SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio — In Shaker Heights, now you can play a round of golf, listen to live music, enjoy an incredible meal and toast to living your best live with creative craft cocktails, all under one roof.
That roof is over the 1899 Social Club, which is co-owner Brian Lindenbaum's latest venture in the Van Aken district, open now with the help of his business partner John-Michael Speelman thanks to a holiday trip to Canton a few years ago.
"I was living in Manhattan at the time and recently started going to a new indoor golf facility there," Lindenbaum said. "I came out to visit my wife's family for the holidays and called up my now business partner and asked him to play some indoor golf while I was in town. He responded that nothing like that existed out here. That was our lightbulb moment. Nine months later we opened our first location in Canton with the goal of bringing a modern country club feel to a public indoor golf lounge with elevated craft cocktails."
Golf may have been what got the ball rolling for Lindenbaum and Speelman, but it's not the heart and soul of the 1899 Social Club in Shaker Heights. Not unless you want it to be.
"The golf isn't in your face," Lindenbaum said. "It is present, but if you aren't a golfer you don't have to interact with the golf at all. We wanted our Shaker Heights location to be for everyone, both golfers and non-golfers."
Whether you're a golfer or non-golfer, Shaker Heights is a location that the partners, whose wives have known each other since elementary school, chose carefully for this latest endeavor.
"Shaker Heights and more specifically the Van Aken District is an amazing community," he said.
"We look for places where there is a need for experience-based entertainment surrounded by other retail and restaurants. When you add in the close proximity of both public and private golf courses Shaker Heights checks all the boxes."
Speaking of boxes, you'll want to come hungry to the 1899 Social Club, or at least be prepared to take home a to-go box. Executive Chef Robert Watson has put together an incredible menu at the Shaker Heights location, with tasty takes on classics like devilled eggs and impressive portions across the board.
"Our bone in braised short rib is a head turner," Lindenbaum said. "Presented on truffled mashed potatoes with pickled carrots, the 8-inch, bone-in short rib is so tender and juicy that you can't help but want to try it. The combination of the rich brown sauce, truffled mashed and pickled carrots in one bite is an explosion of flavors that work amazingly well together."
While you're having your fill off the menu, there are several ways to keep yourself entertained during your stay at the "club," which doesn't require any sort of membership to get in.
"We want everyone to feel welcomed and given the best service possible," Lindenbaum said. :We've added a variety of other entertainment areas to our Shaker Heights location that makes it not just for golfers. We have a stage for live music, two craft cocktail bars, a speakeasy with a chef's table and a casual fine dining restaurant.
"If you want to play Pebble Beach golf course on our simulators we definitely have you covered, but equally if you want to have a smoked old fashioned and sit down for a 5-star meal in our dining room, we have you covered for that, too."
1899 Social Club is located at 20040 Van Aken Boulevard in Shaker Heights.
You can visit Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 10 pm, Friday and Saturday from 9 am to midnight, and on Sundays from 11 am to 7 pm.
If you'd like to use the golf simulators, reservations are recommended but not required. You can call 216-415-5541 to speak to someone about reserving a tee time. You can also reach General Manager Kate Lewis at Kate@1899golf.com.
