The Lake County History Center in Painesville Township is taking its 19th-century basement from storage space to secret hangout, transforming it into a full-on Prohibition-era speakeasy. The hidden venue will feature a sliding-panel entrance, a handcrafted wooden bar, and a compact stage for live performances. Volunteers are digging into the center’s stash of antiques to decorate the room, even turning an old washing machine into an ice-and-beer cooler. When finished, the intimate space is expected to seat about 60 to 65 guests for performances and themed history nights, all aimed at making the past feel a little more like a night out.
What The Space Will Look Like
Director Lisa Lewins recently walked reporters down the stairs, unveiling what she calls “Welcome to the Lake County History Center Speakeasy,” and pointing out where the stage, sliding-panel door, and period details will land. According to News 5 Cleveland, volunteers have already constructed the wooden bar, and the team is busy reimagining vintage pieces as functional fixtures. News 5 Cleveland also reports the center is eyeing a fall opening and will launch a fundraiser to help cover the remaining work.
From 'History Pub' Plans To A Revised Timeline
The concept started earlier this year as a “history pub,” pitched as a way to attract a younger, 50-and-under crowd while tying into the county’s broader America 250 festivities. As reported by The News-Herald, the museum initially floated a spring opening and imagined a steady calendar of weekly programming, including trivia nights, live music, and poetry readings. The move toward a fall debut signals that the project is picking up steam earlier than first planned, though it still leans heavily on volunteer help and fundraising to cross the finish line.
How It Fits Into Museum Programming
The speakeasy is being folded into a larger slate of events connected to the U.S. 250th anniversary, with the center hoping the basement bar will function both as a community gathering spot and a rentable event space. According to the Lake County History Center, the museum is coordinating countywide celebrations and recruiting volunteers for an expanded summer schedule. Staff says the speakeasy will plug into those efforts, hosting history-themed happy hours, performances, and private functions that keep the focus on local stories while offering a more relaxed setting.
What To Expect Next
Organizers say a fundraiser is in the works and that the final construction details will determine when they can officially open the doors for limited events later this year. As News 5 Cleveland notes, most of the buildout has been completed by volunteers, so the timeline ultimately depends on how quickly that work can wrap up. If everything stays on track, Lake County residents could be knocking on a not-so-secret basement door for a low-key, history-forward night out by this fall.
