On July 1, the downtown location of The Corner Alley will shut its doors for two and half months to facilitate extensive interior and façade renovations, says Jonathan Seeholzer, Regional Operations Manager for MRN Hospitality Group. When the entertainment destination at the corner of East Fourth Street and Euclid Avenue reopens in mid-September, customers will be treated to an all-new contemporary design and layout.
“Cleveland has experienced an exciting revival since The Corner Alley first opened,” Seeholzer adds. “As the city grows and changes, so must the architecture, design, and food of its favorite bowling alley.”
One of the most dramatic and visible improvements will be to the exterior of the complex. Nearly all of the building’s frontage along E. Fourth Street and roughly half of it along Euclid will be converted to open-air access leading to outdoor seating. The garage door-style windows will fold up into awnings.
And that’s just the start.
“We’re doing pretty much a total interior renovation,” explains Seeholzer.
A new bar closer to the streetside action along E. Fourth Street will be better connected to the entertainment district outside its doors. The bar that services the private four-lane section will be enlarged and better connected to rest of space. And a new bowling ball feature wall, much like that at the Uptown Corner Alley, will be installed downtown.
“After seeing how cool Uptown came out, we said, Okay, let’s do it again. People were really impressed that a bowling alley could look that cool.”
In terms of entertainment options within the four walls, Corner Alley will build off the 16 bowling lanes with new video games, shuffleboard, air hockey, foosball and other games.
The restaurant will receive upgrades as well, both in regards to the décor and food. The menu will feature traditional sports bar selections made with high-quality ingredients. An increase in small plates and shared items and a decrease in entrees is designed to better serve the types of customers coming to the Corner Alley, says Seeholzer.
“This is an active environment, so you’re not always going to want to sit down for a whole meal.”
Summer might seem an odd time to shut down a downtown entertainment destination such as this, but the timing suits Corner Alley.
“We do so many banquets, corporate events and Christmas parties starting in the fall, so it’s exciting for us to be able to capitalize on the improvements by then,” Seeholzer says.
