Unfortunately, the last two-plus years has been a rough period for the restaurant industry. From social distancing and people not eating out to supply chain issues and staff shortages, the industry has seen closings all across the country. Cleveland has been hit particularly hard, with beloved restaurants like Fire, Sokolowski’s, Spice, Lola, Black Pig, the Plum, and others closing their doors. Here are all the restaurants we’ve lost since the pandemic began.
16-Bit Bar+Arcade
15012 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
It’s “Game Over” for the Lakewood location of 16-Bit, which opened in August of 2014. The popular “barcade” closed in March. The announcement, which was shared on social media, cited the approaching opening of a new combined 16-Bit and Pins Mechanical in Ohio City as the reason. Credit: Scene ArchivesOak and Embers Pinecrest
311 Park Ave., Orange Village
The barbecue restaurant at Pinecrest shut down in March of 2022. The good news for barbecue fans is that the locations in Chesterland (8009 Mayfield Rd.) and Hudson (7774 Darrow Rd.) both are doing “incredible” and will continue selling the same great mix of smoked meats, Southern comfort foods, bourbon and craft beer. Credit: Scene ArchivesFire
13220 Shaker Square., Cleveland
After 20 years in business, local celebrity chef Doug Katz closed his signature restaurant, Fire. But that gave way for Katz to focus on new spots including the Middle Eastern Zhug (12413 Cedar Rd.) in Cleveland Heights and Indian inspired Amba (1430 West 28th St.) in Ohio City. Credit: Scene ArchivesLakewood AF
15208 Madison Ave., Lakewood
Lakewood AF, the combination poke and ice cream shop that opened in the former Ice Cream Joy space in the summer of 2021, permanently closed in April of 2022. The store was a collaboration between Cassandra Fear and Daniel Ang, owners of Fear’s Confections (15208 Madison Ave.) and Dang Good Foods (13735 Madison Ave.), respectively. Credit: Scene ArchivesCredit: Scene ArchivesFlying Fig
2523 Market Ave., Cleveland
During the past two years alone, Cleveland diners have said goodbye to a dizzying number of upscale restaurants, among them Lola, Fire, Spice, Black Pig, Greenhouse, Chinato, Bar Cento and the Plum. Unfortunately, we lost another beloved restaurant in 2022, when Karen Small closed her beloved Flying Fig after 23 years in business. Fear not, a new concept should be opening in the near future and Small also recently opened her breakfast spot Juneberry Table (3900 Lorain Ave.) Credit: Scene ArchivesSapporo Sushi
1906 East Sixth St., Cleveland
This downtown sushi spot closed its doors in the summer of 2020. It reopened under a new name of Hako (13603 Madison Ave.) in Lakewood later that year. Credit: Scene ArchivesSauce City Galley
1400 West 25th St., Cleveland
Sauce the City Galley took the place of the original Ohio City Galley but unfortunately didn’t last long. The Galley closed in early 2022 but Victor Searcy, the chef behind Sauce the City, recently opened a brick and mortar location of his beloved barbecue in University Heights (14480 Cedar Rd.) Credit: Scene ArchivesThe Souper Market Downtown
1900 E. 6th St., Cleveland
After a brief two-year run, the Souper Market downtown has closed. Owner Matthew Moore took over the former Tea House Noodles (1900 E. 6th St.) space in 2019 and said that business was good, but he closed yesterday “earlier than anticipated for various reasons.” The good news is that he has secured a new retail space downtown at The Standard (99 W. St. Clair Ave.). Credit: Scene ArchivesXO Prime Steaks
500 West St. Clair Ave., Cleveland
After 17 years in business, Zdenko Zovkic closed his Warehouse District steakhouse in May of 2020. Zovkic recently opened Jade (1048 Old River Rd.), an Asian fusion concept in the East Bank of the Flats. Credit: Scene ArchivesNickleby’s Roundbar
4051 Erie St., Willoughby
After ten years slinging beers and burgers in Willoughby, Nickleby’s Roundbar closed their doors. A statement from the restaurant read, “It’s hard to summarize an entire decade’s worth of memories and feelings. It’s even harder when you sum it up with a good-bye. This year has been tough. With a heavy heart, we are officially announcing the closing of Nickleby’s Roundbar. As we reflect on our amazing 10 plus years, we want to thank all the loyal customers, the fantastic community, and our unbelievable staff. It has been great, and we couldn’t have done it without all of you.” Credit: Scene ArchivesBrim Kitchen + Brewery
