Cleveland, already well known for its Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, is getting even more musical. The city gained this month its own House of Blues, the music-themed entertainment club and restaurant chain.
The club, located downtown in the city's East Fourth Street Project, houses a multilevel music hall for live entertainment and a dance floor. The 30,000-square-foot facility can accommodate up to 1,100 guests.
"All of our House of Blues do meetings and private special events," said company spokeswoman Laura Miller. "And theming is easy, because House of Blues already is themed. We're very strong on visual art; we have the largest folk art collection in the United States, for example, so it's not like walking into an empty ballroom."
House of Blues Cleveland features local and national acts. Its other locations have presented such entertainers as Prince, James Brown, Aerosmith, Joss Stone and Norah Jones. The Cleveland facility kicked off its Nov. 19 opening with the band Cheap Trick.
"We're really excited about this new venue," said Steve Millard, executive director of the local Council of Smaller Enterprises, or COSE. "Cleveland is creating itself as more of a destination, and I'm pitching it to convention planners."
COSE will be one of the first groups to use House of Blues Cleveland when it brings a recognition program for 600 attendees to the facility next month.
"We like its drawing power," Millard said. "It has a great reputation, and it should lure attendees from a couple of hours away. It's a welcome addition to Euclid Avenue."
The House of Blues restaurant offers traditional Southern-inspired cuisine, including such signature dishes as Creole seafood jambalaya and pan-seared voodoo shrimp with rosemary corn bread. A small restaurant stage provides entertainment for diners.
The venue has also contracted for weekly gospel groups to sing at Sunday brunches. Miller said these groups can perform privately for groups.
The facility has its own special events department and a dedicated events room, The Parish. It features decor inspired by a British Victorian music room.
Cleveland's East Fourth Street Project is already home to the Pickwick and Frolic restaurant and club, and the city hopes it will help liven up downtown, somewhat quiet after dark. East Fourth Street will have wider streets, allowing for curbside kiosks and public art, as well as new stores, apartments and condominiums.
House of Blues, based in Los Angeles, operates clubs in seven other cities.