The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
The Cabin provides history, rustic feel
The Cabin of Willowick dates back to the 1800s and is a true log cabin with gasoperated fire places.
The Cabin of Willowick’s history, which includes several owners, a fire and restoration, dates back to the 1800s.
Since The Cabin is a hotspot for special occasions — anniversaries, birthdays, parties — business has taken a hit with the novel coronavirus, said Carmen Paponetti, owner.
Business is about half of what it used to be, but some of the kindest people still come through The Cabin’s doors, he said.
“They’ve been incredibly generous with their tips,” Paponetti said. “A lot people who come in say they live in the neighborhood and then at the same time, there are people who say, ‘I got married here 40 years ago and we come here for our anniversary.’”
Before the pandemic, people would book wedding showers and rehearsal dinners, Paponetti said.
Mother’s Day and Easter brunches, as well as Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties. were also a large part of business, he said.
Thanksgiving is still the most popular holiday that is celebrated at The Cabin.
Before the pandemic, The Cabin operated with 15 to 20 employees, Paponetti said. As of right now, there are 10.
The building itself is a true log cabin with two gasoperated fire places.
The fire places survived the fire that occurred in the 1980s, and they also date back to the 1800s.
The structure has been the same, but prior to being a restaurant, the cabin was a hunting lodge, Paponetti said.
“It has the old, rustic feel to it,” he said. “It has 200-year-old brick, fire places and even when it was rebuilt in the 1990s, it was very close to the original.
“Everything about it is made to feel rustic.”
Looking ahead, The Cabin’s clam bakes are set for October, which is something customers enjoy, Paponetti said. Keeping people happy when they come into The Cabin will always be a goal, he said.
Paponetti has been the owner for five years.
“What’s neat about it is it kind of reminds me of being the owner of a sports team,” he said.
“Jimmy Haslam owns the Browns right now. His job is to keep the ship going the right way.
“I feel the same way about The Cabin where it has been around so long. If I continue what I’m supposed
“Jimmy Haslam owns the Browns right now. His job is to keep the ship going the right way. I feel the same way about The Cabin where it has been around so long. If I continue what I’m supposed to do here, at some point someone else will get to take it over almost like a sports franchise.” — Carmen Paponettihere
to do here, at some point someone else will get to take it over almost like a sports franchise.”
Much like Paponetti, Christina Osborne, who has been the general manager for two and a half years, has the passion of keeping things going at The Cabin, she said, and keeping the nostalgia alive.
She also enjoys watching her employees flourish and communicating with the community.