Credit: Photo via Brennan's Colony, Facebook
For decades, the Colony has been a fixture of the Cedar-Lee neighborhood of Cleveland Heights. That history ends this coming weekend when the business will close its doors.

But this saga has a surprising and satisfying twist.

Chris Armington, longtime employee of the Colony, and current owner of the nearby Tavern Company, has purchased the business and will relocate his operation across the street.

“It’s crazy, I know,” he says during a call. “I’m basically going back home.”

The Colony has been around for more than 30 years, but business seemed to have suffered in the wake of longtime owner Jim Brennan’s death two years ago. Armington, who worked at the Colony for more than a decade during Brennan’s reign, had designs on that space all along. In the end, no deal was ever cemented.

“That’s what I wanted seven years ago but it wasn’t an option then so I bought the second-best place [Tavern Company],” he explains. “My dream was to always own that place.”

This weekend will be the last for the Colony and the last for the Tavern Company in its current home. Monday, Arminton will begin the process of restarting the business as his own. Longtime Tavern Company (and Colony) chef Jamie Wynbrandt will make the move, as will the rest of the staff.

Beginning next week, the Colony space will become the Tavern Company.

“I feel like the Colony was JB [Jim Brennan] and the Tavern Company is me,” he says. “Why rebrand ourselves again. It took us years to rebrand the Tavern Company.”

The move nets Armington more dining room space, a larger kitchen, more parking, and that lovely back patio.

As for the old Tavern Company property, it’s for sale, lock, stock and barrel, says Armington.

“I’m selling the business, I’m selling the equipment, I’m selling the liquor license, I’m selling everything.”

This article appears in Jul 27 – Aug 2, 2016.

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.

7 replies on “Cleveland Heights Mainstay Colony to Close; Tavern Company to Relocate into Space”

  1. I’m not being negative. Just journalistic. Wouldn’t it be a lot more like journalism to explain how Jim Brennan died?

  3. Yes, unfortunately, it would be a lot more like what passes for journalism these days to sensationalize again how Jim passed. We all know the story, including you, so why bring it up again? I’m happy for Chris and TavCo because they run a great operation but it is sad to see a Cleveland Heights landmark fade away.

  4. PJBNYC, did you get you answer or are you looking for more negativity to spread throughout the world today.

  6. Seriously…Christopher will in many ways honor JB’s memory…and JB is truly smiling down and is happy for my son…so let the negativity go away…this is all Good!!!!

  7. Should of just called it “The Colony”…… It has a history of it’s own. Much more than the Tavern did or ever would. Regulars will still refer to it it as the Colony for awhile…. No respect for tradition anymore.

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