The history of Barge 225.
Originally a charter ship called the Kearsarge, Barge 225 took to water in 1892, more than 20 years before the Titanic. For years it operated as a carrier between Minnesota, Detroit, and Cleveland.
In the late 1980’s, Barge 225 gave up its life of sailing and was docked in Lake Erie along Cleveland’s north shore. It was converted into a waterfront dining experience for Clevelanders wanting to enjoy an evening on the water.
In 2010, Jim Hickey and Jon Stahl formed No. 225 LLC and purchased the boat, launching a $1.5 million-dollar-renovation. Two years later, LeanDog made its home this historic vessel on Cleveland’s lakefront.
Today, the boat has wide-open workspaces, a golf simulator, virtual reality and augmented reality games, a fridge full of free local beer, and free-roaming canines, including Jon’s own bulldogs.
As our office space, it is a constant reminder to our team of what’s possible. If you can embrace a company who works on a lake, you too might be bold and unafraid to challenge the norm.
