Thirsty Dog Brewing in the Flats, which closed over winter, will not be reopening, according to a spokesperson for Sly Restaurant Group, the operator of the business. Taking the place of the five-year-old outpost of the Akron-based brewery will be another concept.

Next up for the nearly 10,000-square-foot space is Rum Runners, a name that doubtless conjures memories for Clevelanders of a certain age. Rum Runners, along with places like River’s Edge, Fagan’s, D’Poo’s on the River and Peabody’s Down Under, was a staple attraction during the Flats’ halcyon days in the 1980s and 1990s.

For now, the details surrounding the new-old club are slim, but it is expected to debut in late spring. We’ll update this story along the way.

This article appears in Feb 23 – Mar 8, 2022.

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.