Ohio City's rooftop restaurant Jaja is in for another plot twist, with a leadership shakeup that is poised to reshape the entire Intro food lineup. Executive chef Logan Abbe has parted ways with the hospitality group that runs the property, and management has already tapped a new chef to steady the kitchen just as a Phase 2 plan gears up to add two new restaurant concepts to Intro.
According to Cleveland Scene, Minneapolis-based JJJ Hospitality parted ways with Abbe last week. Abbe told the outlet he was completely blindsided by the move and said he received no paperwork explaining the decision. The report notes that developer Harbor Bay has partnered with Minneapolis chef Daniel del Prado and his DDP Restaurant Group on Phase 2 at Intro. Management has installed Colin Eakins, a member of Le Burger's Minneapolis team, as Jaja's new executive chef to oversee day-to-day operations and collaborate on an expanded menu.
DDP Brings Twin Cities Chops
Information on DDP Restaurant Group shows chef Daniel del Prado at the helm of a Minneapolis portfolio that includes Martina and Porzana. The group highlights a focus on inventive shared plates, robust beverage programs, and elevated design. Those priorities may help shape whatever concepts DDP rolls out as part of Intro's next chapter.
How Jaja Got Here
Jaja only returned to Intro in February after a 15-month closure that followed a car crashing into the building on Oct. 31, 2024, an incident that damaged the elevator shaft and required extensive repairs. Cleveland Magazine detailed the restaurant's reimagined "Med-West" menu and refreshed interior, while News5 Cleveland covered the crash and its aftermath.
What's Next For Intro
As Cleveland Scene reports, DDP is expected to announce two new restaurant concepts for Intro in the coming weeks, while Le Burger will remain "a cornerstone" of the project. Gates Lindquist of Smarch + Co., the project's communications representative, told the outlet, "Everyone is excited about this next chapter and the direction of the concept moving forward." The hospitality group also plans to evaluate Intro's public spaces for design and function as part of the Phase 2 work, so the changes are likely to extend beyond what is on the plate.
