The parent company behind Lionheart Coffee, Hangry Brands, is setting the stage for a new outpost in Playhouse Square, bringing a concept called Lionheart Reserve to the vacant coffee space under the district's GE chandelier. The company says the new spot will lean into an elevated, pre-show-friendly lineup of coffee and food aimed squarely at the theatre crowd and downtown workers.
The cafe is moving into the former Starbucks at 1400 Euclid Avenue, the prominent corner at Euclid and East 14th that property listings describe as a turn-key retail space with an upper mezzanine. Cushman & Wakefield notes the corner sits directly beneath the Playhouse Square chandelier and has been marketed for café and fast-casual use.
The new location will carry the Lionheart Reserve branding and is slated to open later this year. Playhouse Square leadership has welcomed the move as a chance to bring in a local operator after the national chain closed. “We are thrilled to welcome a local champion in the form of Hangry Brands to the Playhouse Square District,” Playhouse Square President Craig Hassall said, as reported by Cleveland Scene.
Lionheart already runs a downtown shop, where the menu includes nitro cold brew, cold foams, matcha drinks and a range of espresso beverages that the company says will anchor the Reserve concept. Lionheart also highlights an order-ahead app and seasonal pastries, signaling that the new spot is expected to cater to quick-service pre-show crowds and grab-and-go lunch traffic, according to Lionheart Coffee.
Design to restore a showpiece corner
Hangry Brands says the buildout will reopen the second floor and strip away later, plainer renovations to uncover original crown molding and the exposed ceiling that previously defined the space. The restoration plans and the "Reserve" positioning are intended to bring back a distinctive theater-district coffee room to that stretch of Euclid, according to company comments reported by Cleveland Scene.
Hours, ordering and catering
Hangry Brands says Lionheart Reserve will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with catering and delivery planned for rehearsals, meetings and nearby offices and hotels. The company also plans to support mobile ordering for quicker pickup, and the Lionheart registration page promotes an order-ahead app for downtown customers, as reported by WKYC.
The new cafe helps fill a downtown retail gap in a district that pulls in steady crowds year-round for Broadway tours and local performances, a stream of foot traffic Playhouse Square leaders hope a local coffee brand can serve. Property listings highlight the corner's pedestrian flow and mezzanine seating as a natural fit for the Reserve concept, according to Cushman & Wakefield.
