Fluffy Duck Café Relocates to Highland Heights: What to Expect From the Beloved Bakery’s New Home

Fluffy Duck Café is moving from Cleveland Clinic’s main campus to Highland Heights, promising artisanal breads and iconic pastries in its new east side digs.

Cleveland’s croissant-loving crowd is about to head east: Fluffy Duck Café—the polished bakery that’s kept University Circle sweet for nearly a decade—is relocating from the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus to Highland Heights. The enticing aroma of house-baked breads and Parisian-worthy pastries will soon fill the east side, with owner and pastry wizard Ben Woods gearing up to bring fan favorites and some new tricks to Bishop Road.

Why Fluffy Duck Café Is a Big Deal

This isn’t just another pastry shop making a move. Fluffy Duck Café has built a cult following since opening in 2016, drawing in both hospital staff and carb-happy locals. Chef-owner Ben Woods, who sharpened his culinary skills at the famed Culinary Institute of America, raised the city's expectation for what a real-deal bakery can be.

The café has always doubled as both a retail hotspot and a wholesale darling—if you’ve ever munched on an elegant baguette at Noble Beast or a pain au chocolat at Ohio City Provisions, you have Fluffy Duck to thank. Their crackly sourdough and layers-upon-layers croissants put them firmly on the Cleveland food map.

The Move: From Chester Ave to Highland Heights

With traffic around the former Chester Ave. spot drying up and rent costs rising (shocker), Woods saw greener pastures in Highland Heights. The new address, 787 Bishop Road, puts the Duck in a family-friendly suburb that still knows good bread when it smells it. The move isn’t just about surviving—it’s a strategic pivot to serve growing communities on the city’s east side.

Expect the doors to swing open in late fall—enough time to perfect those autumn comfort cravings.

What’s on the (New) Menu?

Woods isn’t pulling back on quality or variety. The upcoming Highland Heights location will roll out the hits and introduce a few surprises:

Three to five types of bread daily, ranging from classic sourdough to rye to crusty baguettes
House-baked croissants that have become local legend
Breakfast and lunch sandwiches—think smoked ham and gooey Gruyère on a fresh croissant
Salads for anyone pretending to be healthy before ordering a kouign-amann

Wholesale partnerships aren’t going anywhere, so you’ll still spot Fluffy Duck’s wares in leading area kitchens.

Sampling the Sandwiches

If you’ve ever had a Fluffy Duck croissant sandwich, you know. The flake, the flavor, the pure buttery magic—Woods’ sandwiches have a rep for being the best in a city full of bacon, egg, and cheese. The move means more space and, hopefully, an even wider menu, with possibility for:

More daily options for breakfast and lunch
Seasonal specials
Grab-and-go pastry boxes for commuters and busy families

How to Visit the New Fluffy Duck Café

Eager noshers will soon find Fluffy Duck Café at:

787 Bishop Rd, Highland Heights, OH 44143

The late fall opening gives plenty of time for regulars to map their route east. Parking and suburban sprawl mean no more cutthroat hunt for metered street spaces.

Keep your eyes on their social pages for grand opening news. With the café closed during the move, it’s BYOP (bring your own patience)—but trust, the wait will be rewarded.

Why the Move Matters for Cleveland’s Foodie Scene

Fluffy Duck’s relocation is a bigger deal than just a change of address. It shows how Cleveland’s best bakeries juggle the city’s ever-shifting retail landscape. As traffic patterns and rents change, so do our food institutions. Rather than letting a legendary kitchen run stale, Woods is betting on a fresh start and a hungry new crowd, while still feeding his city-wide wholesale fanbase.

Get ready, Highland Heights. Cleveland has never been more deliciously eastbound.