3941 Erie St., Willoughby
Brim Kitchen and Brewery closed in Willoughby in August of 2020. It made way for the newest outputs of Hola Tacos and Barroco Arepa Bar. Credit: Scene ArchivesBlu, The Restaurant
3355 Richmond Rd., Beachwood
Brad Friedlander once had two of the best restaurants in town at his corner in Beachwood, Red and Moxie. Moxie made way to Blu, which unfortunately closed in 2022. Credit: Scene ArchivesThe Black Pig
2801 Bridge Ave., Cleveland
The Black Pig in Ohio City permanently closed April 12th. “We have operated for almost 9 great years, and are excited to end with a week of positive energy, great food, and familiar faces,” Chef Michael Nowak said in a statement. “Our decision to close is not financially based, or related to the pandemic. We decided about a year ago that it was the right move for my family, as we are looking to relocate to the New England area. We have sold our real estate, passing the torch to the next operator to look over this historic building in Ohio City.” Credit: Scene ArchivesBarroco Arepa Bar
12718 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland
In July of 2020, Barroco in Larchmere served up its last arepa. It gave way to another concept from the Vergara’s, the beloved Hola Tacos. Credit: Scene ArchivesLindey’s Lake House Beachwood
2101 Richmond Rd., Beachwood
“I’m humble enough to say that if it doesn’t work, that’s okay. We tried,” said Rick Doody, owner of Cedar Creek Grille, 17 River Grille, Bar Italia and formerly Lindey’s Lake House in Beachwood. In February, Doody announced that he was re-concepting his two-year-old Lakewood eatery, Lindey’s Lake House, to Bar Italia. At the time, the co-founder of Bravo and Brio restaurants expressed a hesitancy to do the same in Beachwood, where another Lake House sits adjacent to Cedar Creek Grille. But that’s no longer the case. Credit: Scene ArchivesBanter
7320 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
Banter closed its original location in October of 2020, leaving its Van Aken District (3441 Tuttle Rd., Shaker Heights) stand as its only output. Fear not West side Banter lovers, in early 2022 the beloved poutine spot announced they’ll reopen in Gordon Square in the former Minh Anh spot (5428 Detroit Ave.). Credit: Scene ArchivesBakersfield Tacos
2058 West 25th St., Cleveland
The taco chain that came here from Cincinnati closed in late 2020. The closing made way for Avo Modern Mexican, a taco and burrito spot. Credit: Scene ArchivesArthur Treacher’s Fish and Chips
12585 Rockside Rd., Cleveland
Ben Vittoria, owner of the two remaining standalone Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips restaurants, closed one of them in June — the Garfield Heights location. That means his Cuyahoga Falls store is the last full-service Arthur Treacher’s in the entire country. Vittoria says that his other store in Cuyahoga Falls suffers the same labor struggles, but it is a newer building with a drive-through which means he can cut back hours in the dining room and focus on that pick-up business. Credit: Scene Archives100th Bomb Group
20920 Brookpark Rd., Cleveland
After 37 years, the aviation themed restaurant right by the airport closed. They closed for good at the end of 2020. Credit: Scene ArchivesDistill Table
14221 Madison Ave., Lakewood
Distill Table in Lakewood closed at the beginning of the pandemic in May of 2020. Their partner/neighbor Western Reserve Distillers remains open. Credit: Scene ArchivesDiCillo Tavern
6088 Mayfield Rd., Mayfield Heights
DiCillo Tavern wasn’t just the oldest restaurant in Mayfield Heights; it was the oldest business in Mayfield Heights. The longstanding fixture on Mayfield Road has been around in some fashion or another since the area was more forest than concrete jungle. The space reopened as the Tavern of Mayfield. Credit: Scene ArchivesBattiste and Dupree Cajun Grill
1992 Warrensville Center Rd., South Euclid
With the permanent closure of Battiste & Dupree Cajun Grill, the Cleveland culinary scene has suffered a devastating blow. For fans of genuine New Orleans-style Creole and Cajun food, there was no better place to go in Northeast Ohio. The restaurant closed in May of 2022 with little warning. Credit: Scene ArchivesCredit: Scene ArchivesCrop Bistro
2537 Lorain Ave., Cleveland
