Credit: Courtesy Victor Searcy
Sauce the City, along with the rest of the kitchens inside the Ohio City Galley, was shut down by management on February 28 despite doing great business. Since that date, owner Victor Searcy Jr. has been trying not only to reopen his hot-chicken concept, but also bring in some new food tenants to join him. It appears that he is well on his way.

Sauce the City (1400 West 25th St., 216-795-5033) is now open at the Ohio City Galley – or what was previously known as the Ohio City Galley – starting today. He is back with the same (actually slightly larger) menu starring his signature fried chicken sandwich, hot chicken sandwich, hot wings and fully dressed fire-roasted street corn.

Now, working from a different kitchen, Searcy says it’s great to be back at it.

“It’s weird not having the Galley hovering over you, and being the last of everything is a little weird, but it’s refreshing,” he says.

The new floorplan allows for social distancing and outdoor seating expands the footprint.

Next up is the recruitment of two new food operators, says Searcy, who acting as the space’s curator.

“Sauce the City will be like the flagship option and we’re opening it up to two other chefs,” he explains. “Every six months we’re going to swap them out. But it won’t be like it was with the Galley, when they were taking out percentages and gouging us.”

Instead, tenants will be charged a reasonable flat rate.

The first new tenants will likely include a Colombian-Mexican-Spanish concept followed by a calzone shop, he says.

He is also working to restart the bar.

Searcy’s handiwork can also be enjoyed across town starting tomorrow at O’Toole’s Pub (13601 Detroit Ave., 216-226-5718), where he launched the perma-pop-up Burger Shop selling half-pound burgers.

This article appears in May 20-26, 2020.

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.

4 replies on “Victor Searcy of Sauce the City Spearheading a Return for Ohio City Galley Space”

  1. Sauce’s food was excellent, but the vibe in Ohio City Galley from the cleaning staff to the homeless vagrants hassling customers waiting in line to order was a little too “unregulated.”

    I’m not spending $15 on a sandwich to get accosted like I’m in an East Cleveland bus stop.

    I’d never go back again

  2. ^ I Agree with you Food Truck Or Bust. 100%.
    Cleveland has pulled the biggest “fast one” more than any other “city” (a definition Cleveland only loosely fits) I’ve been to or lived in.
    Way over-priced food, in admittedly charming or historic buildings – I’ll give it that, that finds itself in disgusting neighborhood environments with wandering low-lifes.
    No thanks, I’ll pass.
    Get smart Clevelanders! This city sucks

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