Shooters on the Water opened in 1987 on the West Bank of the Flats and quickly became a mainstay of Cleveland’s bar scene well into the 1990s—anchoring the Flats during a time of transition for the former industrial corridor.

As of March 2026, the West Bank landmark bar has returned as Shooters Cleveland with new ownership and a reimagined brand.

The return of Shooters on the Flats' West Bank includes a new logo, remodeled interior, and a refurbished menu.The full renovation, complete with brunch service and live entertainment, will roll out in the coming months alongside a waterfront performance stage. Chef Ryan Boone—lately of Cleveland favorites Greenhouse Tavern, Heart of Gold, and Cordelia—has created a new menu described as a collection of “classic, comfort staples with fresh and innovative ingredients and ideas.”

This all sounds promising to Harbor Inn co-owner Ken Kamola, whose century-old watering hole is just a five-minute walk from Shooters. A “high-class” makeover of the riverside destination can only boost the district’s overall prospects, says Kamola.

“There’s Harbor Inn, McCarthy’s, and the Flat Iron Café—we’re all friendly neighbors, and we all get along,” Kamola says. “If Shooters comes in and wants to be part of the group, I think that’s fine.”

When Shooters originally opened as part of the Nautica Complex, it transformed the West Bank from dilapidated ‘80s wasteland to a high-energy destination. As the Flats reinvented itself in the ensuing years, the bar remained a familiar presence that drew concert crowds and professional athletes alike.

The return of Shooters on the Flats' West Bank boasts a refurbished menu.Kamola partied at Shooters in the late-1980s—since then he’s witnessed the district endure numerous boom-and-bust eras.

For example, the Flats East Bank is undergoing a $750 million redevelopment encompassing hotel accommodations, upscale office space and apartments, and a fresh selection of clubs, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

Shooters closed around Labor Day in 2024 for its $1 million overhaul. The iconic space reopened in 2026 on March 18 under a management team that includes Cleveland musician Machine Gun Kelly.

Among the changes is an expansive dining room offering unobstructed views of the Cuyahoga River.

Cleveland-based designers Danielle Pusateri and David Damier and Avenue Design led interior renovations—updating the space while preserving elements like the blue-and-white tile floor. The refurbished interior leans into these classic colors, then uses bold orange accents for spice.

Gone is the rowdy party atmosphere of the old Shooters, though Kamola does not view this departure as a negative.

“With the new branding, people aren’t thinking of it as th e‘80s and ‘90s spot,” he says. “It’s more of a date-night place. It won’t be that place where you say, ‘Hey, let’s get drunk.’ It will be ‘Let’s start the evening there, then go to Jacobs Pavilion or Globe Iron for a concert.’”

Serial entrepreneur Kumar Arora says Shooters can thrive as a modern vision of a legacy brand.Continuing the legacy
As a serial entrepreneur whose career is built on a “Cleveland-first” ethos, rebranding Shooters was a can’t-miss opportunity for Kumar Arora, who believes the restaurant can thrive as a modern vision of a legacy brand.

“[Shooters] lends itself to familiarity, but it’s still being refreshed,” Arora explains. “How do we take Shooters and make it a more modern-day concept? It’s a great daytime spot with entertainment, and the dock is there. All we love about Shooters is here, but it’s built for a younger, newer audience, too.”

Arora, who staged events at Shooters in the early 2010s, says the comeback is a strategic fit for Cleveland’s Shore-to-Core-to-Shore plan, which includes lake and riverfront access, multimodal transit options, and residential and retail development.

While debate about Cleveland’s underused waterfront is decades old, the high-profile revival of Shooters offers a fresh perspective on future possibilities, says Arora.

“Lots of cities think about their skyline; we should be thinking of our waterfront,” he says. “Shooters is a destination for people to come in from the suburbs. My hope is people rally around the concept just like their favorite sports team.”

A look ahead
Seasonality is one of Shooters’ biggest hurdles, though Arora says he would like to see indoor events and holiday-themed cocktails during colder months. Harbor Inn proprietor Kamola says he hopes for more wintertime activity as well, even as Flats’ nightlife has changed drastically since the pandemic.

The open-air seating at Shooters on the Flats West Bank after its makeover.“Before COVID, we were open to 2 a.m. on week nights—now we’re closed on Mondays and Tuesdays,” Kamola says. “We’re open [from] noon to decline of business on Wednesday and Thursday, and [from] noon to 2:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.”

Harbor Inn is already seeing increased foot traffic from its revived neighbor, a trend that should continue as warmer weather locks in, adds Kamola. Yet, he says he’s curious about how Shooters can maximize busy concert nights or other big-ticket events in the Flats.

Although Shooters will have its own entertainment as well, weekend happy hours can make the bar a prime stop-over for an inexpensive beer or cocktail.

“It’s not $24 for a tequila and a Corona like across the river,” says Kamola.

Cleveland booster Arora says Shooters’ comeback can both honor its riverfront roots and become proof of concept for the Flats’ next era.

“We should be proud that Shooters has been revitalized,” Arora says. “This is not something you get to see every day.”