Steve Harvey is used to handing out surprises to his audience members. But during a taping for his talk show, he got one from two folks in the crowd instead.
One woman was gearing up to play a game of “Steve’s Side Deal” when she told Harvey that she grew up on the same street he did in Cleveland, Ohio: Superior Ave & E. 112th St.
The two bonded over the families who used to live on the block, including the Valentine family, which consisted of 17 boys.
“When them damn Valentines left the playground and said, ‘I’m going home to get my brother,’ you need to get your ass off the playground,” Harvey tells the crowd. “‘Cause it was always at least 10 people home.”
“You know they named that street after me?” he later shared with his former neighbor, who had no idea about the honor. “It’s called Steve Harvey Way now.”
The street has been renamed after Harvey since 2015 and on the “Steve” host’s 58th birthday that year, Cleveland Scene reported Mayor Frank Jackson, city Councilman Kevin Conwell along with folks from his former Chicago-based talk show “Steve Harvey” hosted a surprise re-dedication ceremony to make things official.
Back on the taping of Harvey’s current show, another audience member pointed out she used to live on the street, too. This woman, who lived across the street from the one playing the game, explained Jimmy Strider was her brother. Harvey responded with “Crazy Jimmy is your brother?”
The pair traveled down memory lane and discussed fixtures in the neighborhood only those who grew up there would know. They talked about a Jewish bakeshop called Miss Mary’s Bakery and Harvey said when the Glenville shootout happened in 1968, locals refused to allow them to burn her business down since she would feed people.
Harvey, who moved from West Virginia to Cleveland as a child, ultimately left town after graduating from high school in 1968.
Meanwhile, fans soaked up the trip down memory lane almost as much as Harvey did.
“They just took Steve home without even stepping foot in Cleveland.”
“I’m sitting up here smiling and shaking my head like I grew with them 🤦♀️❤.”
“I love seeing him reconnect with folk like this. Demonstrates a lovely image of humility.”
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