Highball Cincy, the vinyl-focused bar tucked behind Findlay Market in Over-the-Rhine, is calling last call for good. The Gorilla Cinema Presents outpost at 1834 Race Street has announced it will close and permanently vacate the space, with Sunday, May 24 set as the final day of service. The move wraps a run of local-leaning DJ nights, themed events and pop-ups in the small back-room bar.
In an Instagram announcement, the bar said "the time has come to drop the needle one last time" and confirmed May 24 as its final service. Cincinnati CityBeat reported on the post and noted that the farewell message included thanks to staff, property owner Model Group and the DJs and performers who helped define the room.
Owner Cites Shifts In Tastes
Speaking with the Cincinnati Business Courier, owner Jacob Trevino pointed to changing guest preferences and broader "shifts in the area" as reasons behind the decision. He said Gorilla Cinema will leave the 1834 Race Street space entirely rather than swap in yet another quick-turn concept. The Courier noted that the room has already cycled through several bar ideas since 2021, and Trevino framed this as a full exit instead of a short-term rebrand. Cincinnati Business Courier has his full comments on the closure.
A Short History Of The Room
Before Highball, the storefront at 1834 Race Street was home to Cosmic Gorilla, a combination comic-book shop and speakeasy that later closed and was retooled as a cocktail bar in 2024, according to earlier reporting from the Cincinnati Enquirer. Gorilla Cinema then launched Highball as a vinyl-forward bar with tapas and Japanese-style highballs, positioning it as a close neighbor to Findlay Market. Background materials and the concept’s own descriptions on Highball Cincy have detailed the address, layout and original vision for the space.
What’s Next For 1834 Race Street
For now, Gorilla Cinema has not announced a successor concept, and Model Group, which was thanked in the goodbye message, has not released a public plan for the address. The Cincinnati Business Courier notes that the room has already hosted multiple bar concepts since 2021, so the upcoming vacancy will give property managers some flexibility to re-lease or potentially redevelop the small storefront.
In its farewell note, Highball urged regulars, DJs, and performers to "pick your favorite record" and drop by before closing time on Sunday, May 24. For event listings, contact details and any final updates as the last night approaches, the Highball Cincy website continues to list hours and a calendar.
