Packy Malley’s Bar Hosts Grand Opening Weekend on Waterloo Road

Packy's

 

Fri 11/6 @ 6:30PM

Sat 11/7 @ 6:30PM

Packy Malley long been a force to be reckoned with in the local music scene, someone who does most of what he does for love not money. While working a full-time job in the family business (Malley’s Chocolates) and running a side business as a special-events DJ, he’s also promoted the reggae scene tirelessly, maintaining the ClevelandReggae.com website and promoting the annual Mid West Reggae Fest for 24 years.

One thing he’s never done, though, is open his own entertainment establishment. That’s about to change though when he throws open the doors of Packy Malley’s Bar on Waterloo Road this weekend with a pair of grand opening nights.

Friday will feature his beloved reggae music with Cleveland’s popular Carlos Jones & P.L.U.S. Band, Columbus’ Ark Band and steel drummer Deighton Charlemagne enhanced by the Jim Lasko Light Show. There’ll also be Jamaican food available. Saturday will be dance night with DJ Mick Boogie, a former Clevelander he’s bringing back home from New York where he’s now based his successful international career.

Malley’s opportunity came when another big plan for Waterloo Road didn’t quite pan out. Some may remember entrepreneur Alan Glazen’s “Operation Lightswitch,” which was going to flip the switch on three or four restaurants in the district on the same day. Between the yearlong streetscape construction and difficulties finding potential owners with the ability to get financing and carry out their plans, it never happened, although Glazen finally opened his Waterloo Brew in the bar of the Slovenian Workmen’s Home last fall.

Alas, that didn’t quite pan out either. Issues with the bar’s liquor license closed it in February, and it’s been dark ever since — until Glazen and his partners Linda Syrek and Randy Kelly persuaded Malley to jump in.

“I’ve known them for 30-something years; I know them really well,” says Malley. “Originally they wanted me to partner in the bar. They thought it would be a good entertainment spot because of the ballroom in the Slovenian Hall but they decided to concentrate on getting a brewery going. When they found out they had to close, they’re like, why don’t you buy the place from us and run it as you see fit?”

At first he was reluctant.

“It was an overwhelming prospect,” he says. “I didn’t plan on being in the bar business fulltime. But I thought about things and I thought the opportunity was good investment. I thought it would be fun. I needed to find right person to run the bar. When I did that, things same together.”

He makes it clear that since he’s never been in the bar/restaurant business before, he’s going to hire pros and leave the details to them. He’s hired Jim Cummings who worked at ABC Tavern and ABC Uptown for Glazen, Kelly and Syrek to run the bar.

“He’s knowledgable about craft beers and craft cocktails,” says Malley. “A lot of the way the bar is going to be run including some of the staff, the way the books are going to be kept, is the same way the ABC has run. It’s comforting to me to have Jim come in because he knows the system. I’m kind of staying out of people’s way. I’m letting Jim do the hiring and stock the bar with the beers he thinks we should have. I have food guy coming in to do the menu. Linda and Randy and Allan want me to hit the ground running so they’ve been extraordinarily helpful.”

As far as music goes, he plans on booking a variety of local acts “the kinds of bands that play Edison’s and the Parkview,” with maybe an occasional touring reggae group. He’d like to have an Irish night and make DJ dance nights in the ballroom a monthly event. (The ballroom already hosts monthly swing dance nights with Get Hep Swing). And as an alum of The Ohio State University, he says he’d like to make the bar a headquarters for OSU football and basketball watch parties, as well as Cavs, Browns and Indians games.

Malley calls opening the bar “Phase I.” In the next year he’s planning to install brewery equipment. He’s also looking at potential uses for the rest of the building, which includes the ballroom, a banquet space, bowling lanes and bocce courts. He’s even thinking of purchasing the entire building, which was recently put on the market.

“There is unlimited potential in that building,” he says.

But for now he wants to focus on creating a neighborhood hangout: “A comfortable pub with a great selection of beers, great cocktails, good food, and a variety of music from Irish to Reggae, with Rock bands too. I want to the bar to reflect Cleveland — local brews and local music!”

Cleveland, OH 44110

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One Response to “Packy Malley’s Bar Hosts Grand Opening Weekend on Waterloo Road”

  1. Packy Malley

    Thanks for the great article Anastasia! Love Cool Cleveland!!! Thanks again!

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