Cleveland Heights' Nighttown Closes Again—Is This the End?
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH - Nighttown, an iconic restaurant and live music venue on Cedar Hill, will close its doors once more on Sunday, Aug. 25, less than a year after its much-anticipated reopening. This marks the second closure for the establishment, which originally shut down in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gregg Levy, the managing partner of Nighttown, announced the closure, citing numerous challenges as the driving force behind the decision. "The management and ownership of Nighttown have made the difficult decision to close the restaurant effective August 25, 2024," Levy said in a statement released Wednesday. He emphasized that despite efforts to preserve Nighttown’s legacy while upgrading its facilities, delays, construction difficulties, and unforeseen circumstances led to the conclusion that it was time to pass the baton to new stewardship.
Nighttown first opened in 1965, becoming a Cleveland Heights staple and a renowned jazz venue. The restaurant's future took a turn in January 2021 when longtime owner Brendan Ring sold the property to Red Restaurant Group, which planned extensive renovations. Despite these efforts, the project experienced significant delays, pushing the reopening to November 2023.
Community reactions to the closure reflect a mix of disappointment and resignation. On Reddit, one user noted the irony of people lamenting the closure without having patronized the restaurant recently. Others criticized the renovation's impact, with one comment highlighting how the charm and character that made Nighttown a beloved venue were lost in the process.
Levy's statement hinted at potential new ownership but did not provide specific details. "We are working with several interested parties in hopes of finding a new author to write the next chapter of this James Joyce script... while we hope to find the next operator in due time, rest assured that many of the experiences, recipes, and even staff from our time at Nighttown will be shared with our Red restaurants," Levy added.
John Barker, President and CEO of the Ohio Restaurant and Hospitality Alliance, noted that while some establishments are reopening, many continue to struggle due to inflation and high-interest rates.
The venue’s legacy as a premier jazz club in the Midwest, which once hosted top-tier national acts, has been a point of contention among Clevelanders. Some lament the loss of live jazz, which was a defining feature of Nighttown, while others pointed to newer venues like Bop Stop and Treelawn that continue to carry the torch for live music in the area.
For now, the community waits to see who might step in to fill the void left by Nighttown's departure.
Additional news coverage on this, from other local networks, can be found at the following sources:
Cleveland.com, "Iconic Nighttown restaurant and bar closing," published August 21, 2024. Available online.
News 5 Cleveland, "Nighttown is closing again: Doors shut on Sunday," published August 21, 2024. Available online.
FOX 8, "Nighttown in Cleveland Heights to close months after reopening," published August 21, 2024. Available online.
Cleveland Jewish News, "Nighttown Cleveland Heights closing," published August 21, 2024. Available online.
Cleveland 19, "Nighttown Cleveland Heights to close just months after major renovation," published August 21, 2024. Available online.
Cleveland Scene, "Nighttown in Cleveland Heights to close this week less than a year after reopening," published August 21, 2024. Available online.
WKYC, "Cleveland Heights' Nighttown closing Sunday, August 25, long-awaited reopening," published August 21, 2024. Available online.
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