Crop Bistro in Ohio City has been closed since January, explained owner Marcelo Fadul, who took ownership of the grand space four years prior. Fadul says that the struggle to stay afloat in such a large space during the pandemic eventually proved too burdensome. A new concept, Bartleby, will open soon. Credit: Scene ArchivesCorky and Lenny’s at the Casino
100 Public Square., Cleveland
JACK Cleveland Casino said goodbye to Corky & Lenny’s at the end of January. After nine years delivering gamblers a taste of what they could score at the Chagrin Blvd. location, owners Amanda and Kenny Kurland called it a day downtown, they told Cleveland Jewish News. JACK had once emphasized local brands, sporting a B-Spot from Michael Symon and a Rosie & Rocco’s Italian concept from Rocco Whalen, both of which departed in 2017 at the end of their leases, in addition to the eastside deli import in Corky’s. Credit: Scene ArchivesChutney B
3441 Tuttle Rd., Shaker Heights
Popular local chef Doug Katz closed his space at the Van Aken District’s Market Hall in June. The space did not sit idle for long. Chef Anthony Zappola, who also runs the popular Lox, Stock and Brisket in the Market Hall, took over the stall with a new concept called Le Stand, a French-inspired salad, wrap and parfait business. Credit: Scene ArchivesThe Campus Grille
10 Seminary St., Berea
Chef Luis Roman’s Latino and Puerto Rican restaurant in the heart of Berea permanently closed this past weekend after seven years in business. Steady traffic beating a path to platters of mofongo, roast pork and beans, and Cubans became less so in the past year as Campus Grille dealt with all the issues — rising food prices, fewer customers, and a struggle to hire and retain staff — that have been felt across the industry. Credit: Scene Archives3 Palms Pinecrest
200 Park Ave., Orange Village
Pinecrest in Orange Village has seen quite a bit of turnover since opening in 2016. 3 Palms shuttered its doors in March of 2022 although their other two locations in Hudson (60 Village Way) and Crocker Park (27 Main St.) remain open. Credit: Scene ArchivesB Spot Eton
28699 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere
What was once a thriving local chain with three locations in Northeast Ohio and one in Columbus and Indianapolis shuttered its last location in 2021. It made way for Mabel’s, the barbecue venture from Michael Symon and co. Credit: Scene ArchivesLola
2058 East Fourth St., Cleveland
Lola was the restaurant that started East Fourth as a dining destination. Michael Symon’s flagship restaurant shut down in November of 2020 after 24 years in business. Symon famously relocated Lola from Tremont to E. Fourth Street in 2006, doing for that neighborhood what he and his wife Liz did for Tremont, which is to say transform it into the epicenter of Cleveland dining and entertainment. Credit: Scene ArchivesPour Cleveland
530 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
Owner Charlie Eisenstat permanently closed his downtown coffee shop Pour Cleveland, which he opened in 2013. The retail establishment had ceased serving customers in March and never reopened. Eisenstat says that he had hoped normal downtown life would return, but even after a year, the outlook for his business had not improved. Eisenstat still maintains a coffee roastery and e-commerce site for international coffees. Credit: Scene ArchivesLarchmere Tavern
13051 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland
For nearly 30 years, the Larchmere Tavern had been a reliable source of food and community on Cleveland’s near east side. The restaurant, however, came to the end of its run in August. In the end, the losses sustained from the pandemic proved too great to recover from. It’ll reopen as a cocktail bar. Credit: Scene ArchivesKindred Spirit
3396 Tuttle Rd., Shaker Heights
This Van Aken District spot has seen a lot of turnover in just a few years in business. Sawyer’s closed right before the pandemic which gave way to Forward Hospitality’s Kindred Spirit which also closed, this one in late 2021. Next up is a new burger concept from Forward. Credit: Scene ArchivesJohn’s Diner
18260 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
John’s Diner in Lakewood lasted for nearly 50 years until the pandemic shut it down for good. That long and narrow railcar diner and attached dining room won’t sit idle for long. The team behind Cilantro Taqueria jumped on the opportunity to open what was at the time their third location (they now have five). Credit: Scene ArchivesClifton Martini and Wine Bar
