Over the course of more than 50 years, Cleveland Heights’ Irish-themed Nighttown became one of the area’s most beloved restaurants dining spots and eventually, jazz clubs. Opened in 1965, it was purchased by Brendan Ring in 2001, who brought in Jim Wadsworth to book, music, primarily jazz but often other genres as well. Then, in early 2021, following pandemic-related challenges, Ring sold the business.
Since then, we’ve been hearing about the extensive renovations going on while waiting eagerly to hear a reopening date. Now we have one: the venue will open the week of November 6 after nearly three years. And it will reopen to an entirely different landscape: the open meadow at the top of Cedar Hill that was next to it is now a vast apartment complex called Ascent, with retail spaces on the ground floor. Could that bring in a new crowd?
When it reopens with a new kitchen, ADA-compliant restrooms, new HVAC, a new AV system and a tweaked menu that retains long-time Nighttown favorites. And they’re reinstalling some of the original art that created the distinctive Nighttown ambiance.
The venue will open initially as a restaurant but has said that music will return in time. “We are working with the city to ensure that our stewardship as a music venue is safe for our performers and patrons, including adherence to city-mandated occupancy capacities,” the new owners said in a press release.
Ring recently toured his old establishment and posted his endorsement of the changes on Facebook.
“I was gobsmacked by the amount of effort and expense that has gone into the renovation and updating,” he wrote. “Without giving too much away I can say the much needed kitchen and plant updates are to say the least mind-blowing and I think everyone will be happy when I say that when I walked in and looked around it felt just liked the old Nighttown with the considerable needed improvements. My congratulations to a job very well done and well worth waiting for.”
To keep up with developments follow the Nighttown Facebook page or go to nighttowncleveland.com.