Forest City Shuffleboard Has Closed, But a Deal to Reopen With New Operator Already in the Works

Yesterday, the owners of Forest City Shuffleboard (4506 Lorain Ave.) in Ohio City decided to close the business. But founder Jim Miketo assures local fans of the “eatertainment” facility that plans already are in the works to reopen it.

Miketo opened Forest City Shuffleboard in the spring of 2017 after a significant building renovation and restoration project. The business has flourished for years – save for the expected Covid downturn – and the founder was working to expand the brand to other cities.

But last summer, as Miketo’s real estate development ventures started to become all-consuming, he sold Forest City Shuffleboard to Larks Entertainment out of Dallas. The sale was kept quiet to give the new operators the best chance of success, says Miketo.

“It broke my heart to sell the business because of all the relationships and work that I put into it,” he explains. “It was getting hard for me to keep my fingers on the pulse of the business. I’m not a half-in, half-out kind of guy.”

After a year of out-of-state management of Forest City Shuffleboard, Larks Entertainment decided to close the doors yesterday. But Miketo says that he’s already working hand-in-hand with Larks to secure a new local operator to take over.

“One thing I learned through this process is that Clevelanders love Clevelanders,” he says. “I will endeavor to find a local partner who has the same pride and passion for this city and for that business.”

Miketo says that news of a handoff could come within weeks, assuring that a popular entertainment destination reopens under local control.

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