Back when Akron thrived as the “Rubber Capitol of the World,” Kenmore was among the most economically thriving neighborhoods in the city. Theatres, fancy restaurants, trolleys and prime real estate filled every corner of the community. However, when Akron’s countless rubber manufacturers began to vacate, the city and Kenmore experienced a rapid decline. “Kenmore has been economically depressed for decades since then,” says Nicole Farrell, owner of Whiskers Cat Lounge. At this venue, patrons can spend an afternoon with local rescue cats and have the option to adopt. Farrell was born and raised in Akron and is working to improve local animal conditions. Her business and many others have popped up in recent years as part of a local initiative to revitalize the community. “I’m really happy I can be a part of that change.” While the neighborhood’s future looks bright, its community spirit has never been low, between community-wide events and welcoming disposition. “I’ve seen people rush to car accidents to help their neighbors and pull people out of the rubble,” says Ferrell, “It’s tight-knit but also so welcoming to new people.”
Kenmore is a vibrant residential neighborhood in Ohio with a bustling boulevard.
A white gazebo provides shade in Shadyside Park in the Kenmore neighborhood of Akron.
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Shops along Kenmore Boulevard
Hobby shops, music venues, theaters, a local library and restaurants line Kenmore Boulevard, with mainstays like Lay’s Guitar Shop and the Rialto Theater anchoring the vibrant local music scene. For dining, Old 97 is a bar not many have heard of but is quickly getting the recognition it deserves. “It started as a venue on one of the old trolley network’s biggest stations,” Says Tiffany Casanova, venue manager for the high-end bar and speakeasy. Previously drifting from owner to owner throughout the decades, Realtors Natasia and Mark Metz bought the establishment in 2021 and are working to spread the name of the classic pub. The local Acme Fresh Market on East Avenue is the grocery store of choice for many Kenmore residents. For mall shopping, many travel the 8 miles north to Summit Mall in Fairlawn, one of the only traditional malls around. For local produce, many travel to Graf’s Garden Shop and Farm Market, five miles west in West Akron.
Kenmore locals and visitors alike can enjoy live music at the Rialto Theater in town.
Lay's Guitar in Kenmore makes custom guitars for many of their customers.
Music lovers in Kenmore can listen to live music at the Live Music bar in the area.
When in Kenmore stop in to Ethicrace clothing.
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Ring the cowbell at the 7K
Residents get to participate in multiple neighborhood-wide events, such as Kenmore Boulevard’s First Friday Block Parties or Shadyside Park’s Summer Concert Series. Kenmore’s Cowbell 7K, scheduled for June 2024, is steeped in local lore and community appreciation. “The race is named in honor of Ellen “Grandma Benn” Benn,” says Farrel. “She was one of Kenmore’s oldest locals and she had a tradition of ringing cowbells at local sporting events.” Dubbed by many as Kenmore High School’s Biggest Cheerleader, many adult locals recall Grandma Benn as a staple of their childhood. The race will start at Rialto Theatre, running along the newly built Summit Lake Trail. The winner will receive a medal along with a functioning cowbell.
Four squares everywhere
Kenmore’s range of housing stock includes everything from fixer-upper project homes from the 1920s to marvels of modern architecture built just before 1960. House hunters will likely come across classic American foursquare houses with colonial accents and big front porches set in lots small enough to mow in five minutes. Other common finds include cape cods, bungalows and ranches. All these occupy the more affordable end of the local price range, with fixer-upper properties costing between $10,000 and $50,000. Houses in better conditions tend to cost between $60,000 and $120,000. At the other end of the local range, one will find modern architecture and even a few Tudor houses from 1890 shuffled in with earlier-mentioned styles costing between $130,000 and $350,000.
Chestnut Ridge Park has an amphitheater
Kenmore locals can pick from seven parks, including the 14-acre Prentiss Park and the 5-acre Chestnut Ridge Park. Prentiss Park is one of the most popular locations thanks to its baseball fields, tennis courts, and football field, which local youth sports leagues frequently use. Chestnut Ridge Park features a pavilion, playground and a historic stone amphitheater built in 1936. apart from these domestic options, the nearby Towpath Trail, Summit Lake Nature Center and Portage Lakes on the neighborhood’s east side offer ample outdoor recreation for those seeking hiking, biking, fishing or boating.
