Conversations with Izzy Schachner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Izzy Schachner.

Hi Izzy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
During the 1990s, Jay Leitson worked at his family’s restaurant, and while the business was successful, Leitson found himself wondering what it would be like to try something different. He craved a fresh concept that no one else had attempted.
His mind buzzed with ideas, but one stood out: making the salad the star of the menu. It seemed like a bold move, but he had proof of the concept’s potential—the Pewter Mug Salad was consistently one of the family restaurant’s top sellers. Inspired, Leitson began scribbling salad combinations in a notebook; by the time he finished, he had dreamed up 56 unique varieties.
This became the foundation for the “56 Brand.” In 1997, Leitson opened Café 56 at the Eastgate shopping center—the same location where 56 Kitchen stands today. The restaurant was an immediate success, with lines often spilling out the front door as customers flocked to the unique concept.
In 2012, Izzy Schachner entered the picture. At the time, Schachner was running a booming mobile catering business for movie productions in Ohio. Overwhelmed by work following a local hiring tax credit, he approached Leitson with an offer to join the movie business. Though Leitson initially hoped for a breakout acting role, the “role” Schachner offered was in the kitchen, catering for film crews. Despite the misunderstanding, Leitson joined the venture, sparking a long-term partnership.
For several years, the duo managed both their restaurant interests and film production catering. In 2015, they expanded by opening a “scratch kitchen” brick-and-mortar location called 56 Kitchen in Solon. Their growth continued in 2020 when the Café 56 location in Mayfield was rebranded to 56 Kitchen, followed by the 2021 opening of their fine-dining concept, Elle Restaurant & Lounge, also in Solon.
By 2022, the success of their restaurants and traditional catering led the partners to retire from movie set gigs to focus on their physical locations. However, they maintained their catering truck for special events and food truck outings. In January 2025, they partnered with Franz Bauer of Bauer Hospitality to launch 56 Tavern inside the Aurora Inn, a concept designed to evoke the atmosphere of a New England pub. Later that year, in September, they opened their most recent concept: 56 Social Cafe & Catering. As if all of that is not enough, they have continued to have a very busy catering business, providing catering services for everything from small intimate dinners to large scale events. 56 Catering is also the preferred caterer for Cleveland’s Bar / Bat Mitzvah scene.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course Covid was a huge bump in the road for us and the subsequent hiring issues post covid continued to be a struggle. There were also a couple of other ventures or brands that we attempted that didn’t quite work out as well as the others, so we knew when to say goodbye to those and focus on new ideas and what we were currently doing.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The company prides itself on a culture and philosophy shaped by years of service to production crews. In Ohio, the production crew “family” was a close-knit community of approximately 150 individuals. Frequent collaboration on various sets fostered a unique bond and a shared sense of purpose.
The team worked collectively through extreme weather conditions, from freezing winters and heavy rain to intense heat and humidity. Their objective was consistent: ensure the crew was fed regardless of the location, including rooftops, parking garages, beaches, and airport runways. This required punctuality, fresh cuisine, and an unwavering commitment to meeting diverse needs.
Throughout a decade of operation, the company maintained a reputation for never declining a challenge, consistently finding solutions regardless of the circumstances. These experiences have fundamentally defined the company’s operational approach and responsiveness. While individual locations may vary in menu and atmosphere, the core culture and guiding philosophies remains a constant across the entire brand.
At the same time, we want our guests to feel like guests in our home. Every dining experience should feel like you are attending one of our dinner parties. From our first location in Solon Ohio, we have always been a “word of mouth” restaurant. This was partially
because Jay & Izzy were terrible at advertising, but it was mostly because the experience our guests had
made them want to come back and tell everybody. The message we were sending was:
“We are truly glad that you are here, and we will do everything we can to make you want to come back again.” Today, people have so many choices for where to go out to eat. They come to us not only for the food, but for the experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.56restaurantgroup.com