🏙️ Historic Cleveland Gem for Sale + Shaker Square Shake-Up!

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Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop, the newsletter that bundles up to survive January’s icy embrace, perfects the art of sliding on black ice, and still makes it to Phoenix Coffee before the frostbite sets in—all to bring you the latest in The Land. First time reading? Join over 10,000 local curious readers. Sign up here.

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In today’s 216 Scoop Edition: 

• One of Cleveland’s most historic places could be yours

• Goodbye, Shaker Square. Hello, Nightown…  Edwins makes a move

• Smells like Cool Ranch spirit and a cool million

• Spirit increases flights out of Cleveland… But don’t delay

• Buckeyes, Fighting Irish ticket prices set new record

  
  
  by John Petkovic, Mark Espinosa, Victor Takakura

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IN THE NEWS

One of Cleveland’s most historic places could be yours

For sale: A dusty cultural gem with a century of history and colorful memories, a few ghosts and high hopes that it will return to its former glory.

The Variety Theater – 11816 Lorain Avenue, Cleveland -- is on the market. The 33,323-square-foot property features an auditorium, 12 studio apartments and five retail storefronts, according to Cresco Real Estate listing. It also comes with $3 million in two historic tax credits, and is on the National Registrar of Historic Places. (There is no price listed.)

For decades, the former Spanish gothic vaudeville, movie and music theater anchored West Side cultural life. It opened Nov. 24, 1927 with screening of Clara Bow’s “Hula.” It is said to be haunted, but don’t blame the ghosts for that cracked plaster.

That was caused by Motorhead, whose legendary 1984 concert was so loud – 130 decibels, breaking the world record – that it brought down pieces of the ceiling. The storied building closed two years later.

After a brief stint as a wrestling gym, the Variety sat decaying and abandoned. That is, until Friends of the Historic Variety Theatre purchased it in 2009.  The non-profit financed the erection of a replica of the original marquee, conducted tours of the space and started a fundraising campaign for its restoration.

Former Mahall’s owner Kelly Flamos picked up the baton when she purchased the Variety in April 2022 for $450,000. She estimates it will cost $12 million to bring it back to glory.

A presentation by Cresco that accompanies the listing envisions a performance and events hall; ‘creative’ use of the apartments (as a boutique hotel); and storefronts that are “perfect for a coffee chop, restaurant, record store, or other boutique retail.”

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Goodbye, Shaker Square. Hello, Nighttown… Edwins makes a move

Acclaimed Cleveland chef Brandon Chrostowski is moving his Edwins and Edwins Too restaurants out of Shaker Square and into the former home of Nighttown, 12383 Cedar Road, Cleveland Heights.

“I’m super excited to be here. Four concepts under one roof: fine dining, casual dining, cigar bar, a salon -- and don’t forget Sunday brunch,” said Chrostowski in a video announcement.  “We’re super fired up look forward to the next 30-60 days and we’ll see it happen.”

Chrostowski plans to close the two eateries by Feb. 18 and expects to re-open a week later. The iconic bar and jazz club (which closed last August) offers about 10,000-square-feet of space. It will get a makeover to give it a Paris vibe that dovetails with Edwins’ French menu.

The move is not unexpected. In September, Chrostowski complained about break-ins, theft and carjackings in and around Shaker Square.

The popular Edwins opened more than a decade ago, back when dining destination featured two other high-profile restaurants: Fire and Belaton. The former closed in 2020; the latter shut down in 2022 (and re-opened a year later in Bainbridge).

Smells like Cool Ranch and a Cool Million

OK, so ain’t ‘Squid Game.’ But the competition has been fierce when Doritos launched a competition to create a 30-second ad for the snack food that will air during Super Bowl LIX, on Sunday Feb. 9.

There were thousands of submissions. Then there were 25 semifinalists.  On Tuesday, there will be three.

Clevelander Adam Wilde is hoping to hear his name called when Doritos announces the finalists.

The local video producer and owner of TRG Multimedia submitted a clip that extolls the virtues of Cool Ranch Doritos, er, rather “Cool Ranch breadth.”

Summary: It’s love at first sight when a man and a woman bump into one another at a party and find that they both have a sweet smell of Cool Ranch on their breath.

The three finalists announced on Tuesday will then be put to a public vote. The winner gets $1 million and the chance to watch their ad air during the Super Bowl. Check out the clip here.

THE 216 DIGEST

Spirit increases flights out of Cleveland… But don’t delay

Maybe those Spirit frequent-flyer points aren’t worthless after all. The struggling low-cost airline has added 24 flights to warm destinations starting in March.

