LORAIN, Ohio -- Joe Adorno wanted to be a part of his hometown’s revitalization. With Borikén Juke Joint, he’s offering new tastes in downtown Lorain.
The speakeasy-style restaurant serves up Puerto Rican-style ramen, rice bowls, porch cakes and more, inspired by Adorno’s travels around the world and decades spent living in Hawaii. The new restaurant is tucked away in the basement of the Duane Building at 401 Broadway Ave. It opened on Oct. 11.
Adorno, who has operated Borikén Joe’s Food Truck for the past few years, decided he wanted to open a more permanent eatery in Lorain. And when he first stepped into the space in the basement of the Duane Building, he had a vision for a new restaurant.
“It always felt like I was walking into a speakeasy, a little secret, cool spot,” Adorno said. “I wanted to flow with that, I wanted a secret, cool spot. When I came down here and got the place, I said, ‘That’s what we’re doing. Live music. Juke joint.’”
Borikén is the latest in a string of recent restaurant openings in downtown Lorain, joining Union Town Provisions and Campana’s Cafe. The downtown stretch has seen a burst of new, locally focused businesses in recent years after decades of struggle.
Adorno said that the city is seeing a comeback.
“It’s something we need in Lorain," he said. "I think we need to concentrate on more privately owned local businesses, to bring that drive back into Lorain. I’m so happy and ecstatic to be a part of it, to be one of the guys on the street, to put your name up and be part of the growth.”
Borikén Juke Joint wants to reflect Lorain County in everything from its menu to its decor, said Adorno. The restaurant primarily sources its ingredients from local butchers and backyard farmers. Art hanging on the walls was created by local artists.
“I wanted to bring up Lorain County,” he said. “Why aren’t we utilizing the farmlands? The farms around here are great.”
Boriken’s menu items are inspired by Lorain history. The “Downlo Moco” (short for Downtown Lorain Moco) is a dish inspired by moco loco, a type of Hawaiian comfort food with a hamburger, rice and gravy. But Adorno put his own Lorain twist on it, incorporating a gravy reminiscent of Lorain High School’s cafeteria servings.
The gravy was known for topping french fries at the high school, Adorno said. “I actually have on my menu, the ‘OG LHS,’ which is the ‘Old Gangsta Lorain High School’ french fries,” he said. “It’s french fries and gravy.”
Beyond the indulgent offerings, much of Borikén Juke Joint’s menu is on the healthier side and fresh, including the ramen that’s packed with nutritious broth and vegetables, he said. Borikén offers its ramen in an express format during the lunch rush. Customers can come in, order ramen, and have it mixed in front of them and ready to eat within three or four minutes.
Borikén has been drawing in local eaters, and also people from out of town. Adorno has had customers from neighboring counties drive in to get a taste of Lorain ramen, and even hosted a couple who arrived by boat from Put-In-Bay.
As his business continues to grow, Adorno is already thinking about the future. In the summer months, he hopes to host a food truck and farmers market event in the Borikén parking lot. He also wants to create an evening art walk on Lorain’s mile-long pier. Further down the line, Adorno has ideas for an old-school pastry and donut shop, and potentially an ice cream parlor.
And he wants it all to be in Lorain.
“Right now, I want to concentrate all of my businesses, and all my power, into Lorain,” he said. “My biggest hope is that all the new establishments and restaurants coming into Lorain, that we work together as a community to bring it back in Lorain… There won’t be fighting for the dollar if we help each other. If we work together, it will grow.”
You can find more information about Borikén Juke Joint, including hours of operation and food specials, at the restaurant’s Facebook page.
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