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Unzipped: Exploring the coolest spots in Berea

Hello, Berea!

BEREA, Ohio -- Head south west on I-71 from downtown Cleveland and you will soon find yourself in the town of Berea.

Nearly 19,000 people call Berea their home, including the Cleveland Browns and the students of Baldwin Wallace University.

A quick walk from campus to the center of downtown and you’ll find Cornerstone Brewing Company. A local hot spot where all the beers they serve are brewed in house by Jay Cox.

“Blood sweat and tears, I don’t have any left," Cox said. "After 10 or 12 years, my heart and soul is in these beers."

The beer is what brings people in, but it’s the atmosphere that keeps them around.

“It’s family,” General Manager Lindsey McCarthy said. “People come here, they feel like they’re home. They know everyone.”

From beer to burritos, no one has more Berea pride than Heather Doberling, owner of Boca Loca Burrito Factory.

“We are all in on Berea,” she said.

The Berea native serves burritos so big she cautions most customers.

“Mark your burrito in half. This is a marathon not a sprint!"

A warning not always taken, though.

“Most of the time people can’t stop so they’ll go and go and go,” Doberling said. “Then at the end they’re like, ‘I’ll see ya tomorrow…’”

Famous for their fusion style, they feature tastes from all over the globe. From Mexican to Greek to Italian, but it’s the Berea touch that makes Boca Loca its own.

“This is that hometown feel. Such a great place to know that the community supports you.”

Berea even has a film scene that keeps up with Hollywood filmmakers at Transition Studios.

“We’ve made documentaries for every major network -- Showtime, Netflix, A&E, Discovery -- they appear all over the world,” Shawn Rech said. “You don’t have to head to Hollywood to work in the movies. You can do it right here in Cleveland.”

Before You Leave, Check This Out