The revamped flight schedule includes the resumption of direct flights from Cleveland Hopkins to Orlando and Myrtle Beach. They’re only for a limited time, though – from March 19 through April 8. The addition of routes nationally will also give Hopkins travelers more options via connecting flights.

It’s part of a broader plan by Spirit to take advantage of the increased popularity of destinations during the Spring Break travel season. Nationally, the airline is focusing on Florida, the Dominican Republic, Texas and San Juan.

In other words, forget using you points on a trip to Los Angeles, once a popular route out of Cleveland.

Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy in November, used to run 12 flights out of Cleveland. The struggling low-cost carrier now runs one, to Fort Lauderdale

Buckeyes, Fighting Irish ticket prices set new record

This Buckeyes season has gone from one of college football’s craziest comebacks to fodder for one of those too-good-to-be-true sports movies. Except that it is true – and the price of admission to a game has skyrocketed way beyond what it costs to get into a theater.

The average ticket for the Jan 20. CFP National Championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame is fetching more than $2,600, a new record. You could chalk it up to the fanatical fan bases of the Buckeyes and the Fighting Irish.

But don’t discount the miracle season. It took another crazy turn on Friday --  when OSU defensive tackle Jack Sawyer not only saved a touchdown, but also caused a fumble, scooped up the ball and returned it 83 yards for a touchdown against . It clinched the win for the Buckeyes to clinch the win against the Texas Longhorns, 28-14.

Left for dead after its dreadful loss to Michigan, Ohio State is now a heavy favorite against the Fighting Irish. Watch for our Buckeyes game guide Jan. 20.

NOTES ON A COCKTAIL NAPKIN!

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

TikTok ban: The odds; impact on 170 million users; Trump’s options

Odds that TikTok would get banned in the U.S. soared after the Supreme Court appeared to favor upholding a law that would ban the Chinese app in the U.S.

On Friday afternoon, they hit 79 percent on the Kalshi betting platform before pulling back to mid-60s over the weekend.

A ban would impact 170 million active monthly users of the app.  TikTok and a a lawyer representing content creators have argued that this is a free speech issue protected by the First Amendment. Supporters of the ban have called the app a national security threat and claims that TikTok is spying on Americans and is a covert attempt by the Chinese government to wage influence and spread propaganda in the U.S.

President Biden, who signed the bill into law, used TikTok influencers to promote his campaign. Most politicians have used it, even those now calling for its ban.

The court is expected to rule this week on the constitutionality of the law, which prohibits U.S. app stores from hosting Tiktok unless its Chinese owner, ByteDance, sells it to a domestic buyer.

The law takes effect Jan. 19, a day before president-elect Donald Trump officially takes office. Trump opposes banning TikTok and is seeking a compromise that would satisfy both parties.

If the court upholds the ban, Trump could call for a 90-day pause in the ban order to find a buyer, or just declare the app to be in compliance. Both could be challenged in court by supporters of the law.

VINTAGE CLEVELAND

Ohio State played one of its few games in Cleveland on November 18, 1944, when it defeated Illinois 26-12, at the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium in front of 83,627 fans. The Buckeyes went undefeated that year, closing the season with a win over Michigan, 18-14. The team was invited to play USC in the Rose Bowl, but couldn’t because the Big Ten didn’t allow postseason play.

And don’t forget! Tag @LiveMusicInCleveland or @The216Scoop to get your photos in the Scoop!

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WEATHER

Monday

33°F 🌡️ 17°F | 🌨️ | 80% | 💨 SW 15 mph (13 knots)

Tuesday

22°F 🌡️ 19°F | 🌨️ | 60% | 💨 W 20 mph (17 knots)

Wednesday

25°F 🌡️ 16°F | 🌨️ | 50% | 💨 W 15 mph (13 knots)

LIVE MUSIC IN THE 216

Monday - 01/13

No live performances scheduled.

Tuesday - 01/14

Connor Palace | Life of Pi | 7:30 PM

Wednesday - 01/15

Dunlap’s Corner Bar | Jamaal Cody | 7 PM

Grog Shop | Mibble + Sly Vixen + Prince Tucker | 7 PM

Mahall’s | This Is Lorelei + Youbet | 7 PM

For tickets and more information visit: livemusicincleveland.com

The 216 Sports Arena

Upcoming Games

Cavaliers
Away vs. Indiana Pacers, 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 14

Cleveland Monsters
Home vs. Grand Rapids Griffins, 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 15

Cleveland Charge
Home vs. Maine Celtics, 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 15

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