Here’s a review of this week’s questions:

  1. What is the name of the meat market and deli that has operated in Cincinnati since 1894?
  2. This legendary baseball player went to Moeller High School in Cincinnati while his father was playing for the Cincinnati Reds. What is his name?
  3. This organization has helped to create diverse communities in Cincinnati by enabling historically marginalized entrepreneurs to access the resources needed to start and run successful businesses. What is its name?

And here are the answers:

  1. Avril-Bleh Meats. Cincinnati’s colorful heritage as a “Porkopolis” tells of an enduring love affair with “all things meat,” so having a classic butcher shop like Avril-Bleh goes a long way in serving the community’s needs. In 1894, Anton Avril opened his business on East Court Street, and passed it along to family members until butcher Len Bleh joined forces and brought his own family into the fold. It is a hugely popular destination for retail customers throughout the region who are hungry for top-quality meats, hand-made sausages, and unique delicacies like Liver Pudding and Smoked Oatmeal Rings. The shop also provides products for some of Cincinnati’s greatest restaurants, including The Moerlein Lager House, Zips Cafe, Revolution and Senate.
  2. Ken Griffey Jr. Ken Griffey Jr.’s dad, Ken Griffey Sr., started his career with the Reds in 1973, the year he was drafted as a high school athlete in Pennsylvania. “Junior” graduated from Moeller in 1987 and was drafted by the Seattle Mariners right out of high school as well. At Moeller, he also played wide receiver for the football team and received scholarship offers to play college football at Oklahoma and Michigan. He also played high school ball with future Reds superstar Barry Larkin while at Moeller. “Junior” played 10 seasons with Seattle, winning numerous accolades, and was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 2000, where he continued to excel both offensively and defensively. He later played for the Chicago White Sox and then returned to the Mariners in 2010. He retired later that year and now resides at homes in Cincinnati and Orlando, Florida.
  3. MORTAR. On its Linkedin profile, MORTAR offers the tagline, “Building Businesses, Transforming Cities,” and claims that, “through education, guidance and mentorship, we will be able to effectively challenge the perceptions of how entrepreneurs are built and what their legacies will become.” Founded in 2014 by Allen Woods, William Thomas, and Derrick Braziel, MORTAR opened its doors in the OTR neighborhood which, at the time, had the highest income inequality in the U.S. They have since opened four additional offices elsewhere in the city. Part of MORTAR’s services is a 15-week training program, consisting of 12-15 participants, which includes a business mentor; personal and business financial literacy; free legal assistance; and deeply discounted design, marketing, and accounting services. Alumni are then encouraged to become a part of the MORTAR team and pass their knowledge and wisdom on to others in need of entrepreneurial guidance.