This month marks the 20th anniversary of Mimi’s first edition, which published on June 10, 2003. The cover featured the late Dominic Cerino, grandson of Carrie Cerino and co-owner of her namesake restaurant in North Royalton. He was photographed by longtime Mimi photographer Benjamin Margalit as the smiling restaurateur stood over a delivery of fresh Copper River salmon.
It was Dominic who introduced us to Benjamin and his wife Lynn, who has served as our creative director for our entire 20 years.
The banner in those early days read, “Mimi Vanderhaven’s Fabulous Buys,” and in every story Mimi referred to readers as “darling,” often beginning her regular column with, “Greetings, kind reader!”
Here, from the bottom of our hearts, I want to thank you, kind reader, for reading our words and for supporting the local businesses we feature. And thank you to the thousands of local business owners who have allowed us to tell their stories.
