- Our Story -
Chef Paul Mendolera
Executive chef and owner of Element 41, Paul Mendolera, has been in the restaurant industry for over 28 years. Most recently, he was the executive chef at The Cutting Board at the Aurora Inn and prior to that he was at Bass Lake Tavern in Chardon.
Paul started cooking at a very young age, helping his grandmother prepare Sunday dinners. His love of cooking and desire for a new bike prompted his parents to encourage him to get a job in the restaurant industry. He started his career at the young age of 13 in a pizza shop in Maple Heights making three dollars an hour washing dishes. Throughout his career, Paul also worked for Bradley's Catering where he honed his attention to detail and realized that "customers taste first with their eyes" and the Shoreby Club in Bratenahl, where Paul was certified in Club Corp of America in the star chef training program in 1997, XO in Cleveland, Lure Bistro in Willoughby, Titanic Restaurant, and Quail Hollow Country Club.
Paul is beyond excited to have the opportunity to have his own venue where he can create dishes that are locally sourced, fresh, and innovative. His heart and soul have gone into creating Element 41 with his wife, Julie, and with the encouragement and support of his family and friends. It is a lifetime goal that has finally come to fruition. He hopes you enjoy the experience and come back to see us again.
The History of the Building
This site of Element 41 has a long history related to food. It was originally the site of The King's Central Market and as far back as 1894 groceries were delivered by horse-drawn cart from here to customers in the Chardon area.
From 1902 to 1926, Errett King ran his grocery store business from the building. In 1948, a fire seriously damaged the interior of the grocery, then owned by D.L. Hamm.
After the fire, the store was bought by Rebert Neill, who rebuilt it and opened it as a self-serve grocery, still maintaining the very well known name of King Central Store. It stayed a grocery for many years. Since then, it has been the site of restaurants such as Morgan's Place.
Now, after a remodel and update, the historic building is looking fresh and new and is the home of Element 41. Among the changes are a new and expanded bar area and a more open and inviting dining area. Lovely historic touches such as the tin ceiling and the classic storefront have been maintained to meld the contemporary and the classic. Chef Paul Mendolera and Element 41 hope to successfully continue the tradition and culture of food in Chardon, Ohio.
