Shooters to Reopen in Flats on March 18 After Major Improvements

For nearly 40 years, Shooters (1148 Main Ave.) has been one of the most iconic riverfront bars in Cleveland. During its heyday, the sprawling destination on the West Bank of the Flats was the place to be for boat owners and their lucky friends, who pulled up dockside to be waited on by fleet-footed servers.

All that ended – or took a lengthy pause – in the fall of 2024, when a new ownership team took over with big plans to overhaul the entire property. It was a massive job that only now, a year and a half later, is approaching completion.

The public will get its first glimpse of most of the improvements starting Wednesday, March 18, when Shooters reopens. Other amenities, such a riverside performance stage and refurbished boat dock, are expected to be completed in time for the summer season.

“Shooters is more than a restaurant or a bar; it’s a waterfront gathering place that was made for Cleveland,” states a release from the new ownership team, which includes heavy hitters like Machine Gun Kelly. “We reopened Shooters to celebrate the water, the grit, the joy, the legacy of this place and our city.”

This new iteration, they add, will be an attraction geared to a wide audience that will include families, boaters and music lovers.

While much has changed throughout the rambling property, defining features such as the distinctive blue-and-white tile floor – inlaid with the name Shooters – the glassy skylight cap, and those matchless views of the water, bridges and maritime activity, remain.

The kitchen is under the leadership of chef Ryan Boone, who has spent time working in many of Cleveland’s top restaurants, including Greenhouse Tavern, Heart of Gold and Cordelia. The bill of fare is described as a collection of “classic, comfort staples with fresh and innovative ingredients and ideas.”

“Shooters is a place that belongs to Cleveland, so the menu reflects that,” Boone explains. “We call it ‘Coastal Cleveland’ — inspired by great waterfront dining around the country but grounded in the traditions and flavors of this city.”