Cleveland Heights is about to pick up a fresh late-night living room. High Key on Lee, a bar-and-events concept from longtime Lee Road bartender Carly Hallenstein and partner Jason Bolanz, is set to move into the former Voodoo Brewing space at 2279 Lee Road, aiming for a summer opening. On the wish list: an expanded patio, all-day coffee-and-cocktail service, and a street-food-forward menu backed by live music and other nightly programming.
Local bartender takes the reins
Hallenstein, a Cleveland Heights native who has spent more than a decade bartending and managing at The Social Room, and partner Bolanz say they have finalized a deal for the former Voodoo spot at 2279 Lee Road. She told Cleveland Scene that opening her own place on Lee Road "has always been my dream" and that they moved quickly once the property hit the market. The goal is to open in time to plug into the block's packed summer and fall events calendar.
Space's recent history
The address Hallenstein is taking over previously housed Voodoo Brewery, which announced it would close in December 2025. As reported by WOIO, the brewpub said its final day of business would be Dec. 20, 2025. City records list Voodoo at 2279 Lee Road and show The Social Room just down the block at 2261 Lee Road, according to the City of Cleveland Heights, a reminder of how tightly clustered the corridor's bars and restaurants already are.
What the room will offer
Inside, Hallenstein plans relatively small cosmetic changes but a much larger footprint outside, with an expanded patio meant for warm-weather nights and late hangouts. The former 18-tap beer tower will be cut by roughly two-thirds to make space for a mix of cans, bottles, cocktails, and an all-day coffee program. The owners are planning a rotating schedule of food trucks along with late-night, street-food-style bites. Hallenstein told Cleveland Scene the feel will be "high-energy," with a lineup that includes live music, DJs, karaoke, and trivia nights.
When to expect the doors to open
The team is targeting a summer debut, so High Key on Lee can be part of the Heights Music Hop and other seasonal draws on Lee Road. FutureHeights, the group behind the Music Hop, describes the event as a multi-venue neighborhood showcase that brings dozens of performances and extra foot traffic to Lee Road and nearby districts, according to the festival information on FutureHeights. Until then, the owners say they will focus on finishing cosmetic updates and lining up local vendors before nailing down a firm opening date.
