Update:

Rick’s Café owner Alec Singer clarifies that he is indeed selling the 40-year-old restaurant to Shawn Monday and his partner Michael Schwartz. But he has assurances from them that the name, concept, staff and spirit of the restaurant will not change.

“Nothing’s changing,” Singer promises. “Michael Schwartz loves Rick’s Café and he always has. He’s happy to continue the legacy.”

Chef Monday says that while a new concept is possible down the road, he indeed might keep the Rick’s Cafe concept going for a while.

Original article:

For the last 40 years, the saying in Chagrin Falls has been: “Everybody Comes to Rick’s.” Rick’s Café, that is. And for good reason. The laid back American tavern has offered just the right balance of comfort and panache, a dying breed where live music and conversation went hand in hand with hearty, traditional comfort food.

All that ends next week when the local legend shuts its doors after four decades. An employee, saddened by the news, reports that the staff was informed tonight that the restaurant would close next week. This shocking news comes on the heels of Gamekeeper’s Taverne closing its doors after 40 years.

Within the matter of months, local diners have lost two local institutions.

While we still don’t know what will take the place of Gamekeeper’s, we do now know that chef Shawn Monday, who runs Flip Side down the road as well as One Red Door and Three Palms, will be the new occupant of Rick’s Café.

For now, the plan is to install a completely new concept, according to Monday, but that plan is still fluid.

We’ll keep you posted.

This article appears in Jun 14-20, 2017.

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.

9 replies on “Updated: Rick’s Cafe in Chagrin Falls to Change Ownership After 40 Years”

  3. Our valley will never be the same without Gamekeeper’s and Rick’s. Not sure I like the new world order.

  5. Both of these restaurants had 40 year runs. That’s outstanding in the restaurant world. They have nothing to be ashamed of.

  7. Darn. Was HOPING this restaurant – kind of grimy and highly overrated by Chagrin residents (I am one… Live blocks away, but not a fan…) – would be changing. Shame. Perhaps the new owners can make some positive changes that will appease the old-timers (tho get rid of those ridiculous 2 for 1 food deals) and entice non-flash like me to come in too.

    Hey and when is the Zack Bruell place at Gamekeepers being announced? (Hope that is true…)

  8. Interesting bit of “journalism.” This story originally had the info that Shawn Monday was involved in the sale, but got the details completely wrong. And we wonder why Americans don’t trust the media on the big stuff. They can’t even get a simple business story correct even if they had access to all the info before publishing a false story.

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