Hit Games also capped its move last weekend -- this one a little further, coming from its original location in the Cedar-Taylor District.Now in its 12th year, the popular tabletop game shop and venue moved into the former Big Fun toy store.Aside from the occasional holiday pop-up, that legendary attraction and destination on Coventry had been mostly vacant since 2018.But you wouldn’t have known that from the tournaments already underway in the expanded and completely redone space.Both stores had simply grown out of their cozier confines, with Mac’s Backs announcing their plans in April.It was not the only storefront in nearly 50 years on Coventry for co-owners Suzanne DeGaetano and Jim “Mac” McSherry.But it’s the one they’d been in since 1993, with an interior doorway connecting to Tommy’s Restaurant.The remodeling continued through the summer and fall up to last weekend, when it took less than an hour to move the remaining books across the street.“The point was that so many people wanted to be a part of it,” noted Amy Rosenbluth, co-founder of the Lake Erie Ink youth writing studio, launching in the Heights 15 years ago.Assisting were numerous writers who had landed at Mac’s Backs over the years for author events and other promotions.“The big turnout came because Suzanne has helped so many writers for so long,” author Susan Petrone said. “She’s been a linchpin of our literary community for years.”DeGaetano noted that Mac’s Backs will be able to bring more people in now, with the event space capacity up around 100 on the main floor.“In our old basement, we could get maybe 25 people,” DeGaetano mused.They’d already hosted their first author event in the new building on Nov. 6 for artist-writer-musician August Lamm and her latest work, “You Don’t Need a Smartphone.”The generally “silent partner” McSherry was also on hand for Sunday’s festivities.“I try to keep my mouth shut as much as possible,” a beaming “Mac” said. “Ask me a question and I usually take the Fifth (amendment).”McSherry bought a used bookstore in Chagrin Falls in 1978 and moved it to Kent for a year while he was attending grad school.He met DeGaetano while bartending at Beachwood’s Boar’s Head restaurant in 1978, where she waitressed. McSherry noted that he and Steve Presser worked together at Rick’s Cafe in Chagrin Falls.Presser would go on to become part of the “Mount Rushmore of Coventry” when he opened Big Fun on April Fools Day in 1991 for a 27-year run.While he will miss the direct access to Tommy’s, McSherry said “the fact we could have everything all on one floor was huge.”Mac’s Backs now has 5,700 square feet to work with, more than double what they had across the street on three floors.“This is what we need to do for the community, in terms of space,” he added.Meanwhile, back in the former Big Fun toy store space, the drought is over after Critical Hit Games ended what amounted to an eight-year vacancy there, moving over after more than a decade in the Cedar-Taylor District of Cleveland Heights.Tom JewellWhile leaving Cedar-Taylor was bittersweet, Critical Hit owner Grant Hoskins noted in a city press release that it was the right choice with “more parking, foot traffic, space and connections already made on Coventry.”Critical Hit offers most major collectible card games (CCGs), role-play modules and a wide range of standalone tabletop games from Dungeons & Dragons to Pokemon.“We’re excited to be on Coventry,” Hoskins said. “So many people have wandered in already.“We’re looking forward to hosting demonstration days and events where we’ll have more space for people to walk in,” he added.Store manager Nic Clutter hopes to recreate the environment they fostered for 12 years at their Cedar-Taylor location where, “young people and adults experience a community and feel comfortable and safe.”Gayle Lewin, a member of the Cleveland Heights Transportation and Mobility Committee, shared those sentiments for what she calls a “very welcoming community.”She is also the mother of an autistic son who’s a big fan of “Magic: The Gathering (MTG),” possibly the world’s longest-running collectible trading card game.“Now they don’t have to cancel weekly events for special events,” Lewin said. “With the bigger venue, people can do more stuff all at once.”With the space limitations on Cedar-Taylor, the Critical Hit staff had to juggle scheduling around, which can throw off people with autism.“It’s important that people know how welcoming this store is for all kinds of people and kids, including my son,” she added.Among the additions in the new Mac's Backs space is a definitive children's section, a scale version of some of the original adult layout. Among the writers and artists in attendance at the recent soft opening were John Donaghue, Darlene Montonaro, Caryl Pagel, Susan Petrone, Tricia Springstubb, Megan Whalen Turner, Cindy Washabaugh, Matt Weinkam, Dwight Woodward and Steve Cagan (photography).Tom JewellLater that day, the Heights Libraries’ historic Coventry branch held a centennial celebration for its first 100 years -- all in the same location at the southeast corner of Euclid Heights Boulevard.Read more from the Sun Press.