CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — Brendan Ring closed the Cleveland Heights mainstay Nighttown in March of 2020, making it one of the first casualties of Covid. While initially the longtime owner intended to reopen the 55-year-old restaurant and live music venue, but the pandemic’s long tail had other plans. Ring ended up selling the property in 2021 and soon the Red Restaurant Group was brought in to bring the business back to life.
Today, after nearly a four-year pause, Nighttown reopens to the public. From the very beginning of the process, Gregg Levy of Red Restaurant Group vowed to do everything in his power to retain as much of the original vibe as possible. From the looks of things, he succeeded.
On the surface, the restaurant looks nearly identical to the one that closed in 2020, but beneath the veneer lies an entirely new operation. One of the spaces that received the most attention was the kitchen, which was completely rebuilt to Red’s specifications. From that kitchen, executive chef Rowan Murray will present a menu that blends some Nighttown classics with modern-American dishes that highlight seasonality and freshness.
Nighttown didn’t open in 1965 as a fully formed entity, and neither has this new version. Management intends to roll out additions to the space, service and offerings as the days, weeks and months roll on. The restaurant will launch with dinner hours only, but lunch and brunch will arrive in the new year.
Music lovers should not expect the return of large ticketed shows thanks to new occupancy figures, but live music definitely will be an important element of Nighttown going forward. Even now, diners can look forward to the beautiful piano playing of longtime fixture Jackie Warren.