Red Restaurant Group Is the New Owner-Operator of Nighttown in Cleveland Heights

Nighttown, the iconic jazz club and restaurant in Cleveland Heights, has been closed since March of 2020, when owner Brendan Ring shuttered it as a “moral obligation” to help slow the spread of Covid. In early January, he sold the 55-year-old business and property to an ownership group with assurances that “the essence of Nighttown” would remain when the club reopened in July of 2021.

Summer came and went with no announcements or developments, and all along the way rumors have been swirling as to the fate of the property.

Now we know what’s coming next for the storied business. Red Restaurant Group managing partner Gregg Levy has announced that his company has leased the space and will reopen it as Nighttown. Extensive design and planning already have begun and the restaurant is expected to re-open sometime in 2022.

“This is not going to Red the Steakhouse, this is going to be Nighttown,” Levy says. “We wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t going to be Nighttown. Nighttown and Brendan Ring have been a beloved part of the Cleveland hospitality scene for decades, and we wanted to ensure we could preserve that and put our Red stamp on this project. We have and will continue to consult with Brendan in this regard; make no mistake, this will remain Nighttown!”

Levy says that the 100-year-old building will require significant work to ready it for its grand reopening.

“This is a large-scale project with many infrastructure and back-of-house improvements, including replacing all kitchen equipment and cooler systems, but from a guest facing perspective, our intent on keeping the look and feel of Nighttown intact is paramount,” he explains.

Levy adds that when it does reopen, it will feature a “kick-ass brunch,” something the eastside lost when Fire closed.

We will keep readers updated as (re)opening day approaches.