Good Night John Boy, the 1970s-themed bar that helped define the Flats' late-night party circuit, is sliding a few blocks down the river and gearing up for a splashy relaunch next month. Forward Hospitality Group plans to reopen the bar on May 1 at 1048 Old River Road in a two-story riverfront space, while its former Front Avenue home is being flipped into a rock-and-roll shots bar. The timing lines up neatly with the Flats' busy summer season.
As reported by Cleveland.com, the new Good Night John Boy will overlook the Cuyahoga River and feature an expanded kitchen built to handle the bar's signature "johnny meal" - a burger or chicken tenders with fries and a take-home toy. The original space at 1167 Front Ave is set to reopen by Memorial Day weekend as Pour Lolas, a rock-and-roll-inspired shots bar that the outlet reported will pour more than 200 kinds of shots. Both moves come from Forward Hospitality Group, which owns the Good Night John Boy brand along with several other Cleveland venues.
Owner: 'We gutted the whole place'
Bobby Rutter, a partner in Forward Hospitality Group, told Cleveland.com that "we gutted the whole place" at the new Old River Road address, describing the work as a major overhaul. He said he expects the investment to pay off once warm weather hits and predicted an especially strong summer for the Flats, with crowds packing the riverfront.
Pour Lolas will lean into shots and rock
Pour Lolas is pitched as a rock-and-roll shots bar that will reuse the Front Avenue footprint for late-night service and small-plate pours. The focus is on fast, high-energy service and sheer volume of options, with the extensive shot list intended to complement, not replace, the late-night dining and dancing that Good Night John Boy built its name on. Expect a stripped-down menu, shareable shooters, and music-forward nights once the doors open.
Forward Hospitality's footprint
Forward Hospitality Group lists Good Night John Boy among its concepts and has grown the retro 1970s theme into a multi-city brand over the past several years. The group also operates other Flats spots and larger club-style venues that have helped define the neighborhood's entertainment identity, according to Forward Hospitality Group's press pages.
More details on opening hours, reservations, and special events are expected to roll out through the group's social channels as both locations wrap up their overhauls. For now, the shuffle means two familiar names - Good Night John Boy and newcomer Pour Lolas - will be holding down different corners of the Flats once summer hits full swing.