10427 Clifton Blvd., Cleveland
After nearly 12 years in business, Clifton Martini & Wine Bar permanently and abruptly closed its doors for good in October. Owner Jeff Rumplik said he decided to pull the plug not for any financial reason, labor decision, or anything to do with the pandemic. Business was good, in fact, and the popular westside establishment had made it through the brunt of the pandemic. He decided to close, he said, after four years of what he called “constant harassment” from his landlord, Wilsher Management, which owns the building. Credit: Scene ArchivesJekyll’s Kitchen
17 River St., Chagrin Falls
In Chagrin Falls, the restaurant overlooking the Falls from the Hyde Park Restaurant Group closed in March of 2020. It reopened as 17 River Grille from restaurateur Rick Doody (Bar Italia, Lindey’s Lake House). Credit: Scene ArchivesMelt
13463 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights
Melt Bar and Grilled served up its last stuffed grilled cheese at their Cleveland Heights location in November of 2020. Worry not, there are still four locations in the greater Cleveland area. The closing made way for The Haunted House Restaurant, a restaurant with a horror-movie theme. Credit: Scene ArchivesChicago’s Home of Chicken and Waffles
1144 Prospect Ave. E., Cleveland
Chicago’s Home of Chicken and Waffles closed in August of 2020. Opened in December 2016, the popular soul food chain with two locations in Chicago featured an all-day menu built around waffles. Credit: Scene ArchivesThe Plum
4133 Lorain Ave., Cleveland
This April would have marked The Plum’s fifth birthday, but sadly the wildly creative Ohio City bistro will not reach that milestone. Owner Jonah Oryszak announced in 2021 that he and chef-partner Brett Sawyer parted ways and that the space will reopen under a different banner and concept. Heart of Gold, the Plum’s replacement, opened in June as a fast casual neighborhood bar and kitchen focused on thoughtfully composed inventive food and drinks. Credit: Scene ArchivesPearl Asian Kitchen
20060 Van Aken Blvd., Shaker Heights
When Rose Wong opened Pearl of the Orient in 1979, she saw a need for what she considered to be authentic Chinese food. To her palate, much of what was being served around Northeast Ohio bore little resemblance to the real thing. For many local diners, a visit to Pearl of the Orient was a culinary awakening that went well beyond the Americanized versions of Cantonese food served all over town. For 43 years, Pearl of the Orient was the East Side’s premier Asian eatery, a place that combined exciting food, gracious service and attractive dining spaces. That history ends in June of 2022. Credit: Scene ArchivesParker’s Downtown
2000 East Ninth St., Cleveland
At the beginning of the pandemic, the restaurant at the Kimpton Schofield in downtown Cleveland closed its doors. It opened back up in August under a new name and concept called Betts. Credit: Scene ArchivesTremont Scoops
2362 Professor Ave., Cleveland
After nine years in the business of making people happy, Tremont Scoops closed its doors for good. That happened on September 19th. The small, independent ice cream parlor announced on social media that the building had been sold. Credit: Scene ArchivesThirsty Dog
1085 Old River Rd., Cleveland
Thirsty Dog Brewing in the Flats, which closed over the winter of 2022, will not be reopening, according to a spokesperson for Sly Restaurant Group, the operator of the business. Taking the place of the five-year-old outpost of the Akron-based brewery will be another concept. Next up for the nearly 10,000-square-foot space is Rum Runners, a name that doubtless conjures memories for Clevelanders of a certain age. Credit: Scene ArchivesMolinari’s
8900 Mentor Ave., Mentor
After 30 years in business, Molinari’s in Mentor closed its doors. They served up their last meal in October of 2020. Credit: Scene ArchivesRuth’s Chris
200 Public Square., Cleveland
The upscale chain steakhouse didn’t last long in its new downtown locale. It opened in 2018 and closed in late 2020. Credit: Scene ArchivesCut151
3355 Richmond Rd., Beachwood
Brad Friedlander once had two of the best restaurants in town at his corner in Beachwood, Red and Moxie. Moxie made way to Blu and Red became Rosso Italia which became Cut151 which closed in May of 2022. Both restaurants were well received but had to close due to pandemic related issues. Credit: Scene ArchivesThe Rail
