Bond Hill has been a little quieter this week. Regulars at Cali Bar and Grill say it feels like the heart of the neighborhood skipped a beat after the death of Rodney Jordan, 61, the longtime owner who was a familiar face behind the bar and at community events. Since his passing in a single‑car crash in the early hours of Saturday, May 16, friends and patrons have turned the corner outside Cali into an impromptu memorial, covering the storefront with flowers and balloons. Neighbors say the loss has left a visible gap in Bond Hill’s social life and in the charity drives and gatherings Jordan was known for organizing.
Jordan was driving home from work when his vehicle crashed on the Norwood Lateral around 3:30 a.m. at the 2.3‑mile marker, and police have not released what led to the collision. His family says Cali Bar will reopen in time, with plans to keep his name and legacy at the center of the business. A balloon release is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, May 30, at the bar, according to WCPO.
Sheila Nared, a close friend and director of Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses' Trauma Recovery Center, called Jordan “that shining star” and told WCPO, "It's like a collective pain. It's like a cloud all over the city." Known to customers as “Bossman” and “Rocky Rod,” Jordan had run the bar for roughly six years and frequently opened his space for repasses, coat drives, and back‑to‑school supply events that served families from across Cincinnati.
Trauma support at the memorial
Staff from Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses' Trauma Recovery Center will be on hand during the balloon release to offer grief resources and support. The Trauma Recovery Center, which lists Sheila Nared as coordinator and works out of the Findlay Street Neighborhood House, provides counseling and outreach to victims of violence and other trauma in Cincinnati neighborhoods, according to Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses.
Legacy and next steps
Employees and regulars say Jordan treated staff like family and that his bar drew patrons from across the city. For now, the corner near Cali Bar stands as a quiet testament to a man who turned a local hangout into a community hub, as neighbors prepare to gather Saturday to celebrate his life and support one another.