Garfield CLC has a women's wrestling team
Many Kenmore children start their education at Akron Public Schools’ Pfeiffer Community Learning Center on Polk Avenue, which Niche grades C. After that, students go to the other side of the neighborhood where Innes Community Learning Center sits along East Avenue. Niche rates the school a C-minus. Lastly, they’ll likely move to Garfield CLC, three miles east in South Akron. With a C Niche grade, two members of the school’s women’s wrestling team placed third in the Northwest High School Wrestling Tournament.
I-76 and I-277 run through this neighborhood
While the neighborhood is somewhat walkable with its pedestrian infrastructure, most locals drive or use the Akron Metro buses running through Kenmore Boulevard, East Avenue, Battles Avenue and 13th Street Southwest. Most drivers use Kenmore Boulevard to get around the neighborhood, as all other major local roads and the two nearby highways connect to it. Bisected by Interstate 277 and Highway 224, commuters use the ramps to reach downtown Akron or neighboring cities such as Cleveland or Canton.
The interchange of 277 and 76 borders the Kenmore neighborhood.
Bisected by Interstate 277 and Highway 224, Kenmore is conveniently accessible via the highway.
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Noise from the highway
While Kenmore may be idyllic in all other regards, the neighborhood’s access to two interstates might pose a noise issue. The Ohio Department of Transportation announced a $125 million plan to construct a sound wall in February 2024 to curtail the noise.
Photography Contributed By
Tim Nightengale
Video By
Enzo Domingo
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There’s something special about a home that’s been deeply loved. You can feel it when you walk through the front door—the warmth, the memories, the quiet joy of a life well-lived within its walls. Welcome to 2153 9th St. SW, a timeless Akron bungalow that has been cherished and now waits to embrace someone new. From the moment you step onto the covered front porch and open the vintage
CAN BE SOLD AS PART OF A 10-HOUSE PACKAGE. Warm oak floors, classic archways and central air, this lovely colonial offers comfortable living on a quiet street. Freshly painted throughout, the home's spacious living and dining areas feature oak floors and charming built-in bookshelves. The bright and roomy updated galley kitchen is equipped with a newer gas stove and refrigerator, and offers
CAN BE SOLD AS PART OF A 10-HOUSE PACKAGE ONLY. Two Bedroom Single Family home in Kenmore. The front porch welcomes in the fresh air from Summit Lake (walking distance) When you walk into this home you'll notice the brand new carpet installed, and potential to make a third bedroom on the first floor. Currently rented for $950 per month. The Tenant is responsible for all Utilities. (Gas, Electric,
There’s something special about a home that’s been deeply loved. You can feel it when you walk through the front door—the warmth, the memories, the quiet joy of a life well-lived within its walls. Welcome to 2153 9th St. SW, a timeless Akron bungalow that has been cherished and now waits to embrace someone new. From the moment you step onto the covered front porch and open the vintage
CAN BE SOLD AS PART OF A 10-HOUSE PACKAGE. Warm oak floors, classic archways and central air, this lovely colonial offers comfortable living on a quiet street. Freshly painted throughout, the home's spacious living and dining areas feature oak floors and charming built-in bookshelves. The bright and roomy updated galley kitchen is equipped with a newer gas stove and refrigerator, and offers
CAN BE SOLD AS PART OF A 10-HOUSE PACKAGE ONLY. Two Bedroom Single Family home in Kenmore. The front porch welcomes in the fresh air from Summit Lake (walking distance) When you walk into this home you'll notice the brand new carpet installed, and potential to make a third bedroom on the first floor. Currently rented for $950 per month. The Tenant is responsible for all Utilities. (Gas, Electric,
Our community offers waking up to lakeside views, hidden pleasing woods or enjoying the very popular , Ohio & Erie Canal. If you enjoy an outer venture, fishing, long walks, canoeing or and night cap, we are a lively community with much to offer, this is your future home! We are a quaint hidden community about 10 mins away from Downtown Akron and neighboring Coventry. We will be
Charming 3-bedroom, 1-bath Colonial with beautiful views of Summit Lake! This move-in ready home features fresh paint and brand-new flooring throughout the kitchen, dining room, living room, and bathroom. Enjoy a detached 1-car garage and a peaceful setting near the water. Section 8 welcome. No pets, no smoking. Don’t miss this great rental opportunity!
Get the rest of July FREE! Lease must be signed by 7/18. Welcome to 2196 6th Street SW, Akron 44314. This spacious and updated 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, upper-level apartment is centrally near the Kenmore area, with proximity to retail shops, restaurants like B&K Root Beer Drive In and Talamo’s Pizza, schools and the Cleveland Clinic, Akron General and Akron VA Hospitals, Summit Lake and
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