4347 Belden Village Mall, Canton and 400 Great Northern Blvd., North Olmsted
Started in Akron in 2011 by Mike Mariola, the concept expanded first to North Olmsted and then onward to Canton, Strongsville and Dublin. They closed their Canton and North Olmsted locations in May of 2020. Credit: Scene ArchivesThe Big Egg
5107 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
The Big Egg, the legendary once-24/7 diner at West 52nd and Detroit, permanently closed this October. Enjoying two distinct lives — one as the original, beloved greasy spoon with as many devotees as health code violations that closed in 2002, and the second iteration, opened some seven years later with a fresh interior redo and little carried over from its first life other than the name and egg-shaped menu — the Big Egg had been a part of the near west side since at least the early 1950s. Credit: Scene ArchivesCredit: Scene ArchivesSweet Moses
6800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
Sweet Moses Gordon Square closed its doors in October after 10 years. Owner Jeff Moreau, who owned both the business and the building, had been in negotiations to transition the beloved business to a new operator, but those plans fell through at the last minute, he says, forcing the old school ice cream shop to close. Credit: Scene ArchivesMinh Anh
5428 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
For many diners in Cleveland, Minh Anh Restaurant was where we first learned to love pho, the Vietnamese beef noodle soup. While pho is now available all across the region, this modest restaurant on Cleveland’s near-west side was a pioneer in the field and unfortunately served its last bowl of pho in September. Banter recently announced they’d take over the space. Credit: Scene ArchivesSpice Kitchen
5800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
Ben Bebenbroth closed his popular restaurant Spice at the beginning of the pandemic. Luckily, he’s still operating Spice Catering and recently announced a new concept, Boom’s Pizza, that’ll open later this year. Credit: Scene ArchivesSokolowski’s
1201 University Ave., Cleveland
After 97 years in business, the Cleveland staple served up its last paprikash. They don’t get much more Cleveland than Sokolowski’s, the nearly century-old Tremont restaurant that’s served pierogies and other Polish classics to Presidents, movie stars, professional athletes and, more importantly, everyday Clevelanders since 1923. Credit: Scene ArchivesBar Cento and Bier Markt
2058 West 25th St., Cleveland
Partners Mark Priemer and Sam McNulty last October announced that the pair of longtime mainstays on West 25th St. would be closing early this year after 17 years in business. That made way for Bright Side, a new bar-forward concept from the duo. Credit: Scene ArchivesZocalo
1360 E. 9th St., Cleveland
East Fourth Street has been on a bit of a roller coaster ride for the past year and a half. Following the huge losses of Greenhouse Tavern, Chinato and Lola, the street scored a big win with Dante Boccuzzi’s splashy new Goma. New tenants also are teed up for the Greenhouse Tavern and Lola spaces. In July, we learned that Zocalo, one of the longest running restaurants on the street, ceased regular service. Credit: Scene ArchivesYours Truly, Shaker Square
13228 Shaker Square., Cleveland
In Shaker Square, Yours Truly closed in July of 2020 after 27 years. Fear not, notso fry lovers, there are still nine other locations in Northeast Ohio. The closing gave way to the Cleveland Breakfast Club. Credit: Scene ArchivesWinking Lizard Gateway
811 Huron Rd. E., Cleveland
John Lane and his partners at Winking Lizard announced back in August that the Gateway location would be shutting down for an undisclosed period of time. Citing myriad pandemic-related issues, Lane added that any potential reopening would be considered after the first of the year but made the decision to shutter for good in October. Credit: Scene ArchivesWilloughby Brewing Company
4057 Erie St., Willoughby
After closing and reopening a couple of times, this Willoughby brewery closed for good in August of 2020 after rent disputes and issues with paying sales tax. Credit: Scene ArchivesVincenza’s
603 Prospect Ave., Cleveland
Beloved downtown pizza shop Vincenza’s may have served its last slice in the Summer of 2022. The closest thing to New York style pizza in downtown Cleveland originally opened in Brooklyn in 1957 and Cleveland in 1979. Credit: Scene ArchivesCredit: Scene Archives
