Holding down the fort at Parkview Credit: DENISE GRAHAM
Over the past week, Scene has picked up signals from multiple Cleveland blues musicians that a big change was coming: Parkview Nite Club will stop hosting live music.

Owner Norm Plonsky confirmed to Scene today that March 29, 2017, will be the final night of music at the venerable westside blues club. That happens to be a Wednesday, the day of the Bad Boys of Blues’ weekly jam, which has taken place at Parkview since 1996.

“I said that I was going to retire at 60, and then I said I was going to retire at 70. Well, I’ll be 71 in March, and I’m retiring,” Plonsky told Scene. “We’re still going to maintain what we are. We’re an old bar.”

The history of this place goes back to 1898. Holding court at the northern terminus of West 58th Street, Parkview has long been a staple for the families and musicians of Detroit-Shoreway and beyond. It has that rare ability to attract loyalists of all ages and backgrounds, and Plonsky says that his son will keep that welcoming attitude alive.

But this is it for the music.

“We’re going to go out having fun,” Plonsky said of the live music calendar. He added that Parkview will publish a newsletter sometime real soon, detailing the final three months of shows.

This article appears in Dec 14-20, 2016.

Eric Sandy is an award-winning Cleveland-based journalist. For a while, he was the managing editor of Scene. He now contributes jam band features every now and then.

15 replies on “Parkview Nite Club Will Stop Hosting Live Music in March”

  1. Huge mistake. I understand he’s gotten older,but the reason people come is for the music… Especially Becky!

  2. There needs to be serious media attention to help stem the extinction of live music.
    This is a music town….and the classic bars and venues that support live music are slipping away and others are hanging on by threads. We cannot let this happen.
    Please consider some kind of major multi prong media attention-Flash Mob Festivals that brings attention to cool venues such as The House of Swing, Greenville Inn, Brother’s Lounge and others. This is our fabric… our thread that connects incredible local talent to our community.
    Make some NOISE!

  3. An old bar is fungible. No amount of wood paneling will differentiate one place to drink from another, without a unique culture. The Parkview has a special vibe with extraordinary talent like Michael Bay, Becky et al. Talent like that brings in young talent to continue the unique atmosphere. Please don’t mistake walls and beer taps for humanity and magic. Your taste and faith in good music is what brought success to the place and Parkview can become a Blue Note or Villlage Vanguard that can pass a tradition of greatness from generation to generation, but not if you jump ship now! I urge you to find a wiser path forward! With some community help, the short-term economics can be overcome.

  4. I don’t understand the bar stays open why are they stopping the music doesn’t make any sense this place is an icon

  5. Sell it. BUt sell it to somebody who will keep it alive and keep it as it is.This joint is still one of the few old-school music bars left…in a city that is rapidly changing both for better and for worse.

  6. Is this a publicity stunt? Sounds silly. The food is okay, but not good enough that I would go to it with no music. I think I went to the place once on a non-music night to show some people.

  7. Jeeze, Brian, they might have asked you to come back with your band and sing some summer songs. But they probably threw you out before they realized who you were, after you started another one of your right-wing rants.

    Chuckles the Clown

  9. This is a sad and disappointing thing to hear. Here’s hoping someone changes their mind. Either way I hope MB and the “Bad Boys” take their blues jam elsewhere!

  13. I am so sorry to hear this. My husband and I drive over from Pepper Pike just for the music. We are here at least twice per month. What a loss!

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