After an 18-year run, A. Brendan Walton shuttered his popular Gateway District spot A.J. Rocco’s. When it reawakens in the coming months, it will do so next door in the former Huron Point Tavern/Alesci’s building, which has undergone a major renovation. Credit: Facebook
After a solid 18-year run, A.J. Rocco’s (816 Huron Rd. E., 216-861-8358) will close its doors for good on December 20. The Gateway District café/bar/music venue opened in 2001, two days before 9-11.

Owner A. Brendan Walton says that the lease has expired and, after some consideration, he has decided to move on.

“It was a fun time,” he says. “A lot of good memories for sure.”

There’s one more big show on the calendar, he adds, when the Portersharks hit the stage on Friday, December 13.

Walton’s coffee company, Cleveland Coffee, will live on. The small-batch beans are available throughout Northeast Ohio.

This article appears in Nov 13-19, 2019.

For 25 years, Douglas Trattner has worked as a full-time freelance writer, editor and author. His work as co-author on Michael Symon's cookbooks have earned him four New York Times Best-Selling Author honors, while his longstanding role as Scene dining editor has garnered awards of its own.

5 replies on “A.J. Rocco’s to Close on December 20”

  2. Brendan is a beloved member of our hospitality industry. That space now has two amazing guys as itslegacy-Brendan and Mike Symon. Good luck Brendan! Sorry for your loss Caxton Building….

  3. The cheerleader has spoken…is there anybody in the industry he doesn’t